Thinking about heading there in the fall. I've been there several times, but it's been a long time and my kids have never been. I've always gone in the summer months. How is it (and the NP in general) in the fall? Say around mid to late October? My first thought would be that it gets pretty crowded when the leaves start changing. But I'd like to be wrong.

This post was edited on 6/12/23 at 2:02 pm

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Posted by fatcatswag22

Vagabond

Member since Feb 2010

132 posts

Posted on 6/12/23 at 3:04 pm to PillageUrVillage

quote:
mid to late October?

Per a conversation with a ranger the other week, busiest time of the year for them...

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Posted by Phideaux

Cades Cove

Member since May 2008

2507 posts

Posted on 6/12/23 at 10:31 pm to PillageUrVillage

quote:
Say around mid to late October?

Sept/Oct is very busy - but it’s not busy as early in the morning in cooler months like it is May through August when so many families are vacationing. the closer to Halloween the slower it gets as temps are already dipping below freezing at night. If you plan to make a day of it can be fun by bringing lunch, make stops at the home sites or churches . If you came in the dead of winter when it’s not busy you will not see much wildlife and there are few ranger programs because staffing drops in fall. People think they can come to Cades Cove at Noon and be back in Gatlinburg to get dressed for a 5:00 dinner reservation.

If you are interested or your kids would like to do things like catch butterflies and tag them or watch bird banding in the park I can point you in the right direction.

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