Nature's Beauty Unfolds Year-Round At This Hidden Valley Destination In The Smokies

The most-visited area in America's most-visited national park is Cades Cove, a picturesque valley nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains. Every year, an average of 11.5 million people pass through the park, with many making the one-way drive along the 11-mile loop road that surrounds Cades Cove. Though it's paradoxically been called a hidden valley due to its recessed nature, Cades Cove is more an open secret among its many visitors. Nature lovers and history buffs come here to see wildlife, waterfalls, forest trails, log cabins, 19th-century churches and mills, and seasonal flowers and foliage. It's all conveniently located just over 30 miles from Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

According to the National Park Service, more than half the U.S. population lives within a day's drive of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which also extends into North Carolina. When you arrive in Cades Cove with your $5 parking tag, don't be surprised to find the lot full, with a long line of cars stretching down the road. Summer and fall are the peak tourist season, and the traffic jams are sometimes exacerbated by animals like black bears and white-tailed deer. Just think of this as nature's way of telling you to slow down and appreciate the mountain scenery.

Cars aren't allowed to get any closer than 50 yards to the animals, so it can take upwards of two to four hours to complete the 11-mile loop. For a longer journey, there are hiking trails you can pick up and paved pullouts along the road where you can stop. Cades Cove reserves Wednesdays from May to September as vehicle-free days for pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy.

The first major landmark on Cades Cove Loop Road is the John Oliver cabin, the area's oldest historic structure. It dates to the 1820s, though Oliver and his family — the first permanent European settlers here — originally put down roots in 1818. Their neighbors were the Cherokee people, who shared food and helped them get through their first winter. A Cherokee leader, Chief Kade, is thought to be the namesake of Cades Cove.

Down the road, one of the other cabins you'll see is the place where Oliver's son, Elijah, lived after he returned home from the Civil War. There are also several late 19th-century and early 20th-century churches, including the Primitive Baptist Church, home to the oldest cemetery in Cades Cove. After that, you can access hiking trails like the Abrams Falls Trail, a 5-mile, out-and-back route that begins near stop #10. Bring your bear spray and be prepared to cross a few log bridges on your way to one of the most dangerous U.S. waterfalls, which takes its name from another Cherokee chief.

Hiking isn't the only way to get around, as you can also take guided horseback rides, hayrides, and carriage rides courtesy of Cades Cove Riding Stables. Perhaps the most recognizable postcard symbol of Cades Cove is the Cable Mill, a hydro-powered mill that was used to grind corn as the valley developed into a remote farming community. Located by the Cades Cove Visitor Center, it serves as the centerpiece of a historic area that includes a corn crib, a unique cantilever barn, and a working blacksmith shop and sorghum mill.

The fall foliage views in the Smoky Mountains are amazing, and Cades Cove is no exception to that. The Cable Mill and other landmarks are even more camera-ready when surrounded by autumn leaves, with the crisp mountain air making outdoor activities more enjoyable, too. As the weather cools off, it draws out the wildlife, and you may even see some live turkeys around Thanksgiving time. When you're done touring Cades Cove, you can visit Gatlinburg for a fall getaway.

Abrams Falls sometimes freezes over in the winter, but Cades Cove Loop Road is still open, weather permitting, and it might give you the chance to see the valley blanketed in snow. Spring and early summer are wildflower season, with flame azaleas blooming in June on the grassy bald that gives the Gregory Bald Trail its name. At 4,900 feet up, it offers expansive views of the Great Smoky Mountains. You can also see black-eyed Susans growing in the valley's green meadows, while the park as a whole has over 1,500 varieties of flowering plants, more than any other U.S. national park.

Thanks to its proximity to Pigeon Forge, Cades Cove can easily be combined with a trip to the Dollywood amusement park. In Gatlinburg, you can ride the Alpine Slide down Ober Mountain, or walk across the SkyBridge, the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America. Whether you just drive through or stop for lunch in the picnic area, Cades Cove offers a gateway to so much that it's well worth visiting any time of year.