The most popular destination in the Great Smoky Mountains is Cades Cove. This 11 mile looped road is full of history and absolutely breathtaking scenery. What many don’t know are some secret spots found only in Cades Cove.
...
1. The Pearl Harbor Tree
This first secret spot is one you’ll have to get out of your car to find. A man named Golman Myers planted the tree the day of the attack as a tribute to people who lost their lives. His son, Bernard, came back to the area in the 1970s and placed a metal tag on the tree that reads, “Golman Myers transplanted this tree on December 7, 1941.” To find this tree, travel about 3.5 miles down the road until you’re .5 miles away from Missionary Baptist Church. You’ll walk into the tree line headed west for about .1 miles, and there’s a clearing on the left side of the road. Keep walking towards the treeline along the western edge of the field and climb up the hill to get to the tree.
2. Gregory's Cave
This hidden gem is a natural cave that was used for mining in the pioneer days. It later became a tourist attraction in the 1920s by the Gregory family, but it was closed after they moved out of the area. Although unable to enter the cave, you are able to see inside the mouth of the cave. To find Gregory’s Cave, park your vehicle at the parking lot on the right after you pass Sparks Lane. Walk along the road until you see a gated dirt road on the right. Follow this road until you see two picnic tables on the right. The cave is just a short distance from this point.
3. The Cantilever Barn
While most have seen the cantilever barn as you travel through Cades Cove, it is still considered a hidden gem. This type of structure is unique to Sevier County, Tennessee, so you won’t find them anywhere else but here! Historians believe the farmers in the area combined a couple of European barn designs to create the structure that you see today. Livestock would huddle under the edges of the barn, and crops would stay dry during rain.
4. Gourley's Pond
One secret spot you will definitely want to try to find after a good rainfall is Gourley’s Pond. To get to the pond, park at the LeQuire Cemetery past the south end of Sparks Lane. Walk along the road about 200 feet until you spot a path on the right. Follow this path for about 100 feet and then head southwest, and you’ll see Gourley’s Pond!
5. Hyatt Lane
Although Hyatt Lane isn’t exactly hidden like some of the other spots, it’s still worth mentioning! This road was originally used by settlers in the area when they wanted to go to Tuckaleechee or Maryville, but today it is used as a two-lane shortcut through Cades Cove. This road provide visitors with a unique look at the area from the middle of the valley.
...
In A World Where You Can Be Anything, Be Kind ~ Clare Pooley