Townsendの天然記念物・トップ6

Such a cool tide. You ride with cars unless you come when they open only to cyclers in the summer. However cars are generally moving very slow. Great way to see wildlife! We saw a black bear and turkey!

The viewpoint off the side of the road is a great place to see wildlife and look at some of the higher summits on this side of the park. Being such a humid valley, clouds often hang low in the mornings and create a thick mist.

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.

The viewpoint off the side of the road is a great place to see wildlife and look at some of the higher summits on this side of the park. Being such a humid valley, clouds often hang low in the mornings and create a thick mist.

The Middle Prong Trail follows Lynn Camp Prong (a wide creek in the Smoky Mountains) for several miles. The first three-quarters of a mile up the trail has continuous overlooks of cascading rapids and waterfalls in the creek bed. The trail is wide and easy to follow, and if there are crowds (which there will be in the summer and fall months), the cascades just drown out the sounds of the other visitors.

Spruce Flats Falls is only a short hike from the Upper Tremont Road Parking Lot, but the trail is pretty rocky and rooty. The trail actually doesn't even show up on park maps, but the trail is well blazed and easy to follow. There is a set of narrow, wooden walkways and steps before getting down to the waters. The falls, themselves, are an awesome sight and frequented by many visitors. You can get closer to the falls on the shore, but be careful of rocky and slick footing.

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

Coming down from top of the Smoky's, I took the side road Fighting Creek Gap Rd to avoid crowds. It was highlight of the day. After a bit of climbing you will meet Little River at the fork with Elkmont Rd. After that is all downhill, following river all the way. Don't rush, savour the moment, stop to cool down in the river. Water is pristine and refreshing. My first thought was how would be so much fun to go down those rapids with tube or kayak. Can you imagine over 20km of uninterrupted, class 1 or 2 rapids and you in the tube/kayak. I have to come back. At the point where I stopped is campground with the dam that created calm area for swimming. Perfect location to finish the day. Close by BBQ restaurant offers river side patio dining with good food at reasonable prices. Enjoy and respect. Thanks