The best places to see wildlife in spots like Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain National Park, Glacier National Park, and Grand Teton National Park, show off an array of creatures that'll help you reconnect with the outdoors. But there are ways to maximize your opportunities. They are most active early in the morning or late in the evening. Want to get listed and grow your business? Be sure to check out our area resources page to learn more about all the best places to eat, shop, and be entertained while youre visiting. How many black bears are in the Smokies? Some popular ones include learning about wild bears, elk, birds, and butterflies. RVs, motorhomes, and trailers won't fit on it because it is too narrow. There is plenty of wildlife to see along this 5.5-mile loop route in the Smoky Mountains. Expect everything from headwater streams to low-elevation rivers. Theres also an enclosed aviary where you can watch the beautiful bobcats and birds of prey. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Most black bear activity is in Cades Cove, Roaring Fork Motor Trail, and along hiking trails. If you have your heart set on seeing black bears, stop by the live bear habitat at the Three Bears General Store in Pigeon Forge! This is why you also should not move rocks near streams, rivers or waterfalls. The most popular creature in the national park is the black bear. Best Time to See Bears in the Smoky Mountains - Wildlife Informer Drop a comment below! With numbers like that your odds of seeing a bear are pretty good, but picking the right spot can stack the deck. Theres also a horse stable here, and youll see them roaming the fields near the entrance. Heres even more national park birding hotspots. Because a majority of the national park is covered by dense forest, spotting animals can pose a challenge for visitors. Navigation. On our hikes, my family has personally encountered a variety of colorful salamanders, cyanide releasing millipedes, snake skins, hawks, and more. First of all, we should take a moment to issue the following warning: Wild animals can be unpredictable and dangerous. Visitors Top Spots for Wildlife Viewing in the Great Smoky Mountains Now you know more about Smoky Mountain wildlife and where you are most likely to see them. I hope you find my blog useful in helping plan your next trip, and I hope my photos inspire you to get outside and see all the natural beauty in this world! My favorite national park to visit on the east coast lies along the southern stretch of Appalachian mountains, on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. Although black bears can be active any time of day, they seem to be out more often during the early morning and late evening. The best part by far is the live bear habitat that features black bears that were rescued from a nearby hunting farm. Related: Everything You Didn't Know About The Smoky Mountains (That's Worth Knowing). She's also a sucker for a good adventure. Read Also: Bobcat vs mountain lion: Are there wildcats in the Smoky Mountains? Christine Peterson is a regular contributor to Birds & Blooms and is always searching for new and interesting plants for her
Skip the traffic jam and head into where the bears really live on the 8.5-mile Rich Mountain Loop. Our Best Deal: 60% Off Outside+, Ends July 9. Another great place to see Smoky Mountain wildlife, particularly black bears, is the Three Bears General Store! Beat the Heat: Cool Down with Seviervilles Water Attractions, Seviervilles Outdoor Fun: Top Parks and Green Spaces, 5 Family-Friendly Attractions in Sevierville, TN, A Weekend of Family Fun at Bloomin BBQ & Bluegrass Festival in Sevierville, TN, Summer Adventures Await in the Great Smoky Mountains. sleeknoteScriptTag.charset = "utf-8"; This works out for the better if youre a photographer whos okay with long walks, since youll have a higher chance of seeing wildlife without vehicle traffic in the valley! Synchronous fireflies only exist in a handful of places throughout the world. Black Bears Source: @wattswildlifephoto Nearly 1,500 black bears live in the Smoky Mountains national park. Gatlinburg, Open fields in Cades Cove and the Cataloochee Valley are one of the best places to see white-tailed deer early each morning and late each evening. A Trail Guide for Disabled Hikers - The New York Times Open areas like Cataloochee and Cades Cove offer some of the best opportunities to see white-tailed deer, elk, black bear, raccoon, turkeys, woodchucks, and other animals. Note: Keep in mind that throughout the busy summer season, Cades Cove is CLOSED to vehicles on Wednesdays. I dislike those places. Heading out the door? The morning mist hangs low in the valley and makes for some extraordinary photo ops! Watch for any modification in an animal's behavior that indicates that you have approached too closely. Then drive Cades Cove Loop Road to see historic churches and other structures. 