Geology & Wildlife

Cades Cove's most famous wild inhabitants are its black bears.

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Geology & Wildlife Details

This beautiful valley is what geologists call a "limestone window," formed when erosion wore away a layer of ancient sandstone to expose the underlying limestone underneath. This process helped produce the valley's rich, fertile soil that lured early settlers. It also was responsible for the formation of the valley's many caves, such as Gregory's Cave -- mined for saltpeter used for gunpowder in the Civil War -- and Bull Cave, the deepest known cave in Tennessee at 924 feet. Cades Cove's most famous wild inhabitants are its black bears. Great Smoky Mountain National Park has a large population of bears, but Cades Cove is the best place to see one, especially if you come in the early morning or evening, when they are foraging in oak forests or among fruit trees, along streams, or in berry patches. You may also see white-tailed deer and even elk, but probably not the elusive coyotes and bobcats that also live in the valley.

Difficulty

Low

Distance

N/A

Estimated time

Region

Cades Cove