Lose the beach cruisers! I was there with a group over the weekend. Two of us brought our bikes (which I actually recommend if possible) and the rest rented theirs. We all had fun, but the biggest complaint from the group was that their riding position on the rented bikes made it really difficult to climb even the small hills. I also noticed that their bikes were also difficult to maneuver around cars when there was room to pass vehicular traffic. It's more than a little ridiculous that this kind of bike would even be an option on an eleven mile loop. Beach cruisers should be left on the beach.
The bicycling experience at Cades Cove is acceptable if you can manage a narrow and often hilly road with automobile traffic and/or other traffic operated by bicycle riders and walkers who are riding/strolling/stopping in /blocking the road for mere enjoyment. If you are a more purposeful rider, stick to your regular tracks where other cyclists know what "On your left" means and small children do not suddenly dart out in front of you, even though they see you approaching, hear your call or your bike bell. Volunteer park personnel stationed throughout sections of the road will warn "people stopped ahead" and not even tell these walking and riding patrons to move off the road for their own safety since they don't know to move on their own accord! I am not a "professional" bicyclist, but one who does prefer to keep a reasonable pace with my own hybrid bike against the clock, but I could not do that on the trail. The cove has beautiful scenery and great history and is made for taking that in, not riding bicycles, unless one is merely riding to have something to do. The park does close auto traffic two days a week from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m., but one must still deal with volumes of traffic just to get into the the park and journey around the loop and through pedestrians and other bikers out for that "something to do."
Camping? This place is the real deal. A place where nature is at its best. Very reasonably price with Park Rangers!
Nice stop for bathrooms. Also if you need snacks or a bike rental, this is the place to go. Has a lot of parking since it can be difficult to find in other areas of Cades Cove. Walked around the campground and was able to see dear and turkey's . We did see one bear with 3 cubs which was a highlight. The cubs went up in a tree so high you could not see them. We watched for about 30 minutes when they came down to find mom and wonder off.
Parking was difficult to find, which I also understand.
Biking on the Cades Cove Loop is a great experience, especially when the road is closed to motor vehicles on Wednesday and Saturday morning before 10 am. The bike rental is open early on Saturday from 7 am. The staff maintain their bikes very well.
Other than that, the scenery is tough to beat! The Smoky Mountains are beautiful, and this is a great way to see them. Have fun touring one of America's treasures!
Cades Cove Campground Store And Bike Rental is a US Restaurant based in Townsend, North Carolina. Cades Cove Campground Store And Bike Rental is located at 10035 Campground Dr, Townsend, TN 37882, USA.
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