Cades Cove, Valley in Blount County, United States.
Cades Cove is a broad valley in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, surrounded by forested ridges and crossed by open meadows. The area preserves several log buildings from the 19th century and serves as habitat for deer, black bears, and wild turkeys.
European families began settling here from 1818 onward after Cherokee groups left the area. Residents lived in the region until the 1930s before the valley became part of the national park.
Three historic churches, including Primitive Baptist, Missionary Baptist, and Methodist, represent the religious foundations of the early settler community in the valley.
A narrow one-way road about 11 miles (18 kilometers) long runs through the valley and allows stops at houses, barns, and trails. Early morning hours or late afternoons are often quieter and offer better chances to see animals.
A cave called Gregory's Cave sits in the hills at the edge of the valley and shows wide passages where saltpeter was once mined. Visitors can see the entrance, though access is limited to protect bat populations.
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