Last Updated on September 12, 2023 by
Auntie was visiting with a broken foot so we decided to take a scenic drive with minimal walking. Cades Cove offers the perfect opportunity to explore the park with the added bonus of maximum wildlife viewing. Unfortunately, as you can see from our photo, there is only so much you can do without a long lens.
What we did not realize is the one lane loop immediately comes to a complete stop every time the lead car spots a bear. While it is exciting to spot the bears for the first time, after your fifth or sixth 20 minute traffic jam, the novelty wears off. There are several key viewing spots as indicated by the park volunteers pre-positioned to try and push people along, but generally to no avail. But hey, as long as you get to take as much time as you want to take pictures, who cares how long the traffic jam behind you might be? From our vantage point about a quarter of a mile down the road, I think this photo perfectly captures my point. If you look closely, you can see the white Jeep waaaay down there about a half mile away. This is due to aforementioned bear sighting at the extreme right of the field in this picture.
That particular pain in the ass aside, it really is beautiful country and there are a spattering of old homesteads to explore along the way as well.
We also happened to catch a wedding at this tiny church at about the midpoint of the loop road. I’m not sure if it was an old family church, or just an incredibly unique spot to choose to get married. Either way, hats off to them. And no, the cemetery photos are not tongue in cheek, I’m just trying to provide perspective on the church location.
Little Greenbriar School is also nice little side jaunt at about the halfway point to Cades Cove from the visitors center and gives you the opportunity to stretch your legs and maybe take a dip in the water. The schoolhouse is a remnant of the late 1800’s and is so out in the middle of nowhere it’s hard to believe they managed to scrounge up enough students to erect it in the first place. It is also constructed of huge poplar logs looking like they would require a crane to lift into place. Good old American ingenuity involved in the construction for sure.
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