Sevier County had its first significant snowfall this past week, starting on the evening of Tuesday, February 26th. While the forecast called for a dusting for most of us I was confident that we would get a good snow. So much so, that I asked my girlfriend to take off work the next day so we could head into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. By 9 PM Tuesday night, the snow was falling steadily. I stayed up practically all night, periodically checking on the snow fall. By morning, 6 inches of snow had fallen. Brooke and I headed out around 8 o’clock Wednesday morning, to see Cades Cove while it was still mostly untouched by human tracks in the snow.

Heading through Townsend, toward the National Park, we noticed that snowfall in that area hadn’t accumulated as much as in Wears Valley. When we reached the entrance to the park, we noticed there were several park rangers standing in front of the gate officially closing off the road. One of the rangers informed us that as the day wore on, there was a possibility the road would open. He gave us the telephone number to call, and advised us to check back in around 10 o’clock that morning. Before we headed back, I took the opportunity to take several shots of Little River at the “Y”.

Heading back into Wears Valley, we decided to stop off at lot that is currently for sale in the Teaberry Mountain development. This particular lot offers a great view of most of Wears Valley. As we headed into the development, it was clear by the snow on the road that we were the first on the scene. A quick tap of the break, assured us that the road was both snow and ice, and the snow was continuing to fall.

In this development cabins range in price from $284.900 to $705,000. Lots are priced from $89,900 to $189,900, while lot sizes begin at 0.5 acres. This community offers easy access to Wears Valley via Happy Hollow Road.

Because of the almost white-out conditions, the view from the lot was not as spectacular as it could have been. We could barely see the outline of Cove Mountain through the cloud cover and the falling snow.

After leaving the subdivison, we headed back down Happy Hollow Road, and decided to stop off at the campground. I suspected this portion of Wears Valley had a significant amount of undisturbed snowfall. The split rail fence in front of the antique tractor proved to be just the shot I was looking for. The barns in the background also made for a picturesque landscape. At this point in the morning my girlfriend insisted I take her for a breakfast, so we headed to the local convenience store to get a couple of biscuits. After placing our order, we took a seat near a trio of regular patrons, enjoying their morning coffee and chat.

Around ten o’clock, I tried calling the road closure hot line that we had been directed to by the Park Ranger, but unfortunately the main roads into the park were still closed. Around 2 o’clock that afternoon, I tried again, this time learning that Cades Cove Road was finally opened. The first landmark on the 11 mile loop is the John Oliver cabin. My girlfriend and I journeyed out to the cabin to see it up close in the snow. A family of four was there when we arrived, and I can only assume that it was the two children that had built the miniature snowmen on the front porch of the cabin. I pondered for a moment what it would have been like for the children of the Cove to play in the snow. Although I am sure that beyond the simple beauty of the natural surroundings, the early pioneers faced many hardships brought on by the harsh winter weather.

Deeper into the heart of the Cades Cove loop, the clouds had given way enough to get a good shot of the surrounding including Thunderhead Mountain. At this point in the loop, visitors can use Hyatt Lane to cut their trip short. Or, as in our case, this primitive road offers more scenery - both wooded and pasture land - for even more gorgeous views. On a typical trip through the Cove, a visitor will be able to see at least a glimpse of the wildlife that is protected in the park. Bears, when in season, are a favorite of park goers. Deer, turkeys, coyotes, and other various animals make their homes in the park. On this day, however, the only animals that we saw were birds. Apparently they missed the charter flying south for the winter.

Correction. Birds were the only wild animals we saw that day. Cades Cove is also home to a stable of horses, who were frolicking in the snow as we passed by.

Painters and photographers are drawn to the Cove, and with scenery like this it’s not hard to see why. After the churches, a mill, several barns, and a couple of other cabins that call Cades Cove home, we exited the loop through a beautiful canopy of trees. The snow remained undisturbed on the limbs of the trees. Knots and bends in the trees provided beautiful shelves for the snow to rest on. