Smoky Mountain National Park - Cades Cove - Tennessee

Cades Cove is an 11 mile one-way scenic loop on the West Side of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park in Tennessee. The valley was home to numerous settlers before the formation of the National Park. Here you will find numerous homesteads, churches, beautiful meadows and abundant wildlife.
In this video I'll show you what to expect if you plan to visit. I recommend entering the National Park through Townsend with a lot less traffic than Gatlinburg.
If you have time, I do recommend also visiting the Smoky Mountain Heritage Center, preserving the history of the Native Americans that once inhabited the area.
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[@zuzannawisniewska4464]

This place is on my list to visit in 2024. Thank you for the beautiful video. Greetings from Fort Worth, Texas

[@SwiftyTravels]

Thanks so much for watching! It's a beautiful park!

[@zuzannawisniewska8339]

We love Cades Cove we will back October there this. ❤ Hope you are well...from Fort Worth, Texas

[@SwiftyTravels]

Thank you! I would love to visit in October!!!

[@jonterry9843]

Thanks for taking me along on a fun visit!

[@SwiftyTravels]

Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for watching!

[@Pyrocam13]

When I was at Cades Cove a few years ago, there was a couple having their wedding ceremony at one of the churches inside Cades Cove. That is lovely

[@SwiftyTravels]

Oooo!! That would be lovely!! 🥰

[@danacarter4793]

My parents took us every year and as an adult i still try to go to the Smokies once a year ,ive been for all 4 seasons , Spring is my favorite,warm days ,cool nights in the hot tubs (all the cabins have them ,almost) some trees will be blooming down on like pigeon forge and little spotting of snow on the ground in high elevation and the least busiest 😊 EDIT : You have to do Christmas in Gatlinburg at least once , fall foliage as well ❤️

[@SwiftyTravels]

Thank you! I would love to see the park in the different seasons!

[@danacarter4793]

@@SwiftyTravels ever season offers something different 🥰

[@CactusAtlas]

SO. GREEN. I see so many videos of this area on KZbin that I can't help but feel we must go someday. It looks lovely and I love that there's so many historic buildings and cabins. Just don't know if the opportunity would ever arise. And yay bear! Poor thing was probably just wanting to know why everyone wanted to watch it nap. 😂

[@SwiftyTravels]

😂😂 yes, that bear was just trying to relax! Or maybe he was people watching! Ha! I go occasional to Tennessee for work so I try and visit the Smokies when I can.

[@barbara260]

Yes he was saying i see y’all staring at me ugg go away 😅

[@OpenRoad4Two]

SMNP is on our list! What a beautiful area, so much to see and do. Fall would definitely make an ideal time to visit. It would be so magical. 🍁🍂 Thanks for the tour. Great video! 🐻

[@SwiftyTravels]

It is so pretty-fall would be better! I wonder if it’s less crowded in the fall…I don’t know?!?

[@mollyhottinger7936]

Thank you for the tour. Looks like a fun place to explore in person.

[@SwiftyTravels]

You are welcome! It’s a lovely drive!!

[@TheJournalofanExplorer]

Been loving the recent videos, good to see parts of America i'd have never considered visiting before

[@SwiftyTravels]

Thanks so much! I have many more new places- I'm so behind!😂😂😂 I appreciate you!

[@ManzanoManATVAdventures]

What an incredible place to visit and so much history to look at. I don’t know why, but when I visit cemeteries I find it interesting to see old ones because I bet they could tell you a story or two. I agree, if I were a bear I would be in the shade now far from a water source. Take care and thank for sharing.

[@SwiftyTravels]

Yes, I agree, I love walking around old cemeteries!!!

[@PanhandleHopper]

We had a great time when we were there. Great tip to bring binoculars. We definitely caught site of a few critters in the distance that we couldn't quite make out.

[@SwiftyTravels]

Binoculars would have been a great idea!

[@JenniferLupine]

Thanks for the tour of Cades Cove. I’ve heard about it before, but never had the driving tour and overview! Too bad it was so hot when you were there. The historic buildings look cool and great opportunities for wildlife viewing! 👍👍😄🌻🌻

[@SwiftyTravels]

Glad you enjoyed it! I've been several times and it never disappoints. :-)

[@AleSalvino]

Cades Cove wow! What a valley and great opportunity to see wildlife! 09:27 super interesting little house surrounded by green and mountains. Feels like a nice place and a bit of traffic too but I can imagine because it's a scenic loop!

[@SwiftyTravels]

Thank you very much! It's the most popular area of this national park, and for good reason since it's so easily accessible. Thanks for watching!

