There is only one species of bear in Tennessee and that is the black bear. So, bring binoculars that way you can see them when theyre peeking at you. The best time to see black bears is in the summer monthsspecifically May- Early September in a typical year. When is the worst time of year to see a Black Bear? We have seen bears on several occasions, both in Cades Cove and also while hiking in the National Park. Though not widely known, black bears are actually pretty decent swimmers, so dont be afraid to check out the nearby waters from a distance. While getting up early may not be your cup of tea, the wee morning hours are when black bears come out for breakfast. They have an amazing 5000 square foot habitat with a pond and waterfall, and each bear has an individual den. Slowly back away with your eyes still on the bear. In spring you can expect to see beautiful spring flowers everywhere, and during the fall the mountains come alive with changing leaf colors. You'll likely work up an appetite after venturing through the meadows of Cades Cove. Each tent offers luxe, souped-up king-size beds with plush linens and even ensuite bathrooms with hot showers. In the 20th Episode of Quest Capsule, we visit one of our favorite places in the Great Smokies, Cades Cove! The adults were sitting on the windows hanging out of the truck. If a bear makes a move towards you or makes loud noises or swats the ground, it is demanding more space. 12 years ago Save barbie keep in mind the daylight savings time will be on November 7th so it will get dark around 5:00ish not unless you go before Nov.7th. According to bear.org, black bears hibernate for up to 7.5 months a year. Wildlife in Cades Cove November, January, February, and March are the slowest months of the year, with the exception of December picking back up. Spring has officially sprung in the Great Smoky Mountains. They have a small concession stand inside as well, but the prices are exorbitant ($5.75 for a soft pretzel & cheese! Early morning (6 - 10 a.m.) and late afternoon ( 3 - 7 p.m.) are the best times for bear viewing in Cades Cove. 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. The city boasts impressive museums, fun things to do, a vibrant downtown area, and lively shopping and arts districts. #GreatSmokyMountains #Bear, 1. In general, you are most likely to see wildlife in the early hours of the day and towards dusk. This Hidden Valley in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Is Bursting 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. If you want to see black bears, you should visit Cades Cove sometime between late spring and early fall. This is large part due to the cut back of nuisance bears, the ones people condition to approach humans for food. wildlife viewing in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 3 Things to Do if You Encounter Black Bears in the Smoky Mountains, 4 Interesting Facts About Salamanders in the Great Smoky Mountains, Top 3 Safety Tips About Viewing the Smoky Mountain Wildlife, Top 3 Reasons Why You Can See Salamanders in Great Smoky Mountains National Park During the Winter, Top 6 Historical Places in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, How to See Your Favorite Smoky Mountain Wildlife in the National Park, Top 10 Things to Know About the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Before You Go. If you get into a situation where it requires that you defend yourself, then a can of bear spray may come in handy. Bear at Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 4. During the heat of the day or lunchtime traffic tends to slow down. So pack accordingly. Want to get listed and grow your business? We hope you have a great time on your trip and get to see some amazing wildlife! Most of the National Park is wooded, but Cades Cove is in a valley and has open spaces, where bears cant hide as easily. 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. 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. We werent. Though populations are variable, biologists estimate that roughly 1,500 bears live in the park. If you make it to Cades Cove at sunrise you can capture some great pictures! Required fields are marked *. gift shop we visited out of all the places we went to on our Smoky Mountain vacation. Use a telefoto lens, binoculars, or a spotting scope to view bears. Bears are spotted walking around Gatlinburg from time to time. Cades Cove Oh my. 6 Secret Spots in Cades Cove You Have to Explore - Visit My Smokies Yes, the scenery was beautiful. Bear sightings are most common in early morning and late evening when the bears are most active, so if you are wanting to catch a glimpse of a wild bear, the best times are as follows: Late afternoon about 2 hours before sunset. At times, the traffic dies get backed up, especially when there is a bear sighting. The Chimneys Picnic Area also provides an excellent chance of spotting a bear! Celebrate National Park Week with a last-minute visit. Luckily there have not been many incidents of bear attacks on humans in the Smoky Mountains, and if you view bears from a distance then you are usually fine. National Park Service Arrowhead Zippo Lighter W/Leather Sheath - eBay What time is the best time to visit Cades Cove? There are no grizzlies in the Smokies, or Tennessee at all for that matter. There's something truly magical about the nature here. When you do finally spot a black bear, keep your distance if you want to watch for a while. Since Cades Cove features a stunning mountain backdrop and wide open valleys, many bears enjoy this beautiful space in the park. They have a family of black bears that includes Minnie, BJ, Holly and Chief, and they are part of this zoo encounter in all but the winter months, when they hibernate. Cades Cove: Bears - See 5,519 traveler reviews, 6,311 candid photos, and great deals for Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN, at Tripadvisor. 