A short, moderately easy in-and-out hike to a large waterfall. The trail is paved at the trailhead but the pavement is rough and uneven and does not extend the full length of the trail. The trail has short, steep sections which can be slippery in wet weather.
An 11-mile, one-way loop road circles the cove, offering motorists the opportunity to sightsee at a leisurely pace. Allow at least two to four hours to tour Cades Cove, longer if you walk some of the area's trails. Traffic is heavy during the tourist season in summer and fall and on weekends year-round. While driving the loop road, please be courteous to other visitors and use pullouts when stopping to enjoy the scenery or view wildlife.