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Latest update: August 2024

Cades Cove...

Best Biking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Cades Cove, a scenic valley in the northwest portion of the National Park in Tennessee, is the most popular destinations for visitors in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with multiple historic structures and abundant wildlife. Activities include biking the Loop Road, hiking, camping, picnicking, and horseback riding. Scenic Abrams Falls is reached via a 5-mile hike. (Detailed map and photos below.)

Biking Map...
Cades Cove - Great Smoky Mountains

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Location: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee (See map)
Distance: 11 mile loop trail
Surface: Paved
Trailheads/Parking: At the start of the Loop, Visitor Center, historic sites,  roadside, at the campground store

Bike Shops/Rentals:
Cades Cove Bikes (park concessionaire; rentals)

Biking at Cades Cove... Comments and Photos

Cades Cove Loop Road is our favorite biking destination in the Smokies. The 11-mile paved loop includes 18th and 19th century churches and homes, with a self-guided tour booklet available. Biking is best from May to September when the road is closed to auto traffic all day on Wednesdays. Other days, traffic jams are common as people stop to admire the scenery and watch the wildlife. Some of the hills are quite steep, we admit to walking part of the way. Note: the only restrooms are at the Visitor Center, campground and picnic area.

• The Loop Road is open year-round, but weather and other conditions may affect access, check for alerts and closures
• There is no entrance fee but a parking tag is required for vehicles parking for 15 minutes or more. Daily, weekly and annual options are available.

Cades Cove Loop Road

Cades Cove Loop Road is wonderful whether biking, driving, or hiking. Visit its numerous historic sites (the Cove has the largest variety of preserved and restored historic structures in the Great Smoky Mountains) and the Visitor Center. Enjoy the scenic setting, and watch abundant wildlife, hike its trails, or enjoy a leisurely picnic.

Sparks and Hyatt Lanes

Take a shortcut at Sparks Lane for a 4-mile loop, or at Hyatt Lane for an 8-mile loop. On the Sparks Lane shortcut, a bridge crossing the stream is often under water.

Historic Sites

The Cove was settled in the 1800's and dismantled in the 1930's on creation of the National Park. It has the largest variety of historic buildings in the Great Smoky Mountains, including three churches (Primitive Baptist, Methodist, Missionary Baptist), the Cable Grist Mill, homesteads (John Oliver Cabin, Elijah Oliver Place, Tipton Place, Henry Whitehead Place, Dan Lawson Cabin, Carter Shields Cabin, Becky Cable House). The Cades Cove Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Homesteads

Henry Whitehead Cabin (1895–1896)

 

 

 

Dan Lawson Place (1840s)

Tipton Place (1880s)

 

 

 

Carter Shields Cabin (1880s)

 

 

Churches

Cades Cove Methodist Church

 

 

Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church

 

 

Visitor Facilities

Visitor Center

The Visitor Center, about half-way around the Loop, has parking, restrooms, gift shop, informational exhibits. Historic structures on-site include the Becky Cable House and Cable Mill (an operational grist mill).

Campground

The Campground has both tent and RV camping, group campsites, camp store with restroom and bike rental.

To the Campground

Bike shop

Picnic Area

The Picnic Area is in a shaded, scenic location with parking, picnic tables, restrooms, and stream.

Picnic area

 

 

Restrooms

 

Riding Stable

The riding stable can be seen from the Loop Road, with horses grazing. Guided trail and buggy rides, hayrides.

Horses along Loop

Stables

 

Hiking

Hiking is available on the Loop Road, Abrams Falls Trail (5 miles), Gregory Bald Trail (11.6 mi.), Rich Mountain Loop Trail (8.3 mi.), and Cooper Road Trail (10.5 mi.). We didn't hike at Cades Cove, but viewed a couple of hiking spots around the Loop.

Wildlife

Wildlife include black bears, whitetail deer, elk, coyotes, turkeys and a variety of birds - the wildlife roam freely, keep your distance!! Cars stopping for wildlife viewing can create traffic jams, which we fortunately were able to bike around.

• After nearing extinction, elk were reintroduced into the Park in 2001.

More Information and Resources

Nearby Biking:
Great Smoky Mountains (Overview)
Townsend Historical Trail

Related Resources:
National Park Service - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park Service - Biking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Support and Advocacy:
Friends of the Smokies