Searching For Cades Cove Black Bears While Biking In The Great Smoky Mountain National Park

We load our bikes and head to Cades Cove to search for Cades Cove Black Bears. Cades Cove is an isolated valley located in the Tennessee section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Cades Cove access will be motor vehicle-free all day Wednesdays from May 3 to September 27, 2023 to provide opportunities for pedestrians and cyclists to experience Cades Cove without motor vehicles. We didn't see as many Cades Cove Black Bears as we had hoped but will be back. Let us know if you have any questions...
Spruce Flats Falls Waterfall Tour ► • Spruce Flats Falls Gre...
GSMNP Parking Tag Guide ► • The Ultimate Great Smo...
Additional Cades Cove Tennessee info:
www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisi...
cadescovetrading.com
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⏱️⏱️VIDEO CHAPTERS⏱️⏱️
0:00 - Intro
0:56 - Pigeon Forge Publix
1:21 - Drive To Cades Cove
1:52 - Townsend Wye & Spruce Flats Falls
2:18 - Cades Cove Parking
2:40 - Cades Cove FAQ's
3:03 - Unloading Bikes
3:30 - Staring Our Bike Ride
4:30 - Start Of Cades Cove Loop Road
7:00 - Sparks Lane (4 Mile Loop)
7:07 - John Oliver Cabin & Ride
7:56 - Steep Hill
8:34 - Methodist Church
8:47 - Cades Cove Loop Continued
9:23 - Hyatt Lane (8 Mile Loop)
9:34 - Missionary Baptist Church
9:58 - Cades Cove Loop Continued
10:20 - Water Break
10:45 - Cades Cove Loop Continued
14:11 - Cades Cove Black Bears
14:30 - Cades Cove Loop Continued
15:20 - Cades Cove Deer
15:28 - Cades Cove Loop Continued
16:01 - Cades Cove Black Bears
16:32 - Final Stretch
17:18 - How Was It?
17:52 - Cades Cove Bike Rentals
18:29 - Cades Cove Campground Store Tour
20:31 - Final Thoughts & Bloopers
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Ryan & Brie
PO BOX 4975
Sevierville, TN 37864
#cadescove #greatsmokymountains #smokymountains
Cades Cove is a broad, verdant valley surrounded by mountains and is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smokies. It offers some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing in the park. Large numbers of white-tailed deer are frequently seen, and sightings of cades cove black bears, coyote, ground hog, turkey, raccoon, skunk, and other animals are also possible.
Touring the Cove
Vehicle-free access along the Cades Cove Loop Road takes place each Wednesday, from May 3 through September 27, 2023. On these days, the 11-mile loop can be enjoyed on foot or bicycle. There is always a great opportunity to see Cades Cove Black Bears!
An 11-mile, one-way loop road circles the cove, offering motorists the opportunity to sightsee at a leisurely pace. Allow at least two to four hours to tour Cades Cove, longer if you walk some of the area's trails. Traffic is heavy during the tourist season in summer and fall and on weekends year-round. While driving the loop road, please be courteous to other visitors and use pullouts when stopping to enjoy the scenery or view wildlife such as Cades Cove Black Bears.
An inexpensive self-guiding tour booklet available at the entrance to the road provides a map and information about the cove.
The valley has a rich history. For hundreds of years Cherokee Indians hunted in Cades Cove but archeologists have found no evidence of major settlements. The first Europeans settled in the cove sometime between 1818 and 1821. By 1830 the population of the area had already swelled to 271. Cades Cove offers the widest variety of historic buildings of any area in the national park.
Scattered along the loop road are three churches, a working gristmill, barns, log houses, and many other faithfully restored eighteenth and nineteenth century structures. Pick up the self-guiding tour booklet available at the entrance to the loop road for information about the buildings you'll see in the cove and the people who lived here. Let us know if you have any questions and we hope to bring you back soon to see more Cades Cove Black Bears!

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

We hope you enjoy joining us on a search for Cades Cove black bears on bikes through the 11 mile loop! We hope this Cades Cove Tour is helpful to better know what this vehicle free Wednesday experience is like. Feel free to ask us any questions, we are happy to help!

[@melissadrinkwater9778]

What is the name of the waterfall at the beginning of the video

[@wandawilliams3707]

Isn’t it illegal for KZbinrs to film in the park and share it on their channel?

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

@@wandawilliams3707that would be an incorrect statement. We have discussed rules & regs with Park Rangers & safely abided by all national park laws while recording this experience.

