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Cades Cove Loop Road – Beautiful view of the Valley loop from Rich Mountain Gap

Cades Cove Loop Road – Beautiful view of the Valley loop from Rich Mountain Gap

Hard

4.8

(9537)

9,538

riders

Cades Cove Loop Road – Beautiful view of the Valley loop from Rich Mountain Gap

03:26

70.5km

1,050m

Road cycling

Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 4, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

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27.1 km

Cades Cove Loop Road

Highlight • Trail

Cades Cove is considered by some to be the heart of the Smoky Mountains. The Cove offers access to hiking and backpacking trails, horseback riding tours, camping options, wildlife viewing, historical landmarks, and so on. The road itself is paved with two different gravel roads cutting across the loop (and thus offering shorter loop options). It's pretty much impossible to do the loop without seeing deer, and there are usually turkey and black bear sightings on a daily basis.

On Wednesdays from May-September, the Cades Cove Loop is closed to motor vehicles; this is the most popular time for walking, running, and biking the loops in the park. On days when motor vehicles can use the loop, it takes drivers an average of 2–4 hours to complete the drive.

Tip by

32.0 km

Rich Mountain cut-off

Highlight • Trail

There is an exit from Cades Cove via Rich Mountain Road across from the Missionary Baptist Church. The road is frequented by hikers, runners, and cyclists wishing to get away from the pavement and the crowds that come with the Cades Cove Loop. There is also a sizable parking area at the church.

Rich Mountain Road is utilized by cars in the summer and fall to get back to Townsend. The route is over 10 miles total but usually takes over an hour by car.

Tip by

32.8 km

Beautiful view of the Valley

Highlight • Viewpoint

A great rest stop, about halfway through the Cades Cove Loop.

Tip by

38.2 km

White-Tailed Deer in Cades Cove

Highlight • Natural

Go slow! Not so much for wildlife but for vehicles from Alabama and Ohio! JK. But seriously be careful as vehicles do not follow guidelines prohibiting stopping in the road.

Tip by

38.8 km

Tipton Place (historic homestead)

Highlight • Historical Site

The Tipton Place homestead is a historical farm and property that were originally constructed in the 1820s. The original owner of these structures actually owned a good bit of property in Cades Cove and sold it for a big profit. The entire Cades Cove loop is filled with history of homesteading and farming in the valley.

Tip by

39.7 km

View of Cades Cove Valley

Highlight • Viewpoint

The Cades Cove loop winds for 11 miles through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It's a glorious ride on a bike with a backdrop of mountain peaks and lush green countryside. The views from here are particularly stunning.

Tip by

39.9 km

Cycling Route Through Forest

Highlight • Cycleway

Black bear in lower right of frame. Please don't get this close! My mistake, fortunately she didn't spook.

Tip by

41.4 km

View of the Mountains from Lone Grove

Highlight • Viewpoint

As you pedal along Cades Cove Loop Road, you'll pass a parking lot at Lone Grove which offers up uninterrupted views of the lush green mountains. In the spring this is a popular place for wildlife watchers to park up in the hope of seeing a black bear.

Tip by

70.5 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

55.9 km

8.34 km

6.29 km

Surfaces

70.3 km

240 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (660 m)

Lowest point (320 m)

Weather

Tuesday 11 August

32°C

21°C

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Cades Cove Loop Road – Beautiful view of the Valley loop from Rich Mountain Gap

Cades Cove Loop Road

Rich Mountain cut-off

Beautiful view of the Valley

White-Tailed Deer in Cades Cove

Tipton Place (historic homestead)

View of Cades Cove Valley

Cycling Route Through Forest

View of the Mountains from Lone Grove

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