Black bears in Gatlinburg are corpuscular animals, which means they are most active at dawn and at dusk. Bears choose a denning site with the coming of cold weather. Keep in mind that this road closes for the winter season. You even have the chance to take your own black bear home with you when you make one in the Make-UR-Bear Factory! https://www.amazingviewscabinrentals.com/blog/best-places-see-bears-wildlife However, by fall, bears can double their weight. Bears have been seen wandering hillsides, resting at the tops of trees and foraging for berries, so keep your eyes open because they could be anywhere! 1440 Upper Middle Creek Rd Ste 204 What makes Cades Cove a hot spot for black bears? Black Bears in the Smoky Mountains. The ONLY site you need to plan your Smoky Mountain vacation. This means their behavior can be unpredictable and lead to possible attacks. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions. 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. Due to the openness of Cades Cove, there are fantastic views. Cades Cove. Roaring Fork is, as mentioned, another likely place. If you want to increase your chances of seeing a bear, you need to be up and moving before the sunshine. Cades Cove. With its wide open spaces, this gorgeous valley is a great place to spot black bears. You can walk inside some of the buildings like the famous churches, or hike to Abrams Falls. This verdant valley is home to many mast-producing... 2. Wild turkeys spend a great deal of time searching the ground for insects, berries and nuts. We have cabin rentals in Gatlinburg that are a nature lover’s dream with stunning outdoor views and a convenient location. It is especially important to keep your distance when viewing elk because these are the largest park wildlife, reaching up to 700 pounds each. .remove-padding-left{padding-left: 0 !important;}, Amazing Views of the Smokies 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. To prepare you for your visit, here are a few things to know about where and when to spot Smoky Mountain bears and other native Smoky Mountain wildlife. We recommend looking around Cades Cove or the valley near the Sugarlands Visitor Center. They can live 12–15 years or longer. All About The Bears Of The Smoky Mountains. According to numerous sources, the best place to see black bears is in Cades Cove, a few miles from Gatlinburg and Townsend, Tennessee. Bears are most likely spotted in the early mornings and late evenings when traffic is light. Just by entering the park, you have a great chance of seeing native wildlife. If you have food with you, be sure to keep it secured and never leave it unattended. Early Morning And Twilight. Bears can be found in all parts of the park, so keep an eye out when you visit! 1628 Articles to Help You Plan & Better Experience the Smoky Mountains. Not only will you very likely see black bears roaming around, but also many other wildlife. This unique attraction has 2 floors full of entertainment for the whole family to enjoy! Cades Cove is a popular scenic drive that has a ton of open fields and wooded areas you can drive through. Other animals you have the chance to see are river otters, raccoons, skunks, bobcats, Birds of Prey and more. Deer are often seen on foggy mornings and afternoons and are known to graze right after a rain shower. Where To See Black Bears in the Smoky Mountains? Best Places to See Bears in the Smoky Mountains Attracting over 2 million people each year, Cades Cove is the most visited section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 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. If you want to be sure to spot black bears in the Smoky Mountains, visit Ober Gatlinburg’s Wildlife Encounter! The animals in the Smoky Mountains can be found, without a doubt, at these two locations, so be sure to plan a day to do some wildlife sightseeing!. 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. Cades Cove. Book your cabin today and start planning your vacation. This popular souvenir shop is also home to a live bear habitat. Be sure to look up as well because black bears have curved claws that are great for climbing trees. Outside of the three we’re highlighting, the park is also home to turtles, snakes, raccoons, moles, bats, foxes, lizards, chipmunks and many more. Millions of visitors come to Gatlinburg, TN each year to catch a glimpse of these amazing critters. 21, 2019 After a rich 24-hours of mountain-coaster riding, Parkway strolling, and Gatlinburg sightseeing, there is no better way to end a day in the Heart of the Smokies than with a picturesque sunset and someone special. Turkeys inhabit most areas of the park, but they prefer lower elevations. Ober Gatlinburg Wildlife Encounter The Great Smoky Mountains National Park currently holds 120 elk after reintroducing 20 into the habitat in 2001. Grotto Falls. Not only can you see the bears, but you can feed them too! However, they can also be dangerous if they are threatened and they decide to attack, so make sure that you give … Don’t feed the bear: This is one of the most important safety tips. If you make the Cades Cove loop and have yet to see a bear, you might consider exiting along Rich Mountain Rd which brings you into Townsend.We've done this 3 times and spotted bears on two occasions. The best places to go to possibly see black bears include Cades Cove, Roaring Fork Motor Trail, and along hiking trails. Roaring Fork Bears by R. Neal / CC BY 2.0. The black bear is kind of like the mascot for the Smokies, you see black bears on everything you can buy or rent. Many people see black bears in this area. Sometimes bears can be seen at the Roaring Fork Motor Trail’s densely forested areas as well. There are a few spots that are best for seeing wildlife and black bears in the Smoky Mountains. Another great place to see Smoky Mountain wildlife, particularly black bears, is the Three Bears General Store! Pasquale Mingarelli Because there are just under 2,000 bears living in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the likelihood you will see a bear in the park is very high. Another place you’re sure to spot black bears is the Three Bears General Store in Pigeon Forge. Black bears are most easily spotted in open areas and valleys throughout Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the surrounding areas. 