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Originally Posted by pollymenaker
Has anyone been to Cades Cove park in Tennessee? Please advise if you have. Traveling there from NC early August and we'd love to hear any feedback or planning suggestions. We have 2 weeks total.
Thank you in advance!! [emoji4]
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Yes, but it's been 20 years. As I recall, It's very remote, at that time we had a tent. It's one of the most beautiful places I've been. Unhook, and take the 11 mile (one way) loop road. Stunning.
I recommend you do it very early. (It gets too crowded with tourists by 9am) We took it at 5am. Stopped at the cross road (shortcut), walked into the forest with coffee and cereal, sat on a log and just soaked up the nature. Soon, a deer walked within 10' of us. Fearless. We said hello.
Later, while walking a trail to see a settler's cabin, a bear crossed the trail about 15' in front of me. I froze, he ran, I think I scared him as much as he scared me. My most vivid memory is how big his feet were!
The lowlight was every evening at dusk our campsite was overrun by skunks. maybe 25. Night one we sat on the picnic table. By night three we decided to stand our ground and sit normally. Do you know how strange it is to eat while skunks are stepping on your feet as they go through?
People from neighboring sites were throwing things at them. The skunks were unfazed. They'd duck behind a tree, then continue to tug on trash bags. Nobody got sprayed.
I'd go back in a heartbeat. The road in was two lane and narrow, with a lot of gentle up and down, as I recall. You're driving through a forest.
IMO, the most beautiful part of the Smokies.