This seems to be the main area for wildlife spotting and there was quite a lot of traffic, all driving at 5mph to try to spot some form of wildlife.
Again a booklet can be obtained for a minimal amount that explains the area - unfortunately we didn't get one and I found it a big mistake. There are more settlers’ cabins here as well as a church and graveyard and grist mill.
According to the general Smokies guide, however, there are 1500 bears living in the park and Cades Cove is one of the areas where they are seen – however, we didn't see any.
We saw plenty of deer.
At one point I saw a very large funghi at the side of the road and we stopped so I could photograph it. Of course everyone in the other cars thought we had seen wildlife and were asking us. One lady was very disappointed when I explained it was a large mushroom.
By this time it was getting dusk and my husband was getting anxious about the long drive back to Helen, GA on unfamiliar roads, so we didn't linger and made our way out of the park.
People were still sitting at the edge of the river that runs through the park and enjoying the last of the day - I was quite envious. We must return one day.