Great Smoky Mountain National Park is the most visited National Park in the United States. I can totally see why it is the most visited of the National Parks. The beauty and history is hard to beat. If you happen to find yourself in the area of the Smoky Mountains, I highly recommend you take a couple of days and explore this beautiful park.
Cades Cove
Cades Cove is located inside the Smoky Mountain National Park and is a self-guided auto tour. You can find beautiful mountain and grassland views and historic buildings with turkeys, bears, deer and so much more. Cades Cove is about a 30 mile drive from Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. It could take about an hour or more before reaching the Cove as the road is windy. As you drive the windy road you will have lots of chances to view the scenery.
Once you start your way around the 5-mile one way road make sure to take in all the views, historic buildings, hiking trails and beauty. Take your time and bring your patience as traffic jams are a given in Cades Cove. Visiting the area on a rainy day cuts down on the traffic jam and you will be able to see more as well.
I recommend you purchase the self-guided tour from Gypsy.com. It will do commentary about the scenic areas and must stops in this beautiful National Park. Well worth the money and it is nice to here guidance on what you are approaching and seeing for the first time.
There are 3 churches in Cades Cove and the above one is the Primitive Baptist Church. This is the first one that you will come to in the loop. The 2nd church is the Methodist Church which sits on a slight hill right along the road. The final church is Missionary Baptist Church. While we didn’t stop at this church it is supposed to be the most stylish church of the 3 churches in Cades Cove.
Midpoint of the loop is Cable Mill and Visitor Center. I really enjoyed this stop as there is a grist mill along with other buildings. It is really cool to see how things were back in the day without the technology we have today. It was a beautiful area to stop and enjoy nature and all it has to offer. If you are lucky, you will see deer in the field along with turkeys.
Continuing around the loop you will find beautiful mountain views and a few more historic cabins. We didn’t stop at every cabin in the park but we did see everything we wanted in our short time while we were their. We however made a stop at the Tipton homestead. What a beautiful area to have your cabin and to farm the land. The 2-story cabin is amazingly built, and the home is still in great shape. You will find the cabin; cantilever barn a small stream a corn crib and don’t forget the blacksmith barn.
Your almost at the beginning of Cades Cove once you past the Tipton homestead. While Cades Cove is a nice 5-mile loop drive consisting of historical places, views and wildlife, I much rather spend my time visiting the Roaring Fork Loop drive.
Roaring Fork Motor Trail
Oh, what can I say about this scenic loop except it is absolutely gorgeous with all the vegetation around. Lots of rivers and waterfalls, hiking trails and the views up on top were beautiful as well. Ok, so there is a lot of boulders and I mean big boulders not the little kind, but I think that is what made this area special.
Ok, I must admit when we were first trying to get to the motor trail, I was a little skeptical as you are driving in downtown Gatlinburg looking for the 8th stop light, yes, the 8th not the 7th or 9th but the 8th. Then you follow that road, and it will put you on the Roaring Fork Motor Trail. The 5.5-mile loop is another one-way loop, and you will want to take your time to see all the beauty this trail has to offer.
Our first stop was at the cabin of Bud Ogle. A one-story cabin that has a barn up on the hill and lots of boulders around it. Hard to believe they were able to grow and farm in the area with all the boulders. While stopping here you can walk behind the cabin which is about a 1-mile loop. I would say well worth the hike but it is not an easy hike to do. On the mid-way point there is an area that has a mill with the river and all kinds of rhododendrons and vegetation. It is gorgeous.
If you are looking for a little longer hikes try Rainbow Falls or Grotto Falls. Those are the next two stops along the trail and from what I understand are very popular hikes to hike.
If you are a waterfall junkie like me and need to stop every time you see a waterfall then this drive is for you. So many decent sized waterfalls and bigger falls as well that I am sure you will not be disappointed. I loved how the falls were surrounded by rhododendrons and old growth timbers it sure made the views so much nicer.
Today’s giant home’s is no match for these much tinier one room cabins. Can you imagine trying to raise a family in these one room cabins? I certainly would not be able to, but I also wouldn’t need a 5-bedroom, 4-bathroom mansion to live in either.
Moving right along make sure you stop and check out the Reagan Tub Mill that will be on the right-hand side of the road and the parking area will be on your left. Cute little mill and beautiful area with lots of roaring water, rhododendrons and small waterfalls.
Once you pass this mill you are almost out of the one-way tour but first before leaving the Roaring Fork Motor Trail make sure to stop at Ely’s Mills. Great historic place that dates to 1925. You can rent the cabins for overnight stays or check out the gift shop.
Newfound Gap Road
Headed up top to Newfound Gap Road and Clingman’s dome is a very picturesque drive and a very windy road ahead of you with lots of places to pullover and take photos or get a hike in if you need some exercise. The favorite part of this road was the tunnel and the spiral curve. You won’t be able to miss this section of the road.
Next up is Morton Tunnel where I suggest honking your horn when going through it as it is a family tradition in my family to do that anytime we go through a tunnel up into the hills. After the tunnel you will come to two pull outs which are extremely popular among photographers for sunset photos. The second pullout has a slightly better view in my opinion but are both great views and you will not be disappointed.
If you happen to get to the top to where you can either go out to Clingman’s Dome or go to Cherokee, NC and you don’t see any fog or smoke then you picked a great day to be on top that is for sure. The views are breathtaking and beautiful. Enjoy your time on top and please check out Clingman’s Dome if you have time as that is another beautiful area.
From the top you can continue on to Cherokee, NC or go back down into Gatlinburg, TN whatever you choose both will leave you feeling you made a great choice.
Here are a few planning links you can check out for your adventure to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park:
Top 15 things to do in the Smokies per Tripadvisor!
National Park Service Website.
Lodging, hikes and more click here.
Bryson City day drives click here.
If you have been to the Smokies or are planning on going please let me know your thoughts and your favorite part of the park.
