Using the Sugarlands Visitor Center as my base I started out to locate Cades Cove. For some unknown reason I thought Cades Cove was right near the visitor center like an entrance to the valley. Was I ever in for a surprise. I hadn’t gone very far when I saw a sign…Cades Cove – 24 miles! It was an over the river and through the woods kind of trip. I began to wonder if I’d taken a wrong turn.

Now don’t misunderstand me. It’s a beautiful drive. The road is paved and shaded and meanders through forests and over brooks and streams.

You even pass through a tunnel. This was the first of many tunnels I would run across in my Tennessee travels. I love these tunnels.

Unlike the tunnels I drive through when I work in Somerville, which only enhance the term concrete jungle,  these tunnels blend with the natural landscape. The trees, grass and moss cover the tops and sides of the tunnels. They make me think of little hobbit houses.

There were numerous pull offs  and wide shoulders for parking. Almost every stream had a fisherman or two standing in waders.

About 13 miles into the drive near sign post #6 is a large pull off with a stone wall. As I approached I could see a lot of cars and people. There were quite a few photographers with tripods set up. I couldn’t see what they were looking at until I was almost by.  Tucked way back in the woods was a waterfall. Since Cades Cove closes at sunset I decided to wait for the return trip to stop. Maybe it would be less crowded then.

By now I was beginning to understand why everyone at the resort told me not to go later than 3:30. It takes that long to get there!

Finally I saw the gates and a parking area with a covered education center.  Rangers had a table set up with maps and flyers and story boards surrounded the enclosure.  It was about 5:30 by now and although still 2 hours to sunset the shadows were beginning to lengthen.

The ranger was explaining to some other folks that it would get dark in the woods much sooner than in the open. He assured us that we’d see wildlife. He told us to keep our eyes open because we were sure to see deer and quite possibly a bear or two. He said the females were all out and about and most had 2 or 3 cubs.

So with high hopes I pointed my nice shiny rental toward the 2nd gate which would put me on the 11 mile, one way, loop road, which is all dirt. Somehow I doubt the car will be quite as shiny when this adventure is over.