.remove-padding-left{padding-left: 0 !important;}, Amazing Views of the Smokies … All About The Bears Of The Smoky Mountains. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park currently holds 120 elk after reintroducing 20 into the habitat in 2001. Cades Cove. Just by entering the park, you have a great chance of seeing native wildlife. That’s why our cabins are the perfect place to stay! A big reason Cades Cove is so popular is its spectacular wildlife viewing. One of the reasons it’s such a popular area for bears is because there are a lot of berries and nuts in the area. https://www.amazingviewscabinrentals.com/blog/best-places-see-bears-wildlife The Cades Cove Loop Road is open to visitors during the summer months from sunrise to sunset each day. Now that you know the best places to see bears in the Smoky Mountains, we have a few tips for viewing other Smoky Mountain wildlife. The two best places to sight bears are in Cades Cove, which is on the western side of the park, and Cataloochee Valley, which is on the park’s east side. While there’s no guarantee you’ll see any black bears in the Smoky Mountains, there are a few places you can check out where they are frequently spotted. If you’re on the lookout for bears, be sure to slow down on the Loop Road around the denser areas where there is thick tree coverage. Running from it can trigger the bear’s instinct to chase you. 4. This unique attraction has 2 floors full of entertainment for the whole family to enjoy! Another one of the best places to see Smoky Mountain wildlife is at the Ober Gatlinburg Wildlife Encounter! While bears can be found throughout Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cades Cove is one of the best places to spot them due to its wide, open valley. Summer is a great time to see wildlife out and about in the area too, like white-tailed deer and black bears! One of the best places to see black bears in the Smoky Mountains is at the Wildlife Encounter at Ober Gatlinburg. Cades Cove One of the top places to see bears in the Smoky Mountains is at Cades Cove, a broad valley surrounded by mountains that offers some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing in the national park! .property-detail{position: absolute;bottom: 0;padding:5px;} https://ramblearoundtheworld.com/smoky-mountains-black-bears Roaring Fork is, as mentioned, another likely place. In this huge region, visitors will find a wealth of activities, from outdoor hiking trails up mountains and beneath waterfalls, to … You even have the chance to take your own black bear home with you when you make one in the Make-UR-Bear Factory! After spending time exploring the Great Smoky Mountains, you’ll love having a place to rest and relax right outside the national park. However, by fall, bears can double their weight. Most hikers and motorists see bears during the hours close to sunrise and sunset. Turkeys inhabit most areas of the park, but they prefer lower elevations. With over 800 square miles, the Smoky Mountains offer a unique view of Tennessee and North Carolina. Black bears are most easily spotted in open areas and valleys throughout Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the surrounding areas. Here are the top 3 places to visit to see bears in the Smoky Mountains: 1. The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a 5.5-mile, one-lane road that takes you through downtown Gatlinburg to Roaring Fork in less than an hour. The black bear is by far the most beloved animal in the Great Smoky Mountains! Don’t feed the bear: This is one of the most important safety tips. The best part by far is the live bear habitat that features black bears that were rescued from a nearby hunting farm. Not only is Cades Cove one of the most popular spots in the Smokies, but it’s also one of the most popular places to see bears! If you visit the park there is a very good chance you will encounter one. Sevierville, TN 37876, Find a Cabin in the Smokies – Your home away from home in the Smoky Mountains, © Copyright 2020 Amazing Views of the Smokies, LLC • A Tennessee Licensed Vacation Lodging Service (VLS) License ID Number 356 |, Best Places to See Smoky Mountain Bears and Other Wildlife, Cabins between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, 5 Easy Steps to a Flawless Smoky Mountain Family Reunion, Wave Goodbye to 2013 with Three Jimmy’s in Gatlinburg, 5 Reasons to Have Your Family Reunion at Our Large Cabins in the Smoky Mountains, The 4 Best Indoor Things to Do in Gatlinburg, 7 The Island in Pigeon Forge Rides You Should Experience, Top 5 Pigeon Forge Kid Attractions Your Family Will Love. Where To See Black Bears in the Smoky Mountains? They can be 6 feet in length and up to 3 feet high at the shoulder. Also, make sure to throw away any trash you have. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in January. The Roaring Fork Motor Trail. Each of the three bears has its own individual den that is kept cool in the summer and warm in the winter. This record number of elk can be seen in the early mornings or late evenings around the Cataloochee Valley. With more than 1,500 bears roaming the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there’s a good chance you’ll see one if you visit during the right times. If you want to increase your chances of seeing a bear, you need to be up and moving before the sunshine. What makes Cades Cove a hot spot for black bears? Here’s where you should go: Where to See the Smoky Mountain Black Bears Of course, Cades Cove is known for the historical structures that bring the old history of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to life. For