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

@@melissadrinkwater9778 kzbin.info/www/bejne/apPagXp8bcqkhNk

[@wandawilliams3707]

@@AdventureIsOutThere I stand corrected.

[@dianamoore2241]

I & my husband and Son lived in Cades Cove for a month back in '72 . The Campground store was not that big then. Cades Cove was my husband's favorite place. He had worked at the stables when he was a teenager during the Summer. His ashes were scattered on the place where he & his family always camped. Probably his parents ' ashes are there, too..

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Sounds like your family has a lot of history with Cades Cove Tennessee!

[@CaboWabotv]

you're bringing me down man

[@carolm8003]

Ver cool story to share. Proper place to choose for him

[@deanna3301]

Greetings! Hubby and I just got back from that area and we LOVED our trip. The Smokies are so very beautiful! I would definitely like a return trip and hopefully it'll be far sooner than later. Also, I love your references of God. Truly, He created the heavens and the earth and everything therein. Including The Great Smokies! 😊

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Hopefully you can make it back someday...Soli Deo gloria!

[@gatlinburg-gal]

Some of my fondest memories, riding in Cades Cove, Priceless! 2 summers in a row, rode at daybreak on Saturday & Wednesday's, took less than an hour and there are 17 hills! :) Words or video just can't explain this unbelievable adventure experience!

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Agreed, being there in person is the way to do it Val!

[@OldMovieRob]

Another great video. You make East Tennessee look so inviting.

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

We love living here & sharing places like Cades Cove Rob!

[@CaboWabotv]

Great job Brie!

[@christianhyder558]

Nice to see some footage from the Mountains of home.

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Happy to bring you along with us to Cades Cove Christian!

[@smokymountainman4964]

We love Cades Cove. It is one of the most beautiful places that the Lord created. We visit it wvery time we are in the smokies. My wife and I are members of the Cades Cove Preservation Association. We seek to keep the wonderful history of Cades Cove alive. It truly is a special place. It is far more than a place to look for bear and deer, there was a whole community of people who called Cades Cove Home. I have never biked it but that surly would be a great way to see it. We took several hay rides around tne Cades Cove Loop. That was really fun.

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Glad to take you along Smoky Mountain Man! We plan to go back more often & explore more areas in upcoming videos!

[@smokymountainman4964]

@AdventureIsOutThere you go back and I will be sure to join you. What a great adventure this was. It would be great to be back there with no cars. You know how much I love the smokies. The ice cream was a great reward.

[@dianamoore2241]

I have some good bear & deer stories from having lived there 😊

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

I bet!

[@davidmeek3104]

I love Cades cove

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

We do too!

[@thecurtisfamily3810]

Can't wait to see that place in August. Hope to see you all as well. That would be fun.

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Say hi anytime!

[@dianamoore2241]

Thanks for the trip, good buddy 😊. What a nice treat for me ❤.

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Glad you enjoyed it Diana! We will be doing more Wednesday bike rides through September & hope to upload more showing some of the churches & hikes off the loop!

[@dianamoore2241]

@@AdventureIsOutThere .... that ice cream sure looked good 😊.

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

@@dianamoore2241 It was! A nice treat after biking 11 miles!

[@dianamoore2241]

@@AdventureIsOutThere ... and the camp store has improved. Back then, it was just a small grocery store...no merchandise like they have now. I live in Knoxville.

[@dennehy69]

Oh thank you! Cases Cove is a very special place for my family! This video meant so much…thank you for your beautifully filmed videos.

[@heidimartin6711]

Gorgeous!! Thank you for sharing❤

[@rob2132]

Cades cove is so beautiful we were just there yesterday! We saw 2 black bears and bunches of Elk! Please be careful. Enjoy your biking trip! Safe travels!

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Awesome Rob

[@marilynmoeller8855]

Beautiful. God is great.

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Yes indeed!

[@mariemills9759]

My husband and I need to do that trip on our bikes. God is a great creator 😊❤

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Hopefully you can someday!

[@kerrijohnson6029]

Hello from Missouri and Thank you for sharing! Biking through Cades Cove seems more adventurous. I appreciate y’all showing us the bike rental part since my husband and I will rent bikes AND we are ice cream lovers too! 😂 God Bless! -Kerri Jo

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Our pleasure Kerri! Hopefully you can someday soon!

[@paperinkspirations]

Another great video! Nice to see people biking Cades Cove and actually using the pedals as more than just footrests. Good for you!

