Top 4 Reasons Why You’ll Want to Explore Cades Cove Loop Road
If you want to experience some of the best that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has to offer, don’t miss this Smoky Mountain scenic drive during your vacation! The one-way, 11-mile loop road in Cades Cove features just about everything you might want to see in the park, including some of the best historic sites and wildlife viewing opportunities! Here are the top 4 reasons why you’ll want to explore Cades Cove Loop Road:
1. Convenient Access from Our Cabins
The Cades Cove Loop Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park can be conveniently accessed from the park entrance just south of Townsend Tennessee on TN 73. The Wears Valley entrance is not only much quieter than the Sugarlands entrance near Gatlinburg, but it’s also the best entrance when heading to Cades Cove!
The best part? Our resort-style cabin community in Wears Valley provides the best options for families looking for cabins near Cades Cove. After your action-packed day in the Smokies, you can look forward to the quick drive back to our cabin rentals for a relaxing evening!
2. Fascinating Historical Structures
The Cades Cove driving loop offers a journey back into history, as you’ll discover many historic buildings along the route. In fact, it’s home to the widest variety of historic buildings of any area in the Smokies! When you first arrive, stop at the Cades Cove orientation shelter on the left to pick up an auto touring booklet and talk to a park ranger about what you can expect to see! Some of the historic buildings along the route include the John Oliver Cabin, Primitive Baptist Church, Missionary Baptist Church, Dan Lawson Place, and the Carter Shields Cabin.
3. Fun for Hikers and Non-Hikers
Another reason why you’ll want to explore Cades Cove Loop Road in the Smoky Mountains is that it is a fun destination for both hikers and non-hikers! If you have any mobility issues or have elderly family members, the Loop Road is a delightful way to enjoy the beauty of the national park from the comfort of your car!
Hikers will also love the area because several great hiking trails are accessible from the road, including the easy, flat nature trail and the popular waterfall hike to Abrams Falls. Allow at least 2 to 4 hours to tour Cades Cove, plus some time if you want to hike a few of the trails!
4. Excellent Wildlife Viewing Opportunities
As one of the most popular places in GSMNP, the Cades Cove loop scenic drive is also known for its excellent wildlife viewing opportunities! Since the cove is a broad valley surrounded by the mountains, you will often see white-tailed deer, coyotes, turkeys, and other animals! There is also a good chance that you might spot the most iconic animal, the black bear! Don’t forget to scan the trees in the distance because many animals like to spend their days among the branches!
Where to Stay Near Cades Cove
Check out all of our Wears Valley cabin rentals today to stay close to Cades Cove Loop Road and all of the other popular destinations throughout Great Smoky Mountains National Park! We look forward to seeing you soon!
