Hikers should prepare for a variety of possible weather conditions. Weather can change quickly in the mountains and can vary significantly at different elevations. Hikers should have comfortable walking shoes, raingear, map and compass, knife, first aid kit, flashlight, extra clothing, matches, water, and high-energy food. Back to the top of the page. Cades Cove offers a wide range of recreational opportunities in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Visitors enjoy driving, camping, hiking, horseback riding, bicycling, picnicking, fishing, and more.
More detailed information about some of these opportunities may be found under Cades Cove Trip Planning. A variety of guided programs are available in Cades Cove during the summer months, with some programs being offered ithrough October. Programs include slideshows in the campground amphitheater, hayrides around the loop road, walking tours around the Cable Mill area, and Junior Ranger activities near the campground. Curriculum-based education programs are presented to school groups in the spring and autumn. A driving tour booklet providing more information about the story of the Cove can be purchased at the start of the loop for a minimal fee.