Cades Cove Wildlife Pullouts

• White-tailed deer: year-round, most visible at dawn and dusk when they move from the tree line to feed. In autumn bucks are in rut and more active.
• Wild turkeys: crossing the road and working the field edges, especially in the morning.
• Black bears: present in the cove all year, most often seen at the forest edge. Bears are more visible in late summer and fall when they feed on acorns and berries.
• Coyotes and groundhogs: seen less often, usually in the fields in early morning.

Slow down, scan the fields and the tree line, and stop where a line of cars has already formed; that is usually where something is. Pull fully off the road so traffic can pass. Stay in your vehicle if an animal is near the road.

• Distance: the park requires you to stay at least 50 yards from bears and 25 yards from other large wildlife. Use binoculars or a long lens.
• Time: the loop is open sunrise to sunset. Go at sunrise or in the last two hours of daylight.
• Traffic: the loop is 11 miles one-way, and wildlife stops create jams. Allow at least two to four hours.
• Parking: a parking tag is required for stops over 15 minutes.

The loop is closed to cars on Wednesdays from May 6 to September 30, 2026, which makes it quieter for walkers and cyclists, and the animals use the fields more freely. See the vehicle-free days page.

Keep food locked in the car, don't feed or approach animals, and report bear sightings near the road to a ranger. A calm approach gives everyone more time to watch.