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Thanks KrissyLizzy! Calories were definitely burnt to earn that ice cream! 🍦😁

[@CaboWabotv]

yup the fat Yankees use the electric assist the entire time and get zero exercise

[@deannatrendel5296]

Let's leave the bears alone folks your in there yard respect it!

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

👍

[@sexymariett]

That's a nice trail & a beautiful day thanks for sharing God Bless🙏🏾😇

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Our pleasure T Thomas!

[@lindasedberry9480]

So much fun🎉

[@carolm8003]

Great share! I really thought it would be very crowded and intimidating with serious bikers /runners wizzing around. We went by car and I thought I’m glad we didn’t try to ebike it due to the hills and twists. Your video broke it down for me! We were there first week of May ,saw 13 bears /cubs which was awesome, but I might have been scared on a bike. I’m a scaredy-cat who is out of shape though! Can you swap around your bike seats?

[@judywright4725]

Love Publix, loved your bike trip! Thanks😍

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Glad you could virtually join, we plan to do many more in the future Judy!

[@FamousFiveAmos]

Jealous! We went last fall and didn’t see any at all. The only time I’ve bikes Cades cove was when I was 13…20 years ago! Time to do it again as I start training for an Ironman next year. Very nice family outing.

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Brie has a new bike coming & we plan to go back soon. The kids made it through the last time we went, but having electric assist made it a much more enjoyable experience for Micah.

[@judyparker8283]

My daddy and I did this a long time ago. Great memory!

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Awesome Judy! Cades Cove is a great place to build memories!

[@keyman6689]

I would want to see the bear from far away! We saw some bears at the side of the road in Canada. I was happy to be safe in the car!

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Thankfully we have black bears and not grizzly bears. Black bears can certainly be dangerous, but if Cades Cove was loaded with grizzly bears I would probably want faster bikes!

[@CaboWabotv]

I wish Roaring Fork also had a car-free Wednesday. I'd love to ride my mountain bike through there and across all the wooden bridges

[@dianamoore2241]

Been years since I was there... looks like the road is better.

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

🐻👍

[@shirleykinney3777]

I enjoyed that.Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Our pleasure Shirley!

[@user-yk1ir7sz1i]

I love this video. I enjoy watching your family so much. You always have good information, but it's the way you are genuinely caring for others & one another that really stands out.

[@melissabibby7310]

Great Video for family fun, thanks for taking us along. Have a nice evening.👍❤️🙏

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Thanks Melissa, you too!

[@jamesyu613]

Glad you guys had an awesome day

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

It was a fun bike ride! We hope to do another on an upcoming Wednesday!

[@jamesyu613]

@@AdventureIsOutThere yw and can't wait

[@TealOxAdv]

Love the video. Cades Cove is an awesome place. We’ve hiked part of the loop and plan to bike it next time we are in town. 15:12

[@SmokyMtFaithFoodFun]

We absolutely love this video. Cades Cove has such a special place in our hearts. Christy and I got married in the primitive Baptist church in Cades Cove ❤️. Brie did such a great job!

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Which cades cove church was it that you got married in? I was so delighted with all her recent battles with vertigo she was able to make the drive & doo the full 11 mile loop! God is good!

[@SmokyMtFaithFoodFun]

@@AdventureIsOutThere we were married in the Primitive Baptist Church on a very cold but beautiful November morning!

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

@@SmokyMtFaithFoodFun Nice! I will have to check bike down to that one next time and walk around a little bit. I hope to do a tour of Cades Cove Churches in the future!

[@shelleybauer4955]

So beautiful! I’ve only driven around the Cades Cove loop, I’ve never biked it!

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

We LOVE biking it. Go at your own pace & no Bear jams!

[@amberbryant8141]

So beautiful views of Cades Cove. ❤🫶🏻 I not know that only Wednesday bike ride 🚲

[@CaboWabotv]

Wednesday is no cars, only bikes and walkers

[@debraallison2552]

Thank you for posting this. What an awesome experience 😊

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Our pleasure Debra!

[@reginacelia8966]

That looks like so much fun! I would definitely need an electric bike 😂 I Love Cades Cove so much! Thanks y’all for taking me along ❤️🙌🙌🎉

[@diamondpaintingwithsweett]

Awesome views! 💜 Thanks so much for this amazing adventure! Bet that "shusi" was fabulous 🤣

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Indeed...I got my mords wixed up!

