It’s been such a busy month for me and I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to fit in a location to explore but we got in a hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I love that we live close enough to drive down and spend time in the park. It’s a beautiful place to explore. There are lots and lots of trails and locations to check out but this one is in the Cades Cove area of the park.

Great Smokey Mountains in Cades Cove at the entrance of the Abrams Fall trail head.
©2026 Dianna Auton

Cades Cove happens to be one of my favorite places to explore. Each time you go, there could be different animals out foraging. Different times of the day can display a whole different mood. Each season gives you a variety of flora and fauna to identify. It never fails you may see something you never saw before. There are many trails and walking paths throughout the area. Cabins and churches to explore from a bygone era.

This time was no different, although we didn’t see bear while there (which is rare for us) but we got to see the beauty of the Appalachia mountain chain. As we drove into the Cades Cove scenic loop we saw a ton of deer out foraging for food. In one field we saw two bucks fighting. Which was a first for us. We had never seen that before. It was a rainy and early so not as many people were out on the loop.

The Abrams Fall trail head is off the scenic loop. The trail is a moderate one and it is 2.5 miles back to the falls so a 5 mile round trip hike. I did really well on the way in but the way back gave me some issues with my hip. I’m working on loosening and stretching out those hip muscles so I won’t have issues in the future. But, I pushed through and made it.

©2026 Dianna Auton

I will say that it is a beautiful area. No matter the time of year it is. If you ever get a chance to explore and hike in the Great Smokey Mountains, do it. It’s gorgeous and full of God’s creation. It’s one of my favorite reasons for living in East Tennessee.

Make sure to check out my previous Explore with Me post. We visited Jonesborough. If you want to recommend a place to me to visit leave it in the comments. I can’t promise I’ll make it but I would love some suggestions.

©2026 Dianna Auton

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