The Loop Road makes Cades Cove feel easy to navigate. A trail leaving the road can be a different trip altogether. Decide how far you are going, how much daylight you have, and where you will turn around before you leave the trailhead.
Check the trail before you drive in
Look at the National Park Service’s current conditions and trail closures the day you go. Weather can change quickly in the Smokies, and a trail that was clear on an earlier visit may have a downed tree, a washed-out crossing, or a closure. Use a current park map. Cell service is unreliable in much of the park, so do not make your phone connection the only way you can find your route.
Tell someone which trail you plan to take and when you expect to return. Bring water, food, a headlamp, layers for changing conditions, and a small first-aid kit even on a day hike. Start early enough that a slow walk back will still be in daylight.
Match the hike to the group
Distance alone does not tell you how hard a Smokies trail will feel. Add elevation, footing, water crossings, heat, and the walk back to the car. If anyone in your group is tiring sooner than expected, turn around. You do not have to reach the destination to have a good day.
Abrams Falls is a common example. Its destination is memorable, but the return climb and the route’s rough sections deserve real time and energy. Stay out of the water at the falls and away from the top and edges. The current Abrams Falls guide covers that hike in more detail.
Give wildlife room
Do not approach an animal to take a picture or clear the trail. The park requires at least 50 yards between visitors and bears and at least 25 yards from elk. If an animal changes what it is doing because of you, you are too close. Back away, give it an escape route, and never feed it. For more detail, use our bear-safety guide.
Know the pet rule
Leashed pets are allowed on only two trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Gatlinburg Trail and Oconaluftee River Trail. Do not plan a Cades Cove hike with a dog. Check the NPS pet page if your trip includes other parts of the park.
If conditions or your plan have changed by the time you reach the trailhead, choose a shorter walk or stay with the historic stops along the Loop Road. There is no prize for pushing through a bad plan.