6 Reasons to Visit Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountains

If you’ve been to the Smokies but haven’t been to Cades Cove, you need to go the next time you’re in the area! Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountains is the most popular destination in the entire national park because of the incredible views, rich history, and being able to get out and explore. Check out these 6 reasons to visit Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountains:

1. Amazing Views

The top reason why people love visiting the area are the amazing views. Cades Cove is a valley surrounded by the mountains, so you get to see everything that makes this area beautiful. You’ll want to soak in all of the views and take pictures to remember your trip. There’s nothing like seeing the sun set over the mountains or the wildflowers blowing in the breeze. Many people don’t have scenery like this where they live, so it’s something you’ll want to see!

2. Historic Buildings

Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountains is full of historic buildings. It houses the largest collection of houses that are maintained to show what pioneer life was like in the past. There are three churches you can explore. You’ll find homesteads with cabins and barns. There’s an old grist mill on a creek that still works. A fun fact to know about many of these buildings: they didn’t actually start in this area. Many of the buildings were moved from their original locations to Cades Cove.

3. Fun for Everyone

It doesn’t matter if you’re 5 or 50 years old, you’ll enjoy visiting this part of the national park. Kids will love exploring in nature, and the adults will love taking all of the beauty in. Everyone will love hiking, driving, and exploring the area. Any kind of group with people of all ages will enjoy going to this part of the park.

4. Spend Time Outside

A huge reason to visit Cades Cove is to spend time outside. You may be driving in the car around the Loop, but with the windows down, it’s still a great way to be out in nature. You can pull off at any point on the Loop. You can stop for pictures or to get a close up of the scenery or to just stretch your legs! If you’ve been wanting to get outside, this is a great way to do it.

5. Possibly See Wildlife

Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountains is known as being a hot spot for seeing wildlife. While it’s not guaranteed you’ll see any animals, they are known for being active in this area. The most popular animal in the Smokies is, of course, the black bear. You might also see white tailed deer, squirrels, birds, and bugs. If you’re near bodies of water, you could see fish, turtles, and salamanders.

6. Beautiful Any Time of Year

A huge factor of people wanting to go to Cades Cove is that it’s beautiful any time of the year. Whether it’s covered in snow during winter or the fall foliage is changing, you’ll love seeing the differences in each season.

Visiting Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountains should definitely be at the top of your list for your next trip. Are you ready to start planning? Look through our Smoky Mountain cabin rentals and pick one out for your vacation today!