About Cove Hardwood Nature Trail
This short loop is easy to miss and easy to love. The National Park Service describes a 0.75-mile round trip on the Cove Hardwood Trail to explore a forest of giants. It is a gentle walk that shows off the old-growth cove forest that once covered much of the park.
The walk
The trail winds through big tulip poplar, hemlock and other hardwoods, on a mostly shaded, mildly hilly path. In spring wildflowers carpet the forest floor, and in October the canopy turns gold. The trail is short enough for kids and long enough to leave the road noise behind.
When to go
Spring and fall are best. It is a good cool option on summer afternoons, and also a pleasant stop on the way to Newfound Gap.
Getting there
The trailhead is along Newfound Gap Road a few miles south of Sugarlands Visitor Center, a little before the Chimney Tops trailhead. Parking is limited. The park charges for parking rather than entry: a parking tag is $5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year, required for any vehicle parked more than 15 minutes. America the Beautiful and other federal passes are not accepted.
Know before you go
Bring water and bug spray in summer. Pets are not allowed on this trail. Check the Sugarlands area page for current road and trail conditions.
Pair it with
Other hikes in the same part of the park:
- Gatlinburg Trail: an easy 4-mile round trip that allows dogs and bikes
- Grotto Falls: a 2.6-mile round trip to a waterfall you can walk behind
- Rainbow Falls: a 5.6-mile round trip to an 80-foot waterfall
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.
Weather in the Smokies changes fast, and it is noticeably cooler as you climb. Bring a rain layer even on a sunny morning, wear shoes with good traction, and carry more water than you expect to need. Black bears live throughout the park, so stay at least 50 yards away, never feed wildlife and store food properly. The park's hiking safety guidance is worth a read before any trip.
Good to know
- How long is Cove Hardwood Nature Trail?
- Cove Hardwood Nature Trail is 0.4 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.
