Cades Cove Overlook (Before Loop Entrance)

Laurel Creek runs beside the road here in a hardwood hollow, and the ridges close in on either side. Through the leafless months you can see up to the shoulder of Cove Mountain; in summer the canopy shuts out the view and what you get is the sound of water. In the last week of October the poplars and maples along the creek have mostly dropped their leaves, which means the road opens up and the ridgeline reads clearly.

The view of the cove itself comes later. From here the road crests and drops into the open meadows, so what you are looking at now is the approach: it is the best place to set expectations for the loop. If a line of cars is already backed up behind the entrance kiosk, you will see it from the road, and this is a good point to decide whether to turn around for Townsend's Little River Road instead.

• Road: Laurel Creek Road, signed from the Townsend wye on US-321; allow 20 to 30 minutes from the wye in light traffic and much longer on October weekends.
• Parking: a small gravel shoulder lot; do not block the lane, because the road is two-way with tight curves.
• Park rules: a parking tag is required for any stop over 15 minutes ($5 a day, $15 a week, $40 a year). See the fee page. Federal passes do not substitute.
• Wildlife: this stretch is bear country; keep food in the car and keep your distance if one appears.

The loop itself is open sunrise to sunset, 11 miles one-way, and it is closed to cars on Wednesdays from early May to the end of September.