best month to see bears in cades cove
Black bears tend to be out foraging around these times, and an added perk is that the morning and/or evening light is divine. However, the Cades Cove Loop Road only allows bicycle and foot traffic on Wednesdays through Sept. 30. . Regardless if you get to see the elusive black bears or not, you will undoubtedly enjoy your time in the Smokies simply because of the other kinds of wildlife and all the wonderful natural beauty present there. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Late April to October is peak visiting time for the area. These hours are reduced a bit in September and October, opening at 9 am and closing at 6:30 pm. In general, anywhere in the park is a good place to see bears. Absolutely not. Back away slowly, give them their space, and never approach them for both your and their safety. Its an 11 mile loop to circle the cove, you will see many other tourists driving through here in the busy season trying to catch a glimpse of black bears and other wildlife. Thank you so much! Additionally, if a park ranger catches you, you can receive a fine of up $6,000 and a jail sentence of up to 6 months. If a bear stops what it is doing and watches you, you are too close. One common location is Cades Cove. The 11-mile loop road circumnavigates the large meadow giving your family incredible views of the creatures inhabiting the area. over a year ago Answer 4 answers Reviewed this attraction BonnieLee. Black bears can live anywhere from 12-15 years. Good luck! Besides the bears, we really love the underwater viewing area for the adorable river otters. This equals a population density of approximately two bears per square mile. If you purchase anything from the Quest Cabin Store, send us a direct email telling us what you ordered, and a cell phone image of you sporting our merchandise, so we can mention you in a future video!! 3. Yes, the black bear is a symbol of the Smokies. The first set was just before the Overlook, up in the woods, and the second set was in a field after turning on the road towards Abram's Falls. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The popular Cades Cove is one of the best places to see black bears in the wild. Two years ago we saw no bears in Cades Cove. Read more about this place before you venture there to be prepared. You can expect traffic during any major holiday or holiday weekend. May 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. He was obviously begging for food, someone must have been dropping him snacks. is like throughout the year so you can be prepared for your visit! Why? Choose a day that has a chance of rain in the forecast which typically clears out the park and gives you an opportunity to take some moody landscape shots in the morning fog. Spent more time worrying about a kid falling out of the truck than enjoying the scenery. Although you probably wont need to use it, the peace of mind and security of knowing you have it on your hip so you can enjoy your hiking, camping or swimming is priceless. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Multiple Black Bears Sightings Cades Cove, 6. Specifically, it's found its way to the hidden valley of Cades Cove, Tennessee. Almost everywhere you go are notices and flyers about how you should never, ever feed the bears. Ranked #25 of 105 Attractions in Great Smoky Mountains National Park lablvr201. All around Tennessee towns and parks sell t-shirts and hoodies with black bears on them, mugs with a charismatic bear on it. This Little-known Valley in California Has Stunning Springtime Wildflowers and a Chic, Revamped Motel. Do not give up and let the bear think you are food. As simple as this may be, it is probably the #1 tip as far as bear watching goes, so take your time, relax, breathe, and enjoy the journey. We arrived about 9:30am, and it was fairly busy. This is large part due to the cut back of nuisance bears, the ones people condition to approach humans for food. Late April to October is peak visiting time for the area. The drive was slow but enjoyable. We have seen bears on several occasions, both in Cades Cove and also while hiking in the National Park. Ober Gatlinburg is an amusement park and ski resort in Gatlinburg, and they have a wildlife encounter where you can see black bears, river otters, birds of prey, and more. While we cant guarantee that you will see a bear on your trip, we can say that your chances are pretty good if you go to the right place and time of day (especially early morning or late evening in the spring and summer months). I usually travel during the week instead of weekends. It is illegal and irresponsible to feed the bears. They have lots & lots of shirts, hoodies, hats, plush bears, and all kinds of gift items (mugs, keychains, magnets, snow globes, etc.). As a bonus, from early May to late September, only cyclists and hikers are allowed on the loop until 10:00 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday, giving people a chance to hear, feel, and experience nature in the Smokies. The drive also includes scenic overlooks, hiking trails, picnic areas and even a waterfall that can be seen from the road! The National Park estimates that there are about 1500 black bears living in the park, which roughly equates to a population density of 2 bears per square mile. Offers may be subject to change without notice. The best time to visit Buenos Aires is in the spring (September to November) or during the fall (March to May). We stopped there and took lots of family pictures.Before we saw any bears, though, we had come across one "Park Volunteer" who seemed a little put out to answer any questions. Early morning (6 10 a.m.) and late afternoon ( 3 7 p.m.) are the best times for bear viewing in Cades Cove. By the time you get to where the bear was sighted, it has gone away. Preferred Foods: Nuts, acorns, fruit, insects, succulent greens. The tree serves as a reminder of what happened in 1941 and to honor those who died. When you click and buy we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. In the late afternoon. What happens is they began to expect it, and can become beggars. In spring you can expect to see beautiful spring flowers everywhere, and during the fall the mountains come alive with changing leaf colors. But even Cades Cove has times throughout the year that it becomes very busy. In addition to bears, Cades Cove is a great place to see wild turkey, deer, raccoons, and groundhogs. Perhaps, the reason is that this is a valley area, where rain collects, and vegetation grows strong, encouraging many critters to move in including black bears. The road goes parallel to an old abandoned logging railroad track. