Bear attacks on humans are very rare. Also, Cades Cove has so many wonderful activities to offer you and your family that it will be definitely worth the drive. TripSavvy / Ellen Lindner. Read more about black bears in the National Park here. Jh., dunkel gebeiztes Hartholz, Griffstck aus Bein, Metallzwingen am bergang vom Knauf und an der Stockspitze, Knauf als hechelnder Hundekopf verschnitzt mit eingesetzten Glasaugen, Metallzwinge unterhalb des Knaufs, Church Place, Milborne Port, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 3 bed terraced house for sale - 375,000, Best septic tank treatments for rural homeowners | AGDAILY, Free Antique Identification Tips | LoveToKnow, Elevated Arsenic and Lead Concentrations in Natural Healing Clay Applied Topically as a Treatment for Ulcerative Dermatitis in Mice, The Best Places to See Bears in Gatlinburg. Cades Cove: Beautiful Drive and seen bear - See 5,518 traveler reviews, 6,311 candid photos, and great deals for Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN, at Tripadvisor. And, after a long day of taking in the black-eyed Susan, you'll appreciate the opportunity to unwind with its variety of locally sourced culinary dishes and nightly fire pits. If a bear makes a move towards you or makes loud noises or swats the ground, it is demanding more space. It has some of the best hiking, fishing and wildlife viewing you'll find in the U.S. We're sharing the inside scoop with you so you can plan your next trip to the Smokies. CADES COVE | Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Guide + Map) TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. Many visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park hope to catch at least one glimpse of the parks famous black bear! The main thing you should take away from this is that you cannot outrun a bear. Early morning (6 - 10 a.m.) and late afternoon ( 3 - 7 p.m.) are the best times for bear viewing in Cades Cove. Two years ago we saw no bears in Cades Cove. Slowly back away with your eyes still on the bear. However, the Cades Cove Loop Road only allows bicycle and foot traffic on Wednesdays through Sept. 30. Cades Cove: Best place to see black bears! Though, if you cant muster up the strength at dawn, give dusk a try as the late afternoon and evening hours present another great opportunity to catch sight of a black bear. But, equally important as the blooms is Cades Cove's history as Cherokee land. The site also provides charcoal grills to smoke some delicious eats. Ever feed a family dog from the table or give him food off your plate? Mountains Oh my..Cades Cove, mountains, beautiful scenery, and a little slice of heaven. Since Cades Cove features a stunning mountain backdrop and wide open valleys, many bears enjoy this beautiful space in the park. There are several food items that can be found up there. Give bears plenty of room to escape. For avid bear watchers and lovers of the mountains, the ever-popular Cades Cove loop is 11 miles of pure excitement and can be every time you go, even when stuck in a bit of a bear jam or even if you don't see any bears at all. It can also make the bear too brave and result in a bear attack. Early morning (6 10 a.m.) and late afternoon ( 3 7 p.m.) are the best times for bear viewing in Cades Cove. What time is the best time to visit Cades Cove? Always an enjoyable drive. It was just beautiful, the first week in November. In spring you can expect to see beautiful spring flowers everywhere, and during the fall the mountains come alive with changing leaf colors. Late spring and early fall are particularly good times to visit if you're looking for bears. Sunny skies, lush greenery, dense meadows, impulsive showers, rushing waters, grazing wildlife, foraging bearssummertime at Cades Cove, one of the most visited sites in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is beautiful to say the least. WildlifeInformer.com is your #1 source for free information about all types of wildlife and exotic pets. So, bring binoculars that way you can see them when theyre peeking at you. 6 Secret Spots in Cades Cove You Have to Explore - Visit My Smokies This is also a great time to take pictures in the Cove. We finally got a real answer out of her -- the Overlook and near Abram's Falls -- which was why we made sure to go to both of those places.Be sure to stop by the gift shop on the way out. Black bears tend to be out foraging around these times, and an added perk is that the morning and/or evening light is divine. Get ready for breathtaking valley views, incredible historic structures, adventurous nature trails, wild animals all around, and best of all higher chances to spot a Smoky Mountain black bear! Black Bears at Cades Cove, 9 Different Bear Sightings - Quest Capsule Raw Uncut Q-Roll Clips, 2. However, if you are ever attacked you should not play dead. Best Time to See Bears in the Smoky Mountains - Wildlife Informer This could result in a person being injured and the bear being euthanized. This Hidden Valley in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Is Bursting Spring has officially sprung in the Great Smoky Mountains. So anytime other than winter is good. While keeping a watchful eye out for black bears at Cades Cove, other wildlife will surely find you along the way. September and early October are beautiful with the colorful fall foliage and crisp temperatures. This is taken very seriously in the Smokies and I suggest you take it seriously as well. These hours are reduced a bit in September and October, opening at 9 am and closing at 6:30 pm. We saw deer, but no bear! If a bear just leisurely approaches you at your campsite or while you are out hiking, you should scare it off with loud noises like Get out of here bear! Something like that. When you do finally spot a black bear, keep your distance if you want to watch for a while. It is said that bears who have had regular access to human food may only live for half of this time. It's nestled in its own 82 acres of lush, wooded terrain. The valley, located in the picturesque Great Smoky. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. On an average, we saw one per drive. Remember that these are wild animals, so keep a safe distance both for your safety and bear safety. 16GB VS. 32GB RAM - Everything in Details, Tile Pet Tracker: Using Tile To Track Dog Properly [2022] - Oodle Life. Every time we looked off of our balcony there he was. Its an 11 mile loop to circle the cove, you will see many other tourists driving through here in the busy season trying to catch a glimpse of black bears and other wildlife. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Now I have not raced a bear recently so Ill have to take the internets word for this. What are the Best Times to Visit Cades Cove It closes at 8 pm from late April to early September and sunset on other dates. The first set was just before the Overlook, up in the woods, and the second set was in a field after turning on the road towards Abram's Falls. Early in the morning. Learn more. Another place where many bear sightings are reported is Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. The best time to visit Buenos Aires is in the spring (September to November) or during the fall (March to May). Oh my. The park is one of the largest protected areas where black bears live in the wild in the eastern United States. But we see more wildlife in our backyard in the suburbs than we did on this loop (OK we saw 2 deer and lots of turkeys). Every year, thousands of vacationers see black bears in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, mostly on the Tennessee side. Carry binoculars and scan the edge of the woods for the tell-tale shape of black bears. Because you dont want to get too close to the bears, binoculars are a great way to get that close look that you will inevitably desire. Mountains. The winter months are slower, and you have the chance to see snow in Cades Cove, as long as the roads are safe, which is a spectacular sight to see! The black bears in Cades Cove are a majestic sight, indeed; however, there are a few things to be aware of when seeking out this experience. Cades Cove is home to one of the largest populations of black bears and one of the easiest places to see them. January 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Black Bears Hibernate for a large portion of the year, and it is exceptionally rare to see bears during hibernation months. As simple as this may be, it is probably the #1 tip as far as bear watching goes, so take your time, relax, breathe, and enjoy the journey. Its worth it when you do see one. In fact, there are around 1,500 black bears within the boundaries of the national park, and Cades Cove is the best place to catch a glimpse of this magnificent animal. If you travel to Gatlinburg expecting to see black bears everywhere you go, you may be disappointed. over a year ago Answer 4 answers Reviewed this attraction BonnieLee. Spotting Black Bears in Cades Cove (2023) - tissfla.com Black-eyed Susans are the main draw for travelers making their way to Cades Cove every year, each hoping to see that blanket of golden blooms. Traffic Issues at Cades Cove Cades Cove's popularity comes with a price. The loop is, like life, whatever you make of it. Many bears have been spotted along Newfound Gap Road for years, especially in sections that are close to rivers and streams since bears like those areas for food. They have a family of black bears that includes Minnie, BJ, Holly and Chief, and they are part of this zoo encounter in all but the winter months, when they hibernate. This California National Park With Towering Redwoods Also Has Some of the Most Beautiful Wildflowers in the U.S. You can read more about the Three Bears General Store here. The scenery was beautiful, and we were lucky enough to be able to spot two different mama bears with their three cubs apiece! Maybe next time! These shoulder seasons have fewer tourists than summer, reasonably priced hotels, and the best weather and events of the year. 12 years ago Save barbie keep in mind the daylight savings time will be on November 7th so it will get dark around 5:00ish not unless you go before Nov.7th. Cades Cove Loop Scenic Drive Through - 9 Black Bear Encounters Now that you know the best times to visit Cades Cove, find out what the weather in Cades Cove is like throughout the year so you can be prepared for your visit! Here, visitors find some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing in the park. If you are looking to spot black bears, the best times are late afternoons. Ive only made this drive a couple of times and havent been in a while but its definitely very neat and if you are a photographer you can get some good pics of nature and your family. Short and Sweet: the best time to visit Montreal is early summer and early fall. Keep your eyes on the trees. Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Things to Do, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN 37738-4102, 2 hour traffic jam with beautiful scenery, things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. An approximately 11-mile one-way loop road surrounds the valley. A CADES COVE State of Mind - SECRET To Seeing Bears and - YouTube In spring you can expect to see beautiful spring flowers everywhere, and during the fall the mountains come alive with changing leaf colors. Another one of the top places to see bears in the Smoky Mountains is along Newfound Gap Road, which is also known as Highway 441. Bears choose a denning site with the coming of cold weather. Common throughout the area, your best chance of seeing these guys is in the open fields. Our familys favorite sighting was on the Laurel Falls Trail, where we saw a mother and two cubs further up the mountain (away from the trails), and that is not part of the Cades Cove Loop. This State Is One of the Best in the U.S. for a Spring Road Trip With 800,000 Miles of Wildflower-lined Highways, 25 Best Mother-daughter Trips Around the World, 12 Best Places to Go Camping in Colorado for an Incredible Outdoor Adventure in the Centennial State, This Small Town in North Carolina Has the Only Hot Springs in the State. Regardless if you get to see the elusive black bears or not, you will undoubtedly enjoy your time in the Smokies simply because of the other kinds of wildlife and all the wonderful natural beauty present there. - See 5,518 traveler reviews, 6,311 candid photos, and great deals for Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN, at Tripadvisor. Around 5 traffic slows down again and you can often see wildlife during this time. The entire loop takes anywhere between two and four hours to drive through. In July and August, the visitor center opens at 9 am and closes at 7 pm. Therefore, take a look at our tips for safe wildlife viewing in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to have a safe and enjoyable visit to the park! You may also encounter turkey, foxes, ground hogs, racoons, river otters, owls, salamanders, a variety of small birds, and more! It is illegal and irresponsible to feed the bears. Another place to see a bear is Ober Gatlinburg. In fact, there are around 1,500 black bears within the boundaries of the national park, and Cades Cove is the best place to catch a glimpse of this magnificent animal. Go in the morning(6 a.m. to 10 a.m.) or late afternoon(3 - 7 p.m.). Cades Cove is one of the most beloved and popular destinations in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. However, bears can be spotted in the mornings and throughout the afternoon, so dont become discouraged if traveling to the Cove late in the day doesnt fit your time schedule. Lets just say this was a BUST for my family. Thank you so much! We'll share some secrets of how to better your chances of enjoying your entire day spent out in the wilderness searching for bears and other wildlife. Cades Cove: Wildlife Safari in the Great Smoky Mountains When is the best time of year to see wildlife such as bears in particular at Cades Cove? Open areas like Cataloochee and Cades Cove offer some of the best opportunities to see white-tailed deer, elk, black bear, raccoon, turkeys, woodchucks, and other animals. Especially a mother with cubs. Bears can be found throughout the park, but are easiest to spot in open areas such as Cades Cove and Cataloochee Valley. The chances of seeing a bear in Gatlinburg are actually quite good! As a bonus, Cades Cove offers plenty of other wildlife too, including white tailed deer and coyotes! However, some bears are active at night to possibly avoid people or other bears. I like going early in the day but I have seen bears at all hours there. The adults were sitting on the windows hanging out of the truck. When you click and buy we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Under Canvas Great Smoky Mountains sits just an hour's drive from Cades Cove and offers a unique accommodation choice. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We greatly appreciate your support and each and every one of our followers! Cades Cove. However, we think your best chance is in Cades Cove or the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, a wonderful scenic drive that is well-known for amazing wildlife viewing. The drive was slow but enjoyable. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. One of our favorite spots in Cades Cove is the Pearl Harbor Tree. Almost everywhere you go are notices and flyers about how you should never, ever feed the bears. Dont want to lug your bike to the mountains? Here's how to plan a trip right now. The loop road is not only a great place to spot bears in the Smoky Moutains, but its also famous for fantastic hiking trails, historical structures, rushing streams and majestic waterfalls! Read more about this place before you venture there to be prepared. I travel in early May. In addition, our knowledge about black bears continues to grow, thanks to professors and researchers at the University of Tennessee who have been studying the black bears of the Smokies since 1968.