250 pounds. With the rise of colonization, the Cataloochee Valley became a settlement of nearly 1,200 people in 1910. 133 likes, 6 comments - Gays of National Parks (@gaysofnationalparks) on Instagram: "Hey! Remember that the Alum Cave Path is not pet-friendly, and for good reason: Black bears frequent the area. Clingmans Dome is 6,643 feet in elevation, and the colors from the sunset linger for a long time. The Oconaluftee Visitors Center is one of the best places to snap photos of wild elk. With a diverse animal population, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the perfect place for animal lovers. Your best chance of seeing black bears is in the morning or early evening hours. The trees dont move. Wild turkeys travel in flocks, so if you happen to spot one, youll most likely spot an entire group. It states that Willfully approaching within 50 yards (150 feet), or any distance that disturbs or displaces bear or elk is prohibited." When the weather turns cold, they vanish from the woods, heading into their dens for a winter of hibernation. Hiking The Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado. Permits go on sale April 30th-May 3rd for the week long viewing event held June 1st June 8th. When you feed wildlife, you teach the animal to associate humans with food. Despite the height, the hike up to the tower may not be as difficult as expected. Photo: "Clingmans Dome (AKA Smoky Dome) - Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee, USA" by jody.claborn is marked with CC PDM 1.0. No photograph is worth an animal's life, so please do not approach animals or allow them to approach you. This is a great spot to see elk, deer, turkey and other wildlife. Gatlinburg Wildlife Viewing Guide in the Smoky Mountains When you visit, youll be able to see river otters playing from the underwater viewing area. The Roaring Fork Motor NatureTrail also offers gorgeous views of rushing mountain streams, an old-growth forest, and a number of historic buildings. Elk can measure up to 700 pounds and can be dangerous. Elk, on the other hand, were reintroduced to the park 20 years ago. There were once red wolves and gray wolves, but efforts to reintroduce them were unsuccessful. If youve tried your luck at the park and didnt see all you wanted to, theres always the Wildlife Encounter at Ober Gatlinburg to fill your needs. If you want to catch sight of a wild turkey, try looking closely at the open fields in the valleys near Sugarlands Visitor Center and the Cades Cove Loop Road. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Travelers can see various species, such as black bears, deer, and wild turkeys, driving around the loop. Plus, youll find all kinds of bugs. Visitors pass through an idyllic valley encircled by impressive peaks on this 11-mile scenic trip. Your email address will not be published. 7 View The Firefly Mating Event In Elkmont Elkmont, which is home to at least 19 different species of fireflies, is an amazing location to visit in the Great Smoky Mountains. What makes them special? While we do our best to bring you the most up-to-date information, TheSmokies.com LLC makes no warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of any content contained within. Make sure you brush up on the current regulations. Go backpacking on the more than 800 miles of maintained trails. Here are . A girl passionate about traveling and photographing the world in hopes to inspire others to get out and see it! Much of the park is densely wooded which can make spotting local birds and deer tricky, but here youre almost guaranteed to catch a glimpse. Salamanders and frogs are the two main groups of amphibians in the Smoky Mountains. While bears arent true hibernators, they do sleep for the vast majority of the colder months. Bisect the park from lowlands to mountaintops on Highway 441. If you have your heart set on seeing a bear, winter is not the best time for your vacation. Always use caution when wildlife is in sight because they are wild animals. Where to See Bears in Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Backpacker Bears are the most commonly sought after wildlife encounter, followed by elk and then deer and turkey. Protected in the park are some 65 species of mammals, over 200 varieties of birds, 67 native fish species, and more than 80 types of reptiles and amphibians. The number of birds and the diversity of species can change with the seasons. Stay at least 50 yards away at all times. Drive this 11-mile loop (or better yet bike it in the summers on Wednesdays when its closed to car traffic) to see whitetail deer, woodpeckers, bears, or otters. by David Pennington. Female elk with calves have charged people in defense of their offspring. Species of salamanders include the green salamander, three-lined salamander and the famous Eastern Hellbender salamander. Subscribe to receive updates on new