Great Smoky Mountains National Park
& Cades Cove Adventure

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) is located just a short drive from Settlers Mountain. You can actually see the park from Settlers Mountain. The GSMNP makes up two-thirds of Swain County where Bryson City is located. It is the most visited park in the US with 8 to 10 million visitors a year. The GSMNP is 800 square miles with 384 miles of roads.

Settlers Mountain adventures can steer you in the right direction depending on your interest. The GSMNP has lots to offer for all ages, and adventures can include auto touring, historic buildings, waterfalls, wildlife, spectacular views, picnicking, and more. For more information on hiking, bicycling, horse back riding, please view the Settlers Mountain Adventure web pages on these different activities.

The GSMNP has a great website http://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm and is filled with lots of information and free downloadable material. We recommend you view this site to get a better understanding of the GSMNP.

 

Auto Touring

Navigating the GSMNP is relatively easy by car or motorcycle and the roads are well-marked. Think of it as a road trip to enjoy a day just sight seeing as you go. What we like to do is break up our trip into short destinations – this gives you a break from just driving and looking at views.

From Settlers Mountain you will drive through Cherokee in about twenty minutes where the GSMNP begins. Cherokee has lots to offer but that is another adventure. Once you get past Cherokee you will approach the park entrance. This is a nice first stop at the GSMNP visitor center. You can pick up more information there if you need it. Located there is a small village like you would have encountered during the 1800’s. It will give you a feel what it was like to live back then. If you like this, you will love Cades Cove.

From there your adventure continues through the GSMNP. The road winds it way up the mountain to New Found Gap. During the busy season (July through October) the traffic is the heaviest, so we recommend that you start early. You will drive around 35 MPH unless you get behind a slow RV. If that happens, no worry, there are plenty of places to pull off and enjoy a stream, waterfall, or panoramic view.

About halfway through the park (25 miles from Cherokee), you will come to Clingmans Dome turn off. Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the GSMNP. It is seven miles to the end of Clingmans Dome Road and there are scenic pullouts with endless views of ridges and valleys along the way. The road ends in a large parking area from which a ½-mile trail leads to the summit. The trail is paved but steep, and leads to an observation tower on top. It is about 30 minute walk up to the top of observation tower.

When you leave Clingmans Dome, continue towards Gatlinburg. It is mostly down hill from here. Again you will have beautiful places to pull over and enjoy the views or have a picnic, in about 20 miles you will come to a turn off for Cades Cove or you can continue to Gatlinburg or Pigeon forge.

A Settlers Mountain Adventure associate will be able to help you plan your itinerary to get the most out of your day depending on you interest in each adventure in the GSMNP.

 

Tips:

  1. When driving up or down steep grades, lower your transmission down a gear, it will save your transmission and brakes.
  2. There are no gas stations inside the park.
  3. Do not forget your camera.
  4. Pack a lunch and enjoy a quiet place to eat along the way, do not forget the cooler.
  5. Higher elevations are much cooler 10 to 20 degrees; even in the summer bring a cover up.
  6. If you’re prone to motion sickness, stop frequently, drive slowly around curves, sit in the front seat, or take motion sickness medications if you are not driving.
  7. The summer months have more fog than winter and will reduce visibility, that’s why the call them the smokies. 
  8. In winter, the park road can be closed because of ice. Check before you leave.
  9. We do not recommend driving at night through the GSMNP because of possible heavy fog.

 

Cades Cove

It takes about 30 minutes to reach Cades Cove from the main road in the GSMNP and is a beautiful drive that meanders its way along a river. Cades cove is in a beautiful valley that was settled in the 19th and 20th century. Along its 11 mile loop you will encounter historic buildings such as churches, log cabins, grist mills, and out buildings. As you drive you will find places to explore and it will give you a good look into the past as to how these pioneers lived, worked, and survived. The wildlife is abundant. Most animals here are used to seeing visitors, so they have no fear when you slowly drive by. You are almost guaranteed to see deer grazing just feet from you car. You have a good chance to see bears, wild turkey, foxes and other creatures. You should plan on taking at least a couple hours touring Cades Cove.

Many of the relatives of those who lived in Cades Cove live in the Settler Mountain area. Our grounds keeper is one of them and has good historical stories he can share about Cades Cove and our area. You can learn more about Cades Cove at http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/cadescove.htm