Biking Cades Cove Loop, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN

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One of the best ways to experience the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is to cycle the Cades Cove Loop.

Not only does it give you an up-close and personal way to admire the park’s natural beauty, but it’s one of the best ways to see bears from a safe distance.

The 11-mile loop passes by lush scenes of mountains, meadows, forests, and rivers, while also being a rewarding way to connect with nature and enjoy the splendor of the Smokies.

In this guide, we share our experience cycling the Cades Cove bike ride in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee.

What is the Cades Cove Loop Bike Ride, TN?

Cades Cove is an isolated valley located on the Tennessee side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, one of the most popular places to visit in the most visited national parks in the USA. It started as a seasonal hunting camp for the Cherokee Indians.

Europeans settled the Cades Cove area between 1818 and 1821. Cades Cove was once a farming community and has now been preserved as part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Cades Cove is an about an hour and a half drive from Gatlinburg, but is well worth it for the forested scenery, views, bubbling creeks, and excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing.

It really is a gorgeous national park.

You can cycle or drive around the 11-mile loop trail, known as Cades Cove loop road, stopping to look at the various 19th century historic structures, or just admire the views, which I thought was far prettier.

The Cades Cove Loop is a one-way road, and there are turnoffs and shortcuts at two different points (going down Hyatt Lane and Sparks Lane) if you’d prefer a shorter bike ride.

Along the way, you’ll see numerous historic buildings – the homes, churches, and workplaces of Cades Cove residents during the 19th and early 20th centuries. There are several walking trails on the loophole as well in case you want to stretch the legs.

A cove is another name for a valley and I couldn’t think of a better way to experience it than riding along covered one-way roads and tearing down hills with the breeze cooling you down and bears and safe distance beside you.

You will find a parking lot by Cades Cove Picnic Area, or if you’re staying at Cades Cove Campground, there is a parking area for campers.

You can also start the loop from…