This was our first time visiting Cades Cove. The natural beauty of this cove is stunning. A must see for everyone visiting the area. On past trips we thought the 40 minute drive from our cabin would be too long for the kids, but we'll definitely be bringing them back to Cades Cove. The loop takes quite sometime to complete, and we came in off season. I've had friends say the loop can take over 4 hours in the busy season. It took us about 2 hours with a couple stops at the old churches and cemetary. You will be in a bumper to bumper line the entire way through the cove so be prepared for that. Bathrooms are not kept clean in this area. This is the perfect place to let your children run wild and to see wildlife. We saw a turkey, a bear, and lots of elk and deer. We seemed to take a hitchhiker back with us to our remote cabin after visiting here and ended up having some really strange unexplained happenings after our visit to the cove. I didn't hear the local legend about Russell Gregory until later and how you aren't supposed to read his grave out loud. He's resting at one of the cemeteries in the cove and doesn't like to be disturbed. Apparently this area also saw action during the Civil War. If you haven't given Cades Cove a chance, you definitely need to visit.

Our guests could pick out anything they wanted to do while staying in Sevierville. They chose Cades Cove. Even though it was February, it was very peaceful and the walk around the buildings was not as uncomfortable as when one does it in the summer. There was still traffic moving slowly and stopping occasionally to take a picture of deer. That was not bad for observers. No bears yet, but the gift shop had very reasonably priced stuffed black bears to lesson the disappointment. We found out that most of them don't come out until April.

Excellent views, deer,Turkey, and an abundance of crows. 😊 A cloudy but beautiful day to visit the cove. The park staff at the visitor center very helpful and friendly. Need a parking pass online the park, but worth it. Only $5.00 for a day visit.

We really enjoyed the 11 mile tour thru Cades Cove. I highly recommend spending a dollar at the nature center on a Cades Cove booklet so you get the history of what you’re seeing as you drive through. We didn’t see any bears but did see a bunch of wild turkeys. It was fun learning about the families that lived in that area many, many years ago. Be sure to stop and get out of your vehicle to go inside the log cabins etc… along the way. We are planning on going back to Cades Cove in the fall to see the beautiful fall colors. The views in March were amazing too.

Beautiful scenery in the Great Smoky Mountains. We saw many deer, wild turkey, and even a black bear! We went in the morning mid-week during mid April and generally had light crowds. There are restroom facilities at the entrance to the Cove and midway through (after the Abrams Falls trailhead), but no other facilities on the loop. Allow 2-3 hours to drive the loop and stop a few times at some of the historic structures.

Easter Break in April is a great time to visit this area of the park. There is very little traffic so you are able to drive through at your leisure with less stopping. You can enjoy time to be able to walk to all the cabins, churches, and the middle way visitor center area. The bears come out in mid April and we were able to see a momma bear with her 3 cubs. LOTS of wild turkeys were seen in the fields.

This was our first stop in the park. We had heard good things from others. We did a couple of short hikes (1/2 mile to 1 mile) to see cabins, visited a cemetery, and saw a bear up close (100 yards) in a meadow. Take time and see this part of the park.

We go here every time we come. We came a little before 7 and they just must have released the beautiful horses that came running thru the field. We saw turkeys. One guy got his feathers in a huff. Beautiful owl sitting in a tree. 2 Ravens came and sat on a post about 2 feet from my car window, while we were on a pull off. Saw 2 bears in the fields. Saw some deer. Group of young bucks came by. We picked a great time. Not too busy. Trees were beautiful and full. You need to go 10 mph and only pull off where all 4 tires are off the road. We learned that the hard way.

I highly recommend driving the Cades Cove loop when visiting the smokies. The views of the mountains are breathtaking and if you’re lucky, you will catch a glimpse of a black bear or two. Be prepared for a long drive taking about 2-4 hours to complete the loop. Be courteous of others and be prepared for long stops especially if a bear is spotted. There are plenty of pull off spots for photos with the most gorgeous backdrop of the Smoky Mountains. This is a must do in my opinion!

What an amazing experience! After a year battling Breast Cancer my wife just wanted to take a break and come to the Smokey's in hopes of seeing a live Black Bear. Well Cade's Cove did not disappoint. We were able to see many momma's with cubs, and other wildlife as well. Close up as many passed us by. We seen a total of 11 bears inside the park as well as a couple outside in the nearby areas. I will forever remember this trip with my love.