- Highlights: Historic buildings, mountain and valley views
- Distance: 10.7 mile loop
- Elevation Change 755 feet
- Trail Surface: Paved road, dirt spur trails
- Difficulty Level: Moderate
- Trailhead Parking: Visitor Center parking area, Natural Tunnel State Park, 1420 Natural Tunnel Parkway, Duffield VA. Park entrance fee required.
- Trail Markings: none
- Website: AllTrails and National Park Service
- Beer Pairings: Smoky Mountain Brewery—Appalachian Pale Ale & Black Bear Ale
Trail Map:
The Hike:
We debated over including this hike. It’s mostly a paved road and even on “no car Wednesdays”, it’s very crowded. We finally flipped a coin, and here it is. Located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cades Cove is a scenic valley surrounded on all sides by mountains. A popular 11-mile one-way loop road encircling the valley provides access to hiking trails, opportunities for wildlife viewing, and chances to explore the many historic homesites, cemeteries, and churches.
On Wednesdays from May-September, the road is closed to motor vehicles. Cyclists outnumber hikers by a considerable margin. Most cyclists travel counter-clockwise. We strongly recommend hiking this loop clockwise. We started early in the morning and saw lots of wildlife. Be sure to stop at the numerous historic buildings along the route.
Hike Photos:
Beer Pairing:
Smoky Mountain Brewery in Pigeon Forge is about 25 miles from the trailhead. They have 10 taps of craft beer, a full service bar, and an extensive food menu. Black Bear Ale (5.4% ABV • 20 IBU) is an English brown ale with a deep chestnut color with notes of caramel and toffee. Appalachian Pale Ale (5.0% ABV • 40 IBU) is an American Pale Ale brewed with Cascade hops. Cheers!
Hike and drink responsibly. Never drink and drive. Stay safe, be responsible, and leave no trace.