Your tour of Cades Cove begins just west of Gatlinburg by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Library. From there, you’ll continue west toward the scenic loop itself. As you drive, you’ll hear about the Cherokee people who once used the valley as a hunting ground and the clashes between them and the first Europeans to arrive in the area. You’ll also get familiar with some of the wildlife that makes the Smoky Mountains so special.

The first major landmark you’ll see is John Oliver Place, once home to the first European-American family who tried to make a living here in Cades Cove. After that, you’ll arrive at the Primitive Baptist Church, one of three churches in the cove dating back to the 1800s. As you visit the next two—the Methodist Church and the Missionary Baptist Church—you’ll learn about the devastating impact of the Civil War on this community and where these churches stood in the conflict.

Next up is the John Cable Grist Mill, a still-working mill from the 1800s where you can buy corn meal ground up on-site! Then, you’ll reach Tipton Place, home to not only a Revolutionary War veteran but a Civil War veteran as well. Finally, you’ll reach the Carter Shields Cabin, another historic structure nestled in a small grassy clearing surrounded by woods. Then you’ll continue on toward the start of the loop as you hear about the last family to call Cades Cove home. Your tour will conclude near the start of the Cades Cove Scenic Loop.

Explore one of the most scenic routes through the Smokies
See historic churches and cabins
Learn how the Civil War forever changed the local communities
Hike to a beautiful waterfall
Hear about the Cherokee people who once hunted here

Important to know

Know in advance:

This is a self-guided tour; no guide will accompany you and there is no attraction entrance ticket included. The tour operator's app functions as a guide, an audio tour, and a map all in one
Please arrange for a vehicle before you take the tour. You only need to book one tour per vehicle, not per person
After booking the tour, search your email for the phrase "Set up your self-guided tour now." Follow these instructions immediately to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Please don't wait until you are on-site
Works perfectly without cellular or Wi-Fi with offline maps
The audio stories play on their own based on your location. You can start anytime and pause anywhere
Most stops along the tour have animated videos allowing you to visualize what you cannot see, such as snapshots from different centuries or interior rooms
Buy once, use for one year: ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months