[@reneebarrow4697]

By the way, FYI, from the Florida Panhandle. Last night, Friday night, it was 100° heat index at 8:30 p.m. Tonight, Saturday, we had a little rain storm come through. It is 88° heat index right now at 11 p.m. Don't ya'll miss this Florida weather.😄 I hope ya'll are having cooler weather than we are. ❤️

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

It was a cool night at Dollywood for us watching the fireworks, we don’t miss the FL humidity! We have family from FL here right now & will be driving back with one of our kiddos. They are going to some Rays games. I am pretty jealous of that!

[@reneebarrow4697]

@@AdventureIsOutThere RAYS UP!!! At least their home games are inside.

[@bevhermann6925]

Its 95° at 11:30pm here in Az

[@dianamoore2241]

The deer usually come out in the morning and evening.

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

It just worked out timing wise for us this day to be there in the middle of the day. Still glad to see the Cades Cove Black Bears & Deer that we did!

[@DuaneRussell-jm5rx]

Way cool area. Even after 9 visits to the area we just got into the park last year to enjoy it. We will defiantly have to do the loop in Caves Cove next trip. Glad to see Brie is doing well.

[@zabajart]

Nice video, yea I was wondering where the daughters were , don’t see them these days since I first followed you all some time back , but really enjoyed the 360 camera views, and nice bike rides and stops, my wife and I drove it last September, but must be nice to ride bikes on the day without traffic, God Bless you all 😀😀😀, Thanks

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Hey Erich. They were at summer camp together when we filmed this. Micah was living it up as an only child during this week! 😁 After biking Cades Cove, it would be hard to drive it. It is so peaceful to stop whenever you want & not be stuck in bear jams!

[@gatlinburg-gal]

Ryan, you might want to explain the horse back riding & carriage rides they offer, we don't hear much about the carriages and would be fun for older folks & Hayrides in the fall. I'd imagine the wildlife would be used to the horses and you could see some wildlife that way too??

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

We will highlight different things on future bike rides. Brie has battled vertigo recently and just wanted to keep moving along to not have the time out too long for her. Thankfully she ended up doing great! But thanks, I would definitely want to go back doing a video highlighting the carriages!

[@marcboulanger4300]

Great video, but my legs are shot now. :D

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Lol…thanks Marc!

[@dianamoore2241]

Take a horseback ride to the Rich Mountain fire tower. I've done it.

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

We will have to check that out someday...thanks Diana!

[@smokymountainman4964]

I have that lifes better in the mountains Cades Cove shirt. I got it there at the Cades Cove Campground Store

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Awesome, they have lots of neat stuff at the Cades Cove Campground Store!

[@smokymountainman4964]

@AdventureIsOutThere yeah! They sure do ! the next time I need to get that Adventure is Out There Shirt.😊

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

@@smokymountainman4964 it wasn’t the coolest looking design shirt, but our favorite phrase on any shirt. Well actually work on designing some really fun shirts in the future. We have a T-shirt shop I just haven’t made it public yet.

[@smokymountainman4964]

Let me know when you have shirts available because I would buy one.

[@68dreamer2941]

We drive thru there July 3rd. We saw a bear before we event entered the Cove, then saw a small cub right along the road!❤️

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Glad you were able to see a cub!

[@eliscott8651]

As a resident of the smokey mountains do not go looking for bears. They'll find you. But be careful in the mountains.

[@timothygriffin1062]

I was "shocked" to see how well you 3 did with the electric bikes, all "positive" and nothing "negative"! "Watt" do you all think?

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

LOL...I see what you did there! Last time we didn't have electric bikes, this helped a lot in some steep areas!

[@planetfrontierland]

Just wondering, do you still need a permit to film in the national park or did they get rid of that? Great video by the way?

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

We have discussed rules & regs with Park Rangers & safely abided by all national park laws while recording this experience. Thanks PFL!

[@planetfrontierland]

Oh that’s good, I know a lot of KZbinrs said that you have to get a permit to film in the national parks if you make any kind of money now off of KZbin videos but I’m glad they change that so you don’t get in trouble. Great work looking forward to the next videos.

[@CaboWabotv]

@@planetfrontierland Will just lied about that because they are way too fat and lazy to get out and film these days, they especially can't do physical activities. He needed a good excuse and found one.

[@derekk6906]

YITS isn’t the only KZbin vlogger to over exaggerate that new policy.

