What-To-Do Issue 1 2025-2026 - Magazine - Page 30
Nature’s Beauty
(continued from page 28)
Cades Cove
In Cades Cove, located at the western end of the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park, the past is intertwined with nature.
Visitors can hike, bike, horseback ride or drive through the area.
To tour Cades Cove, start off driving the one-way 11-mile loop
that follows the outer edge of the cove. You’ll be slowly cruising the curves and exclaiming at each new vista that opens up
before you. There are two crossover roads if you need a shortcut to
the exit or want to revisit a section of Cades Cove. From mid-May
through early September, Saturdays and Wednesdays from dawn
until 10am, the road is reserved for cyclists and closed to vehicles.
Whenever you visit, allow at least a half-day for your visit, especially during the busier tourist seasons.
If you’re in the valley and want to explore, take advantage of
some of the many hiking trails that lead off from Cades Cove. Two
popular hikes are the Abrams Falls Trail (easy 5-mile round trip) and
the Gregory Ridge Trail (strenuous 11.4-mile round trip). The first
trail starts off crossing Abrams Creek by bridge and then takes you
up the gorge to the picturesque Abrams Falls. The water plunges
over a bluff down 20 feet into a quiet pool 100 feet across. Gregory
Ridge Trail is considered one of the most scenic trails in the park,
with open vistas and the bare rocks of Gregory Bald. From late June
to early July, you’ll see the glorious colors of the flaming azaleas
that are in bloom.
In the past, Cades Cove was a vital hunting ground of the
Cherokee Indians. When the first white settlers started arriving
in the early 1800s, they were helped by Kate, the wife of Chief
Abraham. It is believed that the name Cades Cove evolved from
Kate’s Cove. By the mid-1800s there were 132 families (about 500
people) farming the precious flat land.
Take time to discover the many wonderful aspects of these
unique natural settings nestled within the Great Smoky Mountains.
The sights you’ll encounter will remain with you for a lifetime.
Hiking
Hikers enjoy the Smoky Mountains
during all months of the year. Some
of the most popular destination hikes
in the park include: Charles Bunion,
Alum Cave Bluffs, Andrew Bald,
Ranbow Falls, and Chimney Tops.
Start by deciding on what you would
like to see. Waterfalls? Old-growth
forests? Endless views? Then decide
how far you would like to hike. Five
miles roundtrip is a good maximum
distance for amateurs.
Historic Structures
John P. Cable Mill
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One of the most complete collections of
historic structures in is in Cades Cove. Tour
the cabins of the pioneer families. Halfway
along the loop is where you’ll see the John
P. Cable Mill. Its water wheel drove one of
the early grist mills and was one of the few
sources of power in Cades Cove. The Mill is
open from April-October to teach visitors
a little about life in the 1800s. In this area,
visitors can also tour a blacksmith shop,
a cantilever barn, and a representative
frame house.
