My stay at Norris Dam State Park in Tennessee was somewhat
interrupted by weather and having to get the right front tire replaced on the
truck. But I did manage a day trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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| Norris Dam |
Still, I did get to do a few hour “auto tour” of the park.
There were more people than I expected for the first week in April and some of
the locals I spoke with said they wouldn't even consider coming to the park
during the summer months because of the crowds.
Great Smoky Mountain National Park was chartered by the
United States Congress in 1934 and officially dedicated by FDR in 1940. It
encompasses 522,419 acres making it one of the largest National Parks as well
as the most visited.
Having a limited amount of time, my plan was to drive the
Newfound Gap Road for 29 miles from Sugarland’s Visitor’s Center at the west
end, through the park, to the Oconaluftee Visitor’s Center at the east end,
stopping at Clingmans Dome on the way which would take about an hour. Then drive
back to the Sugarland’s Visitors Center, pick up Cades Cove Road and make the
27 mile, 1 hour drive to Cades Cove Loop. Both of these roads wind through the
mountains with sharp curves and steep grades so going is slow.
The Newfound Gap Road had several areas of road construction
and the drive took longer than planned. I made it as far as Clingmans
Dome and had to start back toward Sugarland’s or I wouldn't have time to make
it to Cades Cove. I did manage a few photos along the way but didn't have time
to do any trail hiking.
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| Along Newfound Gap Road |
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| Along Newfound Gap Road |
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| Newfound Gap Overlook |
At 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the highest point in Tennessee and the
third highest mountain east of the Mississippi. There had been a foot of new
snow a few days earlier and some of it still remained at the summit. While the
temperatures were in the upper 70’s near the park entrance, it was only 56 up at
the dome.
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| View from Clingmans Dome |
I think the drive on Old State Hwy 73 Scenic, AKA Cades Cove
Road / Little River Road, was much prettier than Newfound Gap. It follows the
Little River and Laurel Creek, providing great scenes of these clear mountain
streams flowing over boulder and rock strewn beds.
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| Along Cades Cove Road |
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| Along Cades Cove Road |
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| Along Cades Cove Road |
Cades Cove is an isolated valley which was home to numerous
settlers before the formation of the park. It attracts more than two million
visitors a year because of its well preserved homesteads, scenic mountain
views, and abundant wildlife. The Cades Cove Historic District is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places.
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| Cades Cove Valley |
There are about 10 homesteads and churches located on the 11
mile Cades Cove Loop. I understand that during the busy season this 11 mile
drive can take up to 4 hours to complete. My limited time and completely full
parking areas at most of the buildings allowed me only 2 stops; the Primitive
Baptist Church and Cable Mill visitor’s center which has a large parking lot
and a nice collection of buildings in one place.
The Primitive Baptist Church was constructed in 1887. The
church was organized as the Cades Cove Baptist Church in 1827, and renamed
"Primitive Baptist" after the Anti-missions Split in 1841.
The John Cable Grist Mill, constructed in 1868.
The Becky Cable House, constructed in 1879, adjacent to the
grist mill.
Various buildings have been moved from elsewhere in the cove
and placed near the Cable Mill visitor’s center, including this barn.
You can read more about Cades Cove here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cades_Cove
It was a short stay for such a large park but I thought it
was worth it, seeing that I was camped so close. I’m now in southern Indiana at
Brown County State Park and should be back in the Chicago area next Tuesday. Will be spending a few weeks at Ronna’s place until the state parks up north
open for the season.
Hope everyone is happy and healthy!