blog posts, travel tips & more! As a rule of thumb, if you approach an animal so closely that it changes its behavior, you have approached too closely. Food sources like berries and wild apples, access to water, and good denning sites all increase the chances of spotting one of the Smokies bruins on your hike. If saving an animal's life is not enough incentive for you, did you know that feeding, approaching, or disturbing park wildlife is a violation of federal regulations and can result in fines and arrest? Growing up . When you spend time in Cades Cove, you can take the auto tour around the 11 mile loop road, go hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains or enjoy a picnic while you watch the wildlife. Keep your distance, as elk are huge and their massive antlers can do some serious damage if you get too close. Another good place to explore is the Newfound Gap Road. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is like no other! Another perk of waking up at the crack of dawn? This location allows you to overlook the surrounding land, and here travelers are able to see a variety of bird species. Past the campsite the trail starts climbing, gaining 2,000 feet in only 3 miles. These free ranger-led programs have a variety of themes many of which are animal-related. The black bears of Great Smoky Mountains are unusual in their den choicesthey often den several feet off the ground in standing hollow trees. The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail passes by a number of old-growth trees, historic buildings, and breathtaking views of rushing mountain streams. Wildlife viewing is just one of the many fun things to do in the Smoky Mountains! Viewing Tips Its hard to say whos more excited about the blueberries crowding this peak every August, the hikers or the bears. 10 Best Spots To See Smoky Mountain Animals - East TN Family Fun Pictured: The Chimney Tops Picnic Area (photo by James Overholt/TheSmokies.com), Growing up in the Midwest, my nearest beaches were hours away. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is beloved by many due to its beautiful scenic landscape and fantastic getaways, making it consistently the most visited national park. Cades Cove Cades Cove is arguably the best spot for wildlife viewing in the Smoky Mountains. (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=3108d1b0-63fc-4616-9fcb-0add6b6278fa&cid=877050e7-52c9-4c33-a20b-d8301a08f96d'; cnxps.cmd.push(function () { cnxps({ playerId: "3108d1b0-63fc-4616-9fcb-0add6b6278fa" }).render("5212e74440ae48d78157447a3a77ab51"); }); We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. The laws protecting park wildlife are contained in the Code of Federal Regulations. The best time to view the waterfall is after a long period of rain. They include black bears, salamanders, and so much more. var s = document.getElementById("sleeknoteScript"); This includes elk, coyote, bobcats, and more. Hiking to Mount LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains | wbir.com Its been sad to see how overgrown with algae its become in some spots over the past few years. If you are planning a hike through Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you may spot a variety of wildlife including white-tailed deer, black bears, coyotes, and turkeys! Youll need a permit to be able to witness the spectacular mating display put on by the fireflies near the Elkmont area. When the weather turns cold, they vanish from the woods, heading into their dens for a winter of hibernation. Even a few miles off the main roads will afford you solace as you scan for salamanders, turkeys and black bears. Wildlife Viewing. Top 5 Places to See All Your Favorite Smoky Mountain Wildlife From breathtaking mountain views to historical buildings, the opportunities are endless! Remember that animals in the park are not tame. The park is home to about 65 species of mammals, over 200 kinds of birds, more than 80 types of reptiles and amphibians and 67 native fish species! 1. One of the options to view wildlife in the Smokies is Cades Cove. Before the national park was established, elk thrived in the area. Park Home Learn About the Park Nature Animals Animals Biologists estimate that 1,500 American Black Bears live in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Cades Cove is one of the best places for bear-spotting in the park, but most visitors only see it from the road, slogging through slow-moving lines of cars full of tourists. Fawns are usually born sometime in June, and these creatures root for foods such as plants, nuts, and acorns. We encourage visitors to the Smoky Mountains to exercise responsible stewardship and follow the principles of Leave No Trace. In fact, the Smokies is known for being the salamander capital of the world. In the spring, the yearlings will stretch their legs to find their place in the world preferably one with a lot of food. While last week's column included the popular Elk Mountain Trail in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, another outstanding trail on the refuge is the Bison Loop Trail. To the delight of animal lovers near and far, the Smokies have several great spots for viewing wildlife. The Cataloochee Valley lies on the east side of the Smokies, in North Carolina. 