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 who once lived here and the clashes between them and the first European settlers to arrive. 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 some of the first homesteaders 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 idyllic homestead from a bygone era. 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.