[@reneebarrow4697]

Great video and good job. GO Brie. I could never have made it. Thanks for sharing more of God's creations. Love Cades Cove. You just don't see the wildlife like you used to approximately 40 to 50 years ago. We used to see 150+ deer 🦌 back then before we even finished the loop. I wish it was like that now. I miss it being like that. I wish the biologist with the park services could figure out why it is not as plentiful with wildlife like it was back then. The last few times we were there at different times of the year, we saw very little wildlife and we also saw signs of wild hogs and saw a couple of hog traps in the woods. Love the beautiful scenery but I was raised to go to Cades Cove for especially the wildlife. Not worth going all the way out there anymore if you have seen it for the past 50+ years and the wildlife depleting. Still loved your video very much. God bless.❤️

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Thanks Renee!

[@dianamoore2241]

The pull off places are new.

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

🐻👍

[@SweetSouthernLiving]

Another great video! Did you guys have to get a permit to film? We've been wondering how the process is...

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Thanks SSL! We have discussed rules & regs with a Park Ranger we know well who deals with PR & safely abided by all national park laws while recording this experience.

[@dianamoore2241]

In the Fall, someone makes Molasses at the Cable mill or they used to.

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

We hope to go by the visitor center on a future bike ride trip!

[@melindavasquez6404]

Loved your video! Such a great family trip. Im planning a trip soon to Cades Cove. Question: the earliest someone can enter the loop is 8am, if you ride your car through the loop? You can’t go like at sunrise-6am to beat the traffic and the heat? Thanks in advance.

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

The road out to the loop/parking is open 24/7. The Park Rangers just won't open the loop road until 8am. Hope this helps & glad you enjoyed joining us!

[@66landy]

Great video…Im planning going in october, you said bike only is on wednesday until september..can I still do bike anyday in October?….and by the way you need bigger bikes👍🏻…thanks!!

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Thanks! You can bike any day, but having no cars on the road is REALLY nice!

[@teresacantrell7400]

Just wondering how long it took to ride your bike through the Cove?

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

I put time stamps on the video anticipating this may get asked and I would very well forget. We started at 1:30pm & made it back to the car at 3:15...so 1hr & 45min total for 11 miles with stops for water & to look at black bears/deer.

[@marcischubert4494]

How long did the full 11 miles take you?

[@CaboWabotv]

The Cades Cove loop on Wednesdays is like a human sushi train for hungry bears

[@ITalk4-2]

How much time did it take you for the bike ride around the loop?

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

I put time stamps on the video anticipating this may get asked and so I wouldn't forget. We started at 1:30pm & made it back to the car at 3:15...so 1hr & 45min total for 11 miles with stops for water & to look at black bears/deer.

[@carolm8003]

Helpful info thx!

[@mattphillips8804]

What is the camera you're using while you ride?

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Insta 360 x3. First time playing with it really. Going to refine settings to get better quality on the next one. I do like it better than my GoPro, because I can just be in the moment and not worry about where the camera is facing. I plan to do a equipment and software breakdown of what I use cause I get asked often hopefully soon .

[@HoosierintheSC]

What brand of bike did you use?

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Hey Richard, the kids have some from walmart.com & I picked up this Jetson Bolt Pro (amzn.to/3NWOWTG). Brie is getting a new electric trike soon we will show off when she gets it.

[@HoosierintheSC]

@@AdventureIsOutThere OK cool thanks!

[@dalals.5421]

What week was this storm?

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

Maybe you meant to leave a comment on a different video. We had a a lot of rain come through Wed/Thu of this week.

[@dalals.5421]

@@AdventureIsOutThere yup, you are right, this video started as I was leaving the comment on the previous. Sorry

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

@@dalals.5421 👍

[@davidmeek3104]

One thing about it if you go to three bears you get to pay three bucks a piece or at least it used to be that price

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

We covered the bears at Three Bears on the next day: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZq9qKVrismggdk

[@CaboWabotv]

the bears at 3 Bears market look so sad and pitiful in captivity. I wouldn't recommend supporting that place even if it's only $3

[@robertg8875]

Im curious when your biking cades cove and if a bear decides to chase you which they live there ! Since you can pedal faster than your kids how do out run them ?and protect your kids ?

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

I would always protect my wife/kids. We have black bears not grizzlies. They are monitored closely by park rangers & any that loose fear of humans get relocated. There is risk in some way every time you leave your home, but one can't live a life guided by fear.

[@robertg8875]

@AdventureIsOutThere like a small chance of getting bit by a shark in the ocean ?

[@AdventureIsOutThere]

@@robertg8875 exactly...there is always a chance. But life is short, as long as it is a calculated risk with a good reward...go for it!