11 Most Scenic Road Trips to Take in Tennessee - WorldAtlas The Great Smoky Mountains offer pristine hiking trails, recreation, breathtaking scenery, and best of all some of the best wildlife viewing within easy reach for all visitors. They also have an adorable black bear family for you to see! None of the large animals in Great Smoky Mountains National Park hibernate in the winter. Top 5 Places to See a Sunrise in the Smoky Mountains Programs are offered at all park visitors centers and rotate seasonally. Let us know in the comments! Here are the top 4 places to see wildlife in the Smoky Mountains: 1. There is a large clearing to the right of the main building that seems to attracts herds daily. Hey guys! Hey guys, Sara here! Since everyone wants to experience the magnificent hiking trails at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you can beat the rush by being the early bird! What makes them special? 1. White-tailed deer, black bears, turkeys, and other amazing animals can frequently be seen there. What is rut? The prime mating period for synchronous fireflies typically lasts from late May to early June. All available programs are listed in the free Smokies Guide newspaper, which can be found at any visitors center. (Leave vegetation in the forest alone, and dont move rock formations in a creek. Below youll find all the best animal adventures in great Smoky Mountains National Park. Things To Do Wildlife Viewing Wildlife Viewing Open areas such as Cades Cove and Cataloochee are excellent spots to look for wildlife such as white-tailed deer. Wildlife Viewing - Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S. National This open area offers some of the best opportunities to see native species in their natural habitat. 5 Must Visit Places in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Did I miss any epic wildlife viewing spots in the Smoky Mountains? If youd like a more interactive animal experience, horses are the way to go. Every spring, synchronous fireflies put on a show for those in the southern Appalachians. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. If youre in the area and want to visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you probably want to see Smoky Mountain wildlife. Cades Cove is one of the best places for bear-spotting in the park, but most visitors only see it from the road, slogging through slow-moving lines of cars full of tourists. From popular attractions in town to scenic destinations in the national park, there are so many spots where you can enjoy the different native species. As an International Biosphere Reserve, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is an incredible place to see wildlife native to the southern Appalachian mountains. Every year there is a viewing event held in Elkmont, this firefly-watching event is extremely popular, so make sure to get tickets in advance! This four season birding hotspot boasts tons of habitat types filled with birds and other wildlife. There are many turkeys, black bears, and white-tailed deer in this region. It is important that families remember a few safety tips while viewing wildlife in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Although Ive never seen it (on the bucket list for next year! There are hundreds of animal species that live in the area. It has other motives and you may not like them. Prior to beginning, the staff at Tremont will give you a quick lesson on how to gently catch the butterflies and add the tagging stickers. Like Cades Cove, the open area makes it easier to spot the wildlife. One of the best places to spot a bear is along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. This area is where the most dense population of black bears live. A post shared by Vanlife | Alexandra David (@andtheytravel). Take care of your own safety: Consider carrying bear spray, make noise when passing around blind corners or through thick brush, and observe from a distance. Bisect the park from lowlands to mountaintops on Highway 441. Think again! Though some smaller pockets of synchronous fireflies are present along the east coast, the Elkmont section of the Smokies is home to the largest population of synchronous fireflies in the entire United States. Because the deciduous trees have lost their foliage, it is simpler to spot during the winter. During the warmer months, pigs and chickens are kept at the farm, as they would have been in the 1800s. Viewing wildlife in the Smokies can be challenging because most of the park is covered by dense forest.