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! The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has the largest protected bear habitat in the East. Besides catching a glimpse of black bears, seeing elk in the Smokies is the second-best wildlife treat you can have in the park. Another one of the best places to see Smoky Mountain wildlife is at the Ober Gatlinburg Wildlife Encounter! The best time of the year (and the most crowded with visitors) to see elk in the Smoky Mountains is the fall. After spending time exploring the Great Smoky Mountains, you’ll love having a place to rest and relax right outside the national park. 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 wondering whether you’ll catch a glimpse of wildlife while in the Smokies, the answer is a definite, “Yes!” With a diverse population of wildlife including Smoky Mountain black bears, deer, wild turkeys and more, these hills are a sanctuary for more than 66 species of mammals. To help you out, we’ve made a list of 4 of the best places to spot bears in the Smoky Mountains. This record number of elk can be seen in the early mornings or late evenings around the Cataloochee Valley. Another great place to catch sight of bears is Newfound Gap Road on U.S. Route 441. They can be 6 feet in length and up to 3 feet high at the shoulder. Being an early riser definitely has advantages in the Smoky Mountains. In this huge region, visitors will find a wealth of activities, from outdoor hiking trails up mountains and beneath waterfalls, to … 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. Laurel Falls is accessible via a lovely 2.6-mile roundtrip hike that takes about 2 … Best Times To See Black Bears in the Smoky Mountains. One of the best places to see bears in the Smoky Mountains is in Cades Cove because of the high density of trees and berry bushes, including blackberry, huckleberry and blueberry. Some bears that have been found have weighed more than 600 pounds! The best time to see Smoky Mountain bears is during summer because their hibernation season is from November through April. This is an unthreatening movement to the bear and will allow you to keep an eye on it. Best Places to See a Sunset in Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains By Marci Claude on Jun. Most hikers and motorists see bears during the hours close to sunrise and sunset. 5 Things to Do in the Smoky Mountains Before the Year Ends. The best way to explore the area is to … For additional information on Smoky Mountain bears, see the National Park Service website. The best thing to do is to move away slowly and sideways. It is a way to preserve the farming history of the park. Wildlife viewing is a popular activity for many people visiting the Smoky Mountains. Bears do … The best part by far is the live bear habitat that features black bears that were rescued from a nearby hunting farm. Most bears are only interested in protecting food, cubs and their space. Smoky Mountain Photos from Visit My Smokies, “Where and When to Spot Your Favorite Smoky Mountain Wildlife.”, 4 Reasons to Book a Stay in Gatlinburg Cabin Rentals in the New Year, New Shop in the Gatlinburg Arts and Crafts Community: Fallen Desires Tattoo Shop & Oddities, All You Need to Know About the Gatlinburg SkyLift, 6 of the Best Views of the Smoky Mountains in the Winter, All You Need to Know About Cinnaholic in Pigeon Forge. This beautiful 80-foot high waterfall takes its name from the mountain laurel, an evergreen shrub that grows around the falls in May. It’s an 11 mile loop to circle the cove, you will see … With over 800 square miles, the Smoky Mountains offer a unique view of Tennessee and North Carolina. We have reviews of the best places to see in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The family consists of Minnie and BJ, as well as their now grown 5 year olds Holly and Chief. The Cades Cove Loop Road is open to visitors during the summer months from sunrise to sunset each day. Aside from the winter, black bears remain out and about throughout the year, with late spring and early fall being especially good times for bear viewing. March Through December. Running from it can trigger the bear’s instinct to chase you. You can spend a whole day exploring everything that Cades Cove has to offer. Feeding the bears cause them to lose their sense of fear of humans. This hike is a little less than 3 miles roundtrip, and takes you to a 25-foot-high waterfall. One common location is Cades Cove. Here are the top 3 places to visit to see bears in the Smoky Mountains: 1. Bears usually like to search for food in the morning (6 – 10 a.m.) and the late afternoon (3 – 7 p.m.). 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. Dens are usually hollow stumps, tree cavities, or wherever there is shelter. Grotto Falls is one of the best hikes to do in the Smoky Mountains in the summer! To help with your vacation, we’ve put together a list of the best photography spots in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The black bear is by far the most beloved animal in the Great Smoky Mountains! Not only is Cades Cove one of the most popular spots in the Smokies, but it’s also one of the most... 2. The openness of Cades Cove makes it easier to spot black bears in the distance. 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 … Find what to do today, this weekend, or in January. If you visit the park there is a very good chance you will encounter one. When you visit Cades Cove, you can go for a hike, enjoy the scenic drive, and see historic structures like old homesteads and churches! 4. Cades Cove is also great for seeing other Smoky Mountain wildlife, like white-tailed deer, wild turkey, coyotes and more. A big reason Cades Cove is so popular is its spectacular wildlife viewing. The two-level facility offers a great observation area! You’ll have the chance to see river otters playing at the underwater viewing area, bobcats and birds of prey in the enclosed aviary, and a family of black bears! 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