Cades Cove is a beautiful wide valley that is surrounded by mountains and is easily accessible from the cabins at Amazing Views Cabin Rentals! You can explore this area by driving on the 11 mile, one-way loop road that circles the cove. While Cades Cove is popular throughout the year, the winter months are a fabulous time to visit this beautiful part of the Smoky Mountains! Here are the top 4 reasons to drive the Cades Cove Loop Road during the winter months:
1. Fewer Visitors
One of the great things about driving the Cades Cove Loop Road during the winter months is that there are far fewer visitors! Due to the popularity of the route, it can get quite busy during the peak summer season with heavy traffic. You will find much less traffic during the winter season so that you can sightsee at a more leisurely pace. While you might notice an increase of visitors on the weekends, the winter is still a pleasant time to drive the loop. As a courtesy to other drivers, just remember to use pullouts when stopping to admire the scenery and view wildlife.
2. Excellent Wildlife Viewing Opportunities
The Cades Cove area has some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in the Great Smoky Mountains due to the wide open areas! You can often see a large number of white-tailed deer along the Loop Road, as well as other animals such as coyotes, raccoons, skunks, turkeys and groundhogs. The winter is a particularly good time to look for wildlife as the deciduous trees have lost their leaves and it is easier to see within the depths of the forest. Therefore, be sure to bring binoculars as you never know what might come out of hiding! Many animals are active at night, so the best time to look for wildlife is during the morning or early evening hours before sunset.
3. Convenient Visitor Center
If you are planning on a winter visit to Cades Cove, you will be happy to know that the Cades Cove Visitor Center is open daily except for Christmas Day! This convenient Visitor Center is located near the midpoint of the Cades Cove Loop Road and features exhibits of Southern mountain life and culture, as well as historic structures such as a grist mill and the Becky Cable House. You will also find public restrooms and a bookstore where you can purchase fascinating literature about Cades Cove and the national park.
4. Historical Structures
Cades Cove has the widest variety of historical structures of any area within the national park! While driving Cades Cove Loop Road, you will find several churches, barns, log houses, and many other restored 18th and 19th-century buildings. The winter season is a unique time to view and photograph these historical structures along Cades Cove Loop Road as they may be lightly covered in snow. Remember to pick up the self-guided tour booklet at the entrance to the Loop Road for information about the buildings you’ll see in the cove and the people who lived here.
Where to Stay Near Cades Cove
Check out all of our Smoky Mountain cabin rentals today to plan your winter vacation near the Cades Cove Loop Road! We look forward to seeing you soon at Amazing Views Cabin Rentals!
