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Cades Cove is a valley located in the Tennessee section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The valley was home to numerous settlers and many historic buildings, dating back to the 1800s, are open to visitors along the 11-mile, one-way park loop road.
This section was the farthest section of the park from our Gatlinburg hotel, so we set off early in the morning, planning to spend the day there.
Our first stop was to Cades Coves stables, an official park concessioner that runs hay rides on the loop road. We were hoping to take one of those rides, but the timing just didn’t work out. Instead, we opted to take a horse-drawn carriage ride. For about 45 minutes, our driver wound through the wooded park trails, entertaining us with the history of Cades Cove. We saw several deer.
Back at the corral, he pointed put some of the horses roaming free in the fields. One was blind and always ran with the same horse so he’d know where he was going. It was touching to see how the two looked out for eachother.
Next we explored the loop road. Though only 11 miles long, this requires several hours.
There are a lot of other motorists on this road who don’t seem to know they should pull over when they see something they want to take a picture of.
We’d picked up the self-guided tour booklet at the entrance and stopped in a few places to go inside log cabins, old churches and walk a short trail or two.
The last stop on the return side of the loop is the visitors center with a few old buildings to explore and a working grist mill. You can buy the corn meal they produce at the store.
You can see my other posts for Great Smoky Mountain NP by clicking on these links:
Location: Cades Cove, TN
Designation: National Park
Date designation declared: 9/02/1940
Date of my visit: August 2013
While visiting the Tennessee Aquarium recently, I was interested to read these “coves” are considered miniature temperate rain-forests.
Hmmm…I guess that makes sense. It does seem to rain part of the day every day there
Wonderful pictures as always.
Thanks!
Very neat! I visited GSM recently but we didn’t make it to Cades Cove. Your post makes me want to go back and explore this section.
Thanks! I hope you get to go back
I was sooooo close, but I ran out of time. I was visiting Cherokee and Bryson City to ride the Smoky Mountain Railroad. (Psssst! I write railroad articles.) I returned home through the park on U.S. 441. After seeing these photos, you are making me want to go back.
Thanks! I didn’t know about the Smoky Mountain Railroad.
It is actually not in the park itself but in Bryson City, NC.
Beautiful shot of the layered Smokey hills. This is something I always strive to capture in the mists of tain or dusk. Interesting use of the word cove to refer to a valley instead of a narrow inlet of water. Definitely a picturesque area. Allan
Thanks!
You continue to capture the true beauty of each location with the outstanding photos. Thanks for the post.
Thanks!
Beautiful photos! I highly suggest visiting the Smokies in the winter. Same amazing views but covered in snow! Plus, much smaller crowds. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks!
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