Its water wheel drove one of the early grist mills. Cable’s Mill was one of the few sources of power in Cades Cove. However, records indicate the Cades Cove Methodist congregation was more relaxed and sat where they pleased. The building’s two-front-door design was merely a copy of another church design that allowed men to enter and sit on one side of the chapel and women and children on the other. McCampbell built the Cades Cove Methodist Church. Take time to discover the many wonderful aspects of this unique little valley nestled within the Great Smoky Mountains. Learn more about Cades Cove’s flora, fauna, and history by attending an evening ranger talk.Ĭades Cove is a joy to visit in every season. You’ll savor the evening quiet that comes from being miles away from town. There’s also a campground if you can stay overnight. At the entrance to Cades Cove, a picnic area welcomes visitors to eat at a table beneath the trees or next to the stream. If you have time to stay awhile, bring a picnic lunch. From mid-May through early September, Saturdays and Wednesdays from dawn until 10am, the road is reserved for cyclists and closed to vehicles. Rent a bike and pedal your way through Cades Cove. Be adventuresome and go horseback riding. From late June to early July, you’ll see the glorious colors of the flaming azaleas in bloom.ĭon’t want to hike? See nature up close another way. You’ll walk through old-growth forest with its enormous trees. Gregory Ridge Trail is considered one of the most scenic trails in the park, with open vistas and the bare rocks of Gregory Bald. The water plunges over a bluff down 20 feet into a quiet pool 100 feet across. The first trail starts off crossing Abrams Creek by bridge and then takes you up the gorge to the picturesque Abrams Falls. Two popular hikes are the Abrams Falls Trail (easy 5-mile round trip) and the Gregory Ridge Trail (strenuous 11.4-mile round trip). Enjoy the shade under the trees and the spots of sunlight where the leaf canopy opens. Tread on the rocky ground of the trail and dip your fingers into the cool water of various streams. You’ll hear the whisper of the wind through the trees and feel the breeze on your face. Pick up a copy of the self-guiding Cades Cove Tour booklet.Įxperience nature by hiking on one of the many trails that lead off from Cades Cove. There’s also a staffed visitor center with restrooms. Halfway along the loop is the Cable Mill area, where you’ll see a working grist mill, a blacksmith shop, a cantilever barn, and a representative frame house. Visit the barns of the pioneer families where they housed their animals. Stop at the log cabin homes and imagine raising a family in such a primitive shelter. ![]() Step inside one of the early churches for some old-time religion. Today, Cades Cove is home to one of the most complete collections of historic structures in Southern Appalachia, letting visitors see firsthand how people subsistence-farmed and lived off the land. By the mid-1800s there were 132 families (about 500 people) farming the precious flat land. A treaty in 1819 officially opened up the valley to settlement. It is believed that the name Cades Cove evolved from Kate’s Cove. When the first white settlers started arriving in the early 1800s, they were helped by Kate, the wife of Chief Abraham. Don’t approach the bears, though, as they can be dangerous.įor centuries Cades Cove was a hunting ground of the Cherokee Indians. If you come shortly after dawn or just before dusk, you might be lucky enough to spot a black bear rooting for grubs in a fallen tree. You might hear the busy cluck, cluck, cluck of a flock of wild turkeys as they peck for food in one of the open meadows. You’ll probably see herds of deer grazing, or perhaps a single deer jumping gracefully over a fence. Allow at least a half day for your visit, especially during the busier tourist seasons.Ĭades Cove is a great place to view wildlife. There are two crossover roads if you need a shortcut to the exit or want to revisit a section of Cades Cove. You’ll be slowly cruising the curves and exclaiming at each new vista that opens up before you. ![]() To tour Cades Cove, drive the one-way 11-mile loop that follows the outer edge of the cove. It is a destination filled with discoveries that will entertain and educate visitors of all ages. It is picture perfect.īut Cades Cove is so much more than a pretty picture. ![]() For the best overview of the sheltered fields, intermittent woods, and historical buildings in Cades Cove, drive Rich Mountain Road. This secluded, flat little valley, 4,000 acres in size, is surrounded by the undulating contours of the mountain ridges. Such is the case with Cades Cove, located at the western end of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Mother Nature is an artist and sometimes she outdoes herself.
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