[@Smokeboats]

So many fond memories of camping here throughout the years.

[@SwiftyTravels]

Camping here would be amazing!!

[@barbara260]

They allow camping?

[@LivingtheSilverLife]

Cades Cove is full of so much homesteading history. Love the old cabins. We have seen quite a few wild turkeys where we are in the New England states. I bet it is beautiful right now. No bears but unbearable traffic. 😂😂. Finally a black bear. Cool.

[@SwiftyTravels]

No bears but unbearable traffic- I love it! ha! Thanks for watching!!😄

[@JakeMillerDoesTravel]

I’ve never been to the Smoky Mountains but it looks beautiful!

[@SwiftyTravels]

For desert rats like us, it is SO pretty!! :-)

[@barbara260]

I enjoyed watching this !! And i love especially seeing the animals and everything ❤ Hope to see more of your videos . I’ll probably never get to go at my age and being disabled but i love seeing everything in this video and i can imagine I’m there with you lol so thank you for making it and sharing it ❤ oh i do have a question 🙋‍♀️ why would you love to visit the graves at night? Just curious 🧐 ty

[@SwiftyTravels]

Thanks so much!! Oh.. the graveyard thing.. I’m a fan of spooky things and ghost tours and stuff… that’s what I was referring to.. would be spooky at night😂😂👻

[@WeatherLoverSky]

It's a beautiful video. I can see your wonderful thoughts.

[@SwiftyTravels]

Thank you very much!

[@bennysmemestore2274]

Was there in mid July with the family arriving right after a heavy storm Sunday evening. The sun opened up the skies and basically had the entire loop to myself.

[@SwiftyTravels]

That sounds fantastic!!!

[@CelticPaths4k]

You always visit wonderful places and the scenery here is really beautiful my friend

[@SwiftyTravels]

Thanks so much!!

[@amazedbytravels]

Wonderful tour, lovely horses, greetings from Canada

[@SwiftyTravels]

Thank you very much!

[@EmilyandTom]

This place looks SO beautiful! Those horses are just gorgeous. Thanks for all your infomation - definitely gave us a good picture of what to expect :) and that BEAR that is SO cool!! you were so lucky!! Thanks for the awesome vid - catch you next time! Em + Tom

[@SwiftyTravels]

Thanks for stopping by! I did feel super lucky to see that cute bear!! (From a distance!)

[@EmilyandTom]

@@SwiftyTravels We've subbed so we'll see you next vid! Hopefully we can catch some other wildife :)

[@AdamandMadalyn]

We love the smokies!!! We will have to check out cases cove on our next visit!!

[@SwiftyTravels]

I love all the opportunities to see the wildlife!

[@athorpe630]

Such a beautiful place. I've been to Maggie Valley but not Caves Code now this is on my bucket list. Great job with the bear!!

[@SwiftyTravels]

Thanks! I was shocked! I highly recommend visiting this area of the park!

[@Don-md6wn]

@@SwiftyTravels You should check out Cataloochee Valley the next time you're in the vicinity of the Smokies. It's in the NC section of the park, exit 20 off I-40 (very close to Maggie Valley). It is home to a herd of elk (maybe 40-50) and the rut is from about mid August to mid October. The elk come out of the woods to the meadows around the road that goes through Cataloochee in early morning and late afternoon. On cool/rainy days they will stay out in the meadows most of the day. Cataloochee also has some old historical buildings like Cades Cove, including a church and a schoolhouse. Wildlife beyond the elk include deer, black bears and wild turkeys. The second most likely place to see elk in the GSMNP is in the fields near the Oconoluftee Visitors Center where the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway connects with the GSMNP.

[@SwiftyTravels]

@@Don-md6wn that sounds fantastic! I love seeing wildlife! Thanks so much for the tips!!!

[@AnnMitt]

Really enjoyable video. Well done 👏. I'll be in Gatlinburg 9/23/23, but I don't know if I'd have the patience for the crowd in Cades Cove, especially the slow traffic.

[@SwiftyTravels]

Thank you! You may want to look up Laurel Falls. Beautiful hike up on a paved path. My only complaint was there weren’t any restrooms at the trailhead

[@minifoodies9448]

Fantastic ur video pop up on my screen and I so entertained❤️ 😃 Happy to see u friend and want to see ur videos more & more👍

[@SwiftyTravels]

Thank you so much 😁

[@NaomisAdventures]

Beautiful place

[@SwiftyTravels]

It really is!

[@vs123]

The Scenery is very view natrue beautiful

[@SwiftyTravels]

Thank you it is beautiful!

[@katherinehayes9110]

I have been through Cades Cove many times in my childhood and as a young adult.i have never been to Cataloochie.I hope to see that valley my next visit to GSMNP.Thanks for posting. Beautiful place so much history A lady was killed in Cades Cove several yrs ago by a momma bear with cubs.The lady approached the momma to take pictures and was attacked. I am.assuming the park rangers are just trying to keep visitors safe.

[@SwiftyTravels]

Yes the rangers were keeping everyone at a distance. Thanks so much for watching!!!

[@HaibatVlogs]

Superb sharing my Friend 👌 Stay safe stay connected 🙏

[@SwiftyTravels]

Thanks so much for stopping by!

[@zuzannawisniewska4464]

" Into the mountains I go to lose my mind and find my soul " ---- John Muir

[@birdiebella1160]

I just went yesterday and those horses are the best

[@SwiftyTravels]

Are the leaves changing yet?

[@birdiebella1160]

@@SwiftyTravels yes it’s very very beautiful the mountains are green and orange I got some AMAZING 🤩 pictures but it is very cold

[@SwiftyTravels]

@@birdiebella1160 I would LOVE to visit in the fall!!!! Awesome!

[@SorgiStories]

No Bears, but a slow conga line in Tennessee…oh, wait…🐻? Yes!! But just beautiful terrain. Reminds me of West Virginia, my wife’s home state.

[@SwiftyTravels]

😂😂😂 LOL, ,yes, I was so surprised I caught that bear at the end of the day! My grandmother lived in Virginia not too far from here, and yes, that whole area is so pretty!! Thanks for watching!

[@terrysweat4187]

Well I can see that it hasn’t change since I was there years ago it’s still just as beautiful as always. And great job on getting the 🐻 on your video that was awesome to see them out in the heat of the day,but looks like he was just chilling out and being a camera hog.!!😂😂

[@SwiftyTravels]

Thanks! I was so lucky catching the bear!

[@TheLiveOutLoudFamily]

Thanks so much for this! We were considering going this weekend and this was super helpful 💕❤️

[@SwiftyTravels]

Awesome! Thanks so much for watching! Glad I could help! I'll bet it's so beautiful right now!

[@user-rz3gv2gp9y]

Traffic!!! The bane of The Cove and let's not forget to mention those who think THEY are animal whisperer's and hold up traffic because of there insanity lol but it's all SO worth it!

[@SwiftyTravels]

😂😂 yes- you definitely can’t be in a hurry here

[@happinessloveyoursmile]

Very beautiful✨👍👍👍

[@SwiftyTravels]

Thank you very much

[@happinessloveyoursmile]

@@SwiftyTravels 😊

[@leightzmill]

Very contrasting to the cades cove video i saw before this one. According to that channel and comments, it's a dodgy, scary place to be. Feral people etc. Looks a really nice place.

[@SwiftyTravels]

That’s weird- I’ve been on more than one occasion and it was fine just crowded..

[@leightzmill]

@@SwiftyTravels I think the channel i saw chases folklore. But i was looking for real Apalachian videos, such as yours. Stunning looking place.

[@Chillmasti9999]

Wowww veryewell you're channel amazing videos great yar new friend from pakistan /

[@SwiftyTravels]

Thanks so much!!!

[@jimmyfishburn7894]

Live in Maryville and ancestors were from Cades Cove. Fyi The cove was allowed to close on Wednesdays for bikers and hikers. Aggravating but share and share alike. Enjoy.

[@SwiftyTravels]

Thanks! Biking the area would be so much fun!!!

[@user-wm1js2no9x]

Went there afew years ago, saw quite afew blackbear it was sad to see the graffiti in 100 plus year old homesteds. But a beautiful area.🐻😮‍💨

[@SwiftyTravels]

Graffiti makes me so mad!! It is quite exciting to see the bears!!

[@teamdada2194]

I never seen so much traffic in my entire life. Today on a friday Oct 21st was the most traffic I’ve ever seen anywhere.

[@SwiftyTravels]

Wow! Everyone must be there for the changing leaves!

[@teamdada2194]

@@SwiftyTravels yes... everyone. 100 cars lined up at cades cove with the gates closed this morning lol. Thought I would beat the crowd at 0600.

