About Cades Cove Nature Trail
The Cades Cove Nature Trail is a short walk that gets you out of the car on the busy loop road. The route is about 0.8 miles and mostly flat, with a few short ups and downs through mixed forest, taking about 30 to 45 minutes.
The hike
Trail signs and the shaded path make this a good stop with children. Wildlife is more likely at dawn and dusk. Keep your distance from any animals, including deer and bears.
When to go
Open year-round when the loop road is open. Spring and fall are best; summer midday is hot.
Getting there
The trailhead is on the Cades Cove Loop Road, which is open sunrise to sunset. From early May through September the Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to cars on Wednesdays (May 6 to Sept. 30 in 2026), so pick another day unless you plan to bike in. Plan on a parking tag ($5 daily, $15 weekly, $40 annual) if you will be parked longer than 15 minutes. Federal passes do not substitute for it, and a screenshot will not do; the tag must be displayed in the vehicle.
Know before you go
Pets are not allowed. Combine it with a drive of the loop; the Cades Cove area page has current road conditions.
Pair it with
Other hikes in the same part of the park:
- Abrams Falls: a 5-mile round trip to a 25-foot waterfall
- Rich Mountain Loop: a strenuous circuit of about 8.5 miles above the cove
- Cooper Road Trail: a long, gentle 10.9-mile old road
Planning and safety
This is an easy outing, so it works for an hour or a whole afternoon. Keep the pace relaxed, bring a snack, and plan a nearby stop to make a half-day of it. Weekday mornings are the quietest, and the light is softest early and late.
Check conditions the morning you go. The park posts trail and road closures and cautions, and storms, ice and Hurricane Helene repairs can change access with little notice. Carry water, a rain layer and a map, keep a safe distance from bears and elk, and pack out everything you bring in.
Good to know
- How long is Cades Cove Nature Trail?
- Cades Cove Nature Trail is 0.8 miles one way. It is rated easy.
- Are dogs allowed on this trail?
- No. Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, dogs are allowed only on the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail.
- Do I need a parking tag to hike here?
- A Park It Forward parking tag ($5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year) is required for any vehicle parked more than 15 minutes inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Entry is free, and federal passes such as America the Beautiful do not replace the tag.