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. In January and February, the area can be humid and muggy, so the best months to visit are October, November, and March to May. We also share helpful tips and guides on a variety of topics related to animals and nature. If you are on a wild bear chase around the loop, be patient. Grizzly Bears: June to October is the best time to see grizzly bears throughout British Columbia. Males may weigh around 250 lbs in the summertime, but can double their weight in the fall when they are fattening up for winter. Cades Cove: Best place to see black bears! 1. This is a really neat place to go and you can get tickets to their multiple attractions or just the wildlife encounter. The park has worked hard to educate people on this matter and thus there are more bears living in the park than ever before. Black Bears. In Smoky Mountain terminology a Cove is a relatively flat valley between mountains or ridges. Here's how to plan a trip right now. One animal you will most likely see is the white-tailed deer. Its just not a good combo. We saw deer, but no bear! Please zoom back in. Its definitely worth a visit and you get to see amazing historic buildings as well. 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. Best Times to Visit Buenos Aires - Weather, Season, Temperature - TripHobo The black bear is kind of like the mascot for the Smokies, you see black bears on everything you can buy or rent. I travel in early May. The reason for this is somewhat of a mystery except for the fact that bears are not interested in being seen by humans. And seeing it all is rather inexpensive, as it costs just $5 for a daily parking tag at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Bear spray is legal for self defense in The Great Smoky Mountain National Park. 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. It's one of the most popular spots for bear sightings. The scenery was beautiful, and we were lucky enough to be able to spot two different mama bears with their three cubs apiece! Thank you for visiting! Another place to see a bear is Ober Gatlinburg. You're all but guaranteed to see some incredible wildlife here. 15+ Best Things to do in Cades Cove, Smoky Mountains It can really vary based on how available food is but generally black bears will go into hibernation sometime around September October and remain dormant through April. As a bonus, Cades Cove offers plenty of other wildlife too, including white tailed deer and coyotes! 35 Top Things to Do in Tennessee - US News & World Report 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. Specifically, it's found its way to the hidden valley of Cades Cove, Tennessee. Exploring the entire area takes about two to four hours, depending on how many stops you make. Fight back with anything you have at your disposal, make loud noises. There is also an elk herd in this part of the National Park, so you might get a bonus in the form of an elk sighting! TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. Top 4 Things to Know About the Great Smoky Mountains Parking Pass, 4 Interesting Facts About The Cades Cove Loop, 3 Interesting Facts About Hyatt Lane in Cades Cove, Your Guide to Abrams Creek Fishing in Cades Cove, 3 Tips for Planning Your Spring Stay at The Cades Cove Campground, Top 4 Things You Need to Know About the Cades Cove Bike Rentals. According to numerous sources, the best place to see black bears is in Cades Cove, a few miles from Gatlinburg and Townsend, Tennessee. This East Coast National Park Has Some of the Best Wildflower Fields in the U.S. With 862 Flower Species and an Extra-long Blooming Season, 23 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in California, The Best Time to Visit Colorado for Good Weather, Affordable Prices, and Fewer Crowds, This Scenic North Carolina Train Is the Best Way to Explore the Great Smoky Mountains, California's Largest State Park Has the Best Wildflower Super Blooms in the State, This Southern California Luxury Resort Has a Private Wildflower Bloom and Only Hotel Guests Can See It, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Just Increased Its Parking Prices What to Know for Your Next Trip, 10 Best National Parks to Drive Through for a Scenic Road Trip, This State Is Called the 'Great Trails State' Thanks to These Waterfall Treks, National Park Hikes, and a 700-mile Route From Mountains to Sea. On an average, we saw one per drive. A CADES COVE State of Mind - SECRET To Seeing Bears and - YouTube Jh., dunkel gebeiztes Hartholz, Griffstck aus Bein, Metallzwingen am bergang vom Knauf und an der Stockspitze, Knauf als hechelnder Hundekopf verschnitzt mit eingesetzten Glasaugen, Metallzwinge unterhalb des Knaufs, Church Place, Milborne Port, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 3 bed terraced house for sale - 375,000, Best septic tank treatments for rural homeowners | AGDAILY, Free Antique Identification Tips | LoveToKnow, Elevated Arsenic and Lead Concentrations in Natural Healing Clay Applied Topically as a Treatment for Ulcerative Dermatitis in Mice, The Best Places to See Bears in Gatlinburg. They are bears, sure they can be dangerous if provoked or threatened. It's definitely worth a visit and you get to see amazing historic buildings as well. We arrived about 9:30am, and it was fairly busy. The winter months are slower, and you have the chance to see snow in Cades Cove, as long as the roads are safe, which is a spectacular sight to see!