additional information on Smoky Mountain bears, see the National Park Service website. The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a 5.5-mile, one-lane road that takes you... 3. The key to spotting a black bear along this road is to keep an eye on the trees. The Great Smoky Mountains are a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, which run down most of the East Coast of the United States.They ride the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, and are largely the home of Great Smoky Mountain National Park. This exhibit was created to provide visitors with the opportunity to get an up-close viewing of the native animals in a safe environment. The ONLY site you need to plan your Smoky Mountain vacation. Not only can you see the bears, but you can feed them too! There are about 1,500 black bears in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s an 11 mile loop to circle the cove, you will see … Occasionally, a bear will venture out in the heat when hungry, but it is rare. Cades Cove. Wildlife viewing is a popular activity for many people visiting the Smoky Mountains. Book your tickets online for the top things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee on Tripadvisor: See 28,984 traveler reviews and photos of Great Smoky Mountains National Park tourist attractions. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has the largest protected bear habitat in the East. Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. This hike is a little less than 3 miles roundtrip, and takes you to a 25-foot-high waterfall. The best time of the year (and the most crowded with visitors) to see elk in the Smoky Mountains is the fall. Millions of visitors come to Gatlinburg, TN each year to catch a glimpse of these amazing critters. There are a few spots that are best for seeing wildlife and black bears in the Smoky Mountains. This verdant valley is home to many mast-producing... 2. According to numerous sources, the best place to see black bears is in Cades Cove, a few miles from Gatlinburg and Townsend, Tennessee. .property-box{min-height: 200px; border-radius: 8px; position: relative;} Crowding the bear is extremely dangerous for both you and the bear because it can cause the bear to feel threatened, possibly leading to an attack. We have reviews of the best places to see in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There is an estimated number of 1,500 black bears in the Smoky Mountains, which is about 2 bears every square mile! Bears do … White Tailed Deer The openness of Cades Cove makes it easier to spot black bears in the distance. Every year, thousands of vacationers see black bears in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, mostly on the Tennessee side. With its wide open spaces, this gorgeous valley is a great place to spot black bears. Best Things To Do in Great Smoky Mountains National ... about the beautiful waterfalls and mountain scenery on this motor trail said this is a must-see and a great place to spot bears … Don’t bother looking for black bears during the heat of the day because they usually rest during the warmest hours of the day and are more active during early morning or late evening around 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. Roaring Fork Bears by R. Neal / CC BY 2.0. They’re best seen in the Cataloochee Valley and near Cherokee, North Carolina outside the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. You can spend a whole day exploring everything that Cades Cove has to offer. 5 Things to Do in the Smoky Mountains Before the Year Ends. Most bears are only interested in protecting food, cubs and their space. Black bears love Cades Cove for its ecosystem and the abundance and variety of food sources. Bears usually like to search for food in the morning (6 – 10 a.m.) and the late afternoon (3 – 7 p.m.). Bears are most likely spotted in the early mornings and late evenings when traffic is light. Being an early riser definitely has advantages in the Smoky Mountains. Where are the best places to see a bear in Gatlinburg? It is a way to preserve the farming history of the park. Best Times To See Black Bears in the Smoky Mountains. If you plan on trying to see some wildlife when you visit, read our blog, “Where and When to Spot Your Favorite Smoky Mountain Wildlife.”, 4 of the Best Places to Spot Bears in the Smoky Mountains. It is especially important to keep your distance when viewing elk because these are the largest park wildlife, reaching up to 700 pounds each. Another place you’re sure to spot black bears is the Three Bears General Store in Pigeon Forge. The black bear is kind of like the mascot for the Smokies, you see black bears on everything you can buy or rent. Another great place to catch sight of bears is Newfound Gap Road on U.S. Route 441. Deer are often seen on foggy mornings and afternoons and are known to graze right after a rain shower. To help with your vacation, we’ve put together a list of the best photography spots in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Ober Gatlinburg Wildlife Encounter Feeding the bears cause them to lose their sense of fear of humans. We recommend looking around Cades Cove or the valley near the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Here you can see a family of black bears! Not only will you very likely see black bears roaming around, but also many other wildlife. Grotto Falls. If you have food with you, be sure to keep it secured and never leave it unattended. Wild turkeys spend a great deal of time searching the ground for insects, berries and nuts. 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