[@Don-md6wn]

Cades Cove is ridiculously crowded during the summer and in the second half of October when the leaves are changing. I think the best times to visit there are in the second half of April when things are greening up and the dogwoods are in bloom, and in the second half of September when cool nights without much wind will often create fog over the valley for an hour or two after sunrise. Crowds are generally much lighter than in the peak periods, particularly if you are there when they open the gates at sunrise. There may be a line of 30 or 40 cars but they spread out pretty quickly inside the loop. Late afternoons shortly before dusk is when the loop road can turn into a parking lot as people creep along at 5 miles an hour looking for black bears in the near dark. I'd be out of Cades Cove by mid afternoon and visit other areas of the park, like the nearby and much less visited Tremont, or the Greenbrier section which is just outside of Gatlinburg.

[@rodrogers6895]

Never visit in the Summer! Eleven mile drive takes FOUR hours of Stop, Stopped; go 50 feet. Went June 6, 2023. No one was even stopping at any of the last three locations; everyone just wanted to leave.

[@SwiftyTravels]

It’s rough in the summer!

[@myanyoutube9781]

Like video

[@SwiftyTravels]

Thanks for liking! I appreciate it!

[@trvlnthru]

We have been to Gatlinburg but didn't know much about Smoky Mountain National Park or Cades Cove so we missed it. We are planning to go back to the area next year and I can't wait to see Cades Cove in person. It looks lovely. How far are the churches and the cabins and the mill from the loop? My father in law is planning to come with us and I am concerned he can't walk long distances as easily as we can. Thanks for sharing this tour of the area!

[@SwiftyTravels]

most of them are literally right at the road. This is the perfect place to take someone that can't walk far distances. One of the first ones is a bit of a walk, but the others are super close.

[@trvlnthru]

@@SwiftyTravels Great. Thanks for the information!

[@skyekiana]

How long did it take for you to do the loop? I am actually wanting to go in a couple days but worry about not having enough time. I will stop at just some of the old cabins and mill. Hope I can do it within a few hours

[@SwiftyTravels]

A few hours is definitely doable. Sometimes you can get stuck in traffic. I did this tour plus stopping and filming in one afternoon. I think I entered the loop about 2pm

[@tawnihughes5090]

Did you happen to see any cables on the grave stones

[@SwiftyTravels]

I didn’t- did I miss something?

[@infinitepaths]

There is such amazing wildlife in the US. 🐻 I think we used to have bears and wolves in the UK but Henry VIII or someone hunted to them to extinction 🤔

[@SwiftyTravels]

I actually never considered that we may have more wildlife than the UK. Something I've never thought about! In this area, the wildlife is abundant!!! Thanks for watching!

[@kelliandthekids7901]

you said it was quiet except for the one cicada, but you were ok with all the traffic! Where are you from? Cracks me up! You don’t hear the traffic but hear the one cicada which is the only sound of nature around!

[@SE2stuckup]

I’m planning a trip in mid June. Do you need to make reservations to enter the park? I have visited Yosemite National Park which requires reservations not sure if Smoky mountains are managed the same way

[@SwiftyTravels]

There is no entry gate and no fee you just drive right in.

[@SE2stuckup]

@@SwiftyTravels thank you 🙏.

[@russgare6523]

They used to have a working grist mill there where you could buy corn meal and they had homemade jams in the gift shop the last time I was there the grist mill was operating for display purposes but the FDA no longer let's them sell the corn meal that was made there now it is all prepackaged and the jam in the gift shop came from Vermont if you look at the history of Cades Cove the Government originally seized the land in imminent domain to strip mine there but eventually scrapped the plans and made it into a park

[@russgare6523]

Cades Cove's leading citizen, John W. Oliver, grandson of the original settler, led a lonely and protracted court battle against eminent domain, but lost finally after appealing his case three times before the Tennessee Supreme Court

[@SwiftyTravels]

Thanks so much for the interesting history!

[@timoshi119]

The cove closes to vehicles so folks biking or hiking cam do so freely without worry of cars

[@Caderic]

2:00 it's closed on Wednesday BECAUSE of cyclists. It allows bikes to do the loop with out the fear of motorist.

[@SwiftyTravels]

Thank you!

[@beverlyhill6783]

Yes it’s Terrible - If you ever see bears in the wild - you never ever get out of your car

[@RobStiles-mo5xq]

Get on his a..!

[@dreamhope7339]

Ugh! The voice!

[@ClifPayne]

Her voice is fine, calm and soothing

[@thegrillsfamilyadventure3084]

Poor air quality? Lol ….; why is it called the Smokey Mountains???? It would be disrespectful to go in a Christian graveyard looking for demons! You ain’t from Tennessee that’s for sure.

[@WITYTRAVELS]

Wow; wild turkeys! We love old mills. That is a lot for free! 🐻

[@SwiftyTravels]

I was shocked the first time I went and we weren't stopped to pay!