Geologically, Cades Cove is a type of valley known as a "limestone window", created by erosion that removed the older Precambrian sandstone, exposing the younger Paleozoic limestone beneath. More weathering-resistant fo… See more

Throughout the 18th century, the Cherokee used two main trails to cross the Smokies from North Carolina to Tennessee en route to the Overhill settlements. One was the Indian Gap Trail, which connected the Rutherford … See more

Cades Cove has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places as an historic district since July 13, 1977. The historic district is bounded by the 2,000-foot (610 m) elevation contour (that is, it comprises all areas be… See more

Though geographically isolated, Cades Cove today is a popular tourist destination in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A one-way, 11-mile (18 km) paved loop around Cades Cove draws thousands of visitors d… See more

• U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Cades Cove
• Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park website
• The Great Smoky Mountains Association — Non-profit partner of the Natio… See more