| It would almost be a shame to venture into | | | | peaks. Grazing cattle, frolicking deer and blooming |
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park without | | | | flowers paint a picture of pastoral Smoky |
| taking a few hours to explore one of its most | | | | Mountains beauty. |
| popular sites-Cades Cove, TN. Functioning as a | | | | When touring the cove, be sure to make time for |
| self-sufficient mountain community prior to the | | | | exploring nature. At the loop's midpoint you'll find |
| establishment of the park in the 1930s, Cades | | | | the trailhead to Abrams Falls. The 2.5-mile, |
| Cove now serves as a living tribute to the hardy | | | | one-way hike takes you along the banks of |
| pioneer spirit that helped forge the character of | | | | Abrams Creek to a beautiful waterfall. Just past |
| the region. | | | | the Cable Mill area, look for the Cades Cove |
| Located approximately 25 miles west of | | | | Nature Trail, a half-mile route that provides insight |
| Gatlinburg, TN, Cades Cove (originally called "Kate's | | | | into how cove's residents used their abundant |
| Cove" in honor of the wife of Cherokee Chief | | | | natural resources. |
| Abrams) is such a popular destination because it | | | | While automobile is usually the quickest means of |
| embodies all the best that Great Smoky | | | | touring Cades Cove, it's not your only option. |
| Mountains National Park has to offer in terms of | | | | Many people take on the loop as a hike, while |
| both beauty and historical value. | | | | others prefer experiencing the sights, sounds and |
| Indeed, a journey around the cove's 11-mile, | | | | smells of the cove on bicycle. The best times to |
| one-way loop road is like an expedition back in | | | | try these alternative modes of travel are on |
| time, to a period when the area's early settlers | | | | Wednesday and Saturday mornings since the |
| survived only by their wits and by the resources | | | | one-way road is closed to auto travel before |
| at hand. Today, Cades Cove serves as home to | | | | 10:00 am. |
| many of the dwellings and other structures that | | | | Other fun Cades Cove activities include picnicking |
| stood during the community's heyday, from the | | | | and camping. You can spread out a picnic blanket |
| late 1800s to the early 1900s. | | | | anywhere along the 11-mile loop, or you can enjoy |
| As you drive, bike or hike along the loop, you'll | | | | your mountain feast at the park picnic area near |
| see the homesteads of early settlers like Elijah | | | | the main entrance to the loop. Meanwhile, Cades |
| Oliver and John Cable as well as some of the | | | | Cove campground has 159 sites available for tent |
| churches that were so important in the lives of | | | | and RV campers. |
| cove residents. Of particular interest is the Cable | | | | For those who prefer the creature comforts |
| Mill area, where you'll find the Cades Cove visitor | | | | when it comes to overnight lodging, a variety of |
| center and several remaining vestiges of pioneer | | | | quality accommodations can be found in the |
| life, such as a corn mill, sorghum mill and | | | | nearby communities of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge |
| blacksmith shop. | | | | and Gatlinburg. Resort properties such as Country |
| And along the way, you can't help but marvel at | | | | Inn & Suites, Creekstone Inn, Governor's Inn |
| the natural beauty that surely attracted those | | | | and the Resort at Governor's Crossing offer a |
| first residents as well. Rolling green pastures are | | | | host of amenities while providing convenient |
| framed on all sides by foothills and towering | | | | access for a day trip to Cades Cove. |
