Do you love nature, seeing the incredible views of the world slightly less intruded on by man, seeing where or how the earliest settlers lived? Well Cades Cove is the place for you. Located in the heart of the Great Smokey Mountains Cades Cove is filled with beautiful views of mountains, waterfalls, creeks, rolling fields, and amazing trails for hiking the lesser traveled areas. Ā Itās a nature lovers paradise that gives you a chance to be up close and personal with wildlife.
5 Amazing ThingsĀ about Cades Cove!
1. Something fun for everyone!
No matter your age or level of fitness, there is something for you at Cades Cove. Not much of a hiker? That is perfectly fine, you can drive the main loop without ever needing to leave your car. You can even spot most wildlife from the comfort of your vehicle! There are a few things you will miss if you decide to take this route by itself, though. You will miss the amazing waterfalls and one cabin. They recently closed off the road getting to it, but there is still a hiking trail. Want to hike a little, but not a professional? Thatās fine as well, I fit into this category most of the time. There are numerous trails and some are quite easy to navigate. No steep climbs or huge rocks to maneuver around. Just make sure youāre always on the lookout for bears and tree roots. There are even more difficult trails for the hiking enthusiasts!
2. Breath taking scenery.
I love to be out in nature. I love that there are still some parts of the world that are untouched by man and some that are only slightly touched by man. I have added a gallery at the bottom of this post of just a few views from the loop. None of these are from the trails, itās all things everyone can see just from the comfort of their car. The mountains are amazing no matter what time of year you go. The trees are plentiful and beautiful, whether they are covered in green, just starting to change color, or bare, they will still take your breath away.
3. You get to learn about the earliest settlers in Tennessee.
They have preserved several churches and homesteads, a mill, and some smoke houses. They even have signs up so you can read about what it was, who lived there, and some of the things they had to deal with, living in the times that they did. They have an old blacksmith shop with a sign showing a catalog of different blacksmith tools. Ā They even have some of the stone wheels used at the mill.
3. Itās a wildlife preserve.
Since it is a wildlife preserve, there are all kinds of animals roaming around. They are not afraid of you in the least. While they may not be afraid of you, and may not attack you, please donāt take any chances, especially with the bears. You can get closer to them than you normally would be, but I beg that you keep a safe distance. I have seen deer, bear, wild horses, turkey, and a fox or two. I have even heard of other people seeing āmountain catsā, although I have never seen any myself. In a cabin we stayed in, there were a lot of accounts of āmountain catsā in the visitor log book, maybe I just wasnāt there at the right time. You can pull over in some parts of the loop to park and walk to see the animals better.
4. Other options if youāre not in a driving mood.
If you donāt want to drive, they offer horse and carriageĀ rides and horseback rides through the area. They have a few options including guided trail tours, guided carriage rides and guided hay rides.Ā Click here for horseback and carriage rides.
5. They have public restrooms, a gift shop, and maps in several different places.
No popping a squat in the woods here! Iām pretty sure youāre not allowed anyway. They have public restrooms at the amphitheater near the campground and about halfway around the loop at the visitor center. The gift shop is also in the visitorās center. You can get pamphlets with more information about the history of Cades Cove for a small donation to the park.
If you love nature or history, or just looking for something free and fun to do with the family, this is the place to go.
Ā Photo Challenge Day 6: Nature/ 5 Great things about CadesĀ Cove Do you love nature, seeing the incredible views of the world slightly less intruded on by man, seeing where or how the earliest settlers lived?
