Park managers began implementing vehicle-free opportunities for bicyclists and pedestrians in Cades Cove over 40 years ago. This year, Cades Cove will be hosting vehicle-free Wednesdays from May 5 to September 1. During this span, no vehicles will be permitted to drive through the Cades Cove Loop on Wednesdays. The vehicle-free event is a great opportunity for pedestrians and bikers to make a day of their Cades Cove exploration, without the danger that vehicles present for these adventurers.
Parking on site at Cades Cove Loop Road will be limited, with many spaces filling in the morning. Visitors are encouraged to arrive in the afternoon or early evening to help spread the use throughout the day. Park officials are working to devolve better information systems to alert visitors when there’s no parking available. In the coming months, officials will continue to explore other options, like a shuttle opportunity to bring people in and out of the area from Townsend. Nothing is official yet, but more information should come this summer.
For those interested in completing the loop on a bike, the Cades Cove Campground store will be renting bikes out on a first-come, first-served basis. Cyclers 16 years of age or younger are required to wear a helmet. Participants may also bring their own bikes and equipment. Others are free to walk.
For more information, visit: Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
