Cades Cove Smoky Mountains
 

While doing research on the Smoky Mountain area for an upcoming vacation, I came across Cades Cove. I would love some tips on how best to see that area. I know there is a loop road auto and bike tour you can take, but it says there are many homes in the cove that were not preserved, and they might not be too easy to see or find from the road. What would be the best way to see everything? Would I be able to purchase a map or guide somewhere that could assist me ? Any information would be greatly appreciated! Thank You !

Check out Great Smoky Mountains National Park web site <http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/autotouring.htm> and <http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/cadescove.htm>. There are also some GREAT books through the park association, Friends of the Smokies <http://www.smokiesstore.org/browse.cfm/2,39.html>.
There are about 2 main places to see old buildings. Cades Cove and Cataloochee Valley. The buildings are preserved and easy to get to from the road. The Park at one time was covered with communities and over time the people were relocated and the buildings were not preserved and the only thing left are often the footings of the buildings. These communities are only reached by trail, if at all.
There are many great books you can buy or get through the library to help plan your trip. Enjoy, this is a beautiful part of the country. Very popular during the summer and fall months.

A few years ago we rode through Cades Cove by car. They do shut the roads down during certain days and hours for bike access only, but unless you are pretty avid rider it looked like it would be a tough ride, a lot of hills and rough roads.

Any way, there are parking areas by all the homes/buildings that are there, some are set back off the road and you will need to do some walking, but many are very close to the road and easy to get to. They have maps as well.

We came in from the Tennessee side and stopped at a information center before traveling the road that would take us to Cades Cove, the rangers there were very helpful in helping us to not miss some of the waterfalls we wanted to see and also explaining which ones were more difficult as well.

I can't remember where we bought it, but we got an audio tour of Cades Cove that my DH downloaded to the computer and then to our mp3 players. It really added a lot to our enjoyment of Cades Covbe. We did the driving tour, stopped and hiked or looked at buildings along the way. IIRC, it took us a good part of the day.

Hi we bought a Cades Cove auto tour guide thru Robin Wing. You can download it and listen as you drive thry there and it tells you all about the cabins,churches,farms,etc. Another auto tour to go thru is Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.Here's some pictures we have taken of The Smoky Mountains. We love it there and go several times a year.Only bicycle and foot traffic are allowed on the loop road until 10:00 a.m. every Saturday and Wednesday morning from early May until late September. Otherwise the road is open to motor vehicles from sunrise until sunset daily, weather permitting.
Cades Cove is a must do for us a couple of times each time we go. We bring a picnic lunch and a blanket and find a nice spot and have a wonderful lunch there. I think you will really like it and you might get lucky and see some Bears. Have a wonderful trip.



http://www.robinwing.net/

http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/cadescove.htm

http://travel.webshots.com/album/580069114QDxFBa

http://family.webshots.com/album/579409299qdeveu

http://travel.webshots.com/album/579008685AjHiAb

http://travel.webshots.com/album/577959156JWXTrq

http://travel.webshots.com/album/577464877DPMfdD

www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/cadescove.htm

usually try to book the campground there to see it all

traffic jams big time in peak season so better to be there

B4 the crowds start rolling in and stay off the beaten path...

Townsend TN best for hotels nearest

but get an early start if you elect to stay there.