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. (Video) Bear Spotting At Cades Cove - June 2020, (Video) CADES COVE - Searching For BIG FAT Black Bears at Cades Cove (2022), (Video) A CADES COVE State of Mind - SECRET To Seeing Bears and ENJOYING Every Trip Around The Loop, (Video) Mama Black Bear and Her Cub in Cades Cove - Great Smoky Mountain National Park #shorts, (Video) BLACK BEAR SIGHTING | Cades Cove | Great Smoky Mountains National Park, (Video) Black Bears at Cades Cove, 9 Different Bear Sightings - Quest Capsule Raw Uncut Q-Roll Clips, (Video) Black Bear spotted in Cades Cove! Saw bear, horses and wild Turkeys. If a bear makes a move towards you or makes loud noises or swats the ground, it is demanding more space. Enjoy viewing the bears from the two level observation facility. Cades Cove is home to some of the absolute best parts of Smoky Mountains including historic cabins, sprawling meadows, deer, elk, and the park favorite - black bears. The loop is an 11-mile paved one-way road that has breathtaking views of the mountains, wildflower meadows, and the park's diverse wildlife. One thing to know is why this area is called a cove. Ive only made this drive a couple of times and havent been in a while but its definitely very neat and if you are a photographer you can get some good pics of nature and your family. Feeding bears in the Smokies by the way is a big no-no and illegal. The city boasts impressive museums, fun things to do, a vibrant downtown area, and lively shopping and arts districts. If you are planning a trip to the Smokies, you may be wondering when the best time to see bears in the Smoky Mountains is. It can also make the bear too brave and result in a bear attack. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. There are also pullouts along the way, so you can stop for a bit, write a tad in your journal, sketch a passing herd of white-tailed deer, and go on your merry way. Sunny skies, lush greenery, dense meadows, impulsive showers, rushing waters, grazing wildlife, foraging bearssummertime at Cades Cove, one of the most visited sites in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is beautiful to say the least. WildlifeInformer.com is your #1 source for free information about all types of wildlife and exotic pets. If Cades Cove is known for anything, its known for the 11-mile loop road that surrounds the area feel free to traverse by bicycle, foot, or car. It has some of the best hiking, fishing and wildlife viewing you'll find in the U.S. We're sharing the inside scoop with you so you can plan your next trip to the Smokies. Keep your distance from cubs, as the mama bear will be close by and may see you as a threat to her young. The loop road is not only a great place to spot bears in the Smoky Moutains, but its also famous for fantastic hiking trails, historical structures, rushing streams and majestic waterfalls! Watch Animals at a Safe Distance Animals in the Smoky Mountains are wild and should not interact with humans. What time is the best time to visit Cades Cove? 2. Use this guide to help plan your trip to Argentina's capital, known for its . One of the main reasons Cades Cove is such a wonderful area to view bears is because there are more areas that are out in the open. A rarity to be sure, bobcats are nocturnal and roam Cades Cove in silence while stalking their prey, so if you catch a glimpse of these graceful animals, treasure it for all time. Pro tip: If you are traveling with anyone with a Tennessee or North Carolina fishing license, you can also make a fishing trip out of the day. Be ready for it to take an entire day! For avid bear watchers and lovers of the mountains, the ever-popular Cades Cove loop is 11 miles of pure excitement and can be every time you go, even when stuck in a bit of a bear jam or even if you don't see any bears at all. If youre looking for a bear sighting while in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN, youre in luck! We met folks that absolutely love the Cades Loop and do it every year. Cades Cove is a broad, lush, green valley surrounded by mountains that is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains. We had been in the Cove for a little while and hadn't seen any bears yet, and my mom asked whereabouts they are generally located, and the woman's reply was simply, "Everywhere," like it was ridiculous that we hadn't been able to spot any yet. Cades Cove was definitely a highlight of our trip. Bears can be found throughout the park, but are easiest to spot in open areas such as Cades Cove and Cataloochee Valley. Another one of the top places to see bears in the Smoky Mountains is along Newfound Gap Road, which is also known as Highway 441. That means sticking to the designated trails and paths, never picking flowers, and, if you can, try to visit during off-peak hours. There have been reports of bears weight upwards of 600 lbs. Remember that these are wild animals, so keep a safe distance both for your safety and bear safety. Though, if traveling slow isnt your game, choose to go on a weekday as the cove tends to become more crowded on the weekends. Use your best judgment, give them plenty of space, and dont approach them. There are many places because they are literally all over the place. It's one of the most popular spots for bear sightings. Black-eyed Susans are the main draw for travelers making their way to Cades Cove every year, each hoping to see that blanket of golden blooms. This is a really neat place to go and you can get tickets to their multiple attractions or just the wildlife encounter. It was just beautiful, the first week in November. Cades Cove is by no means the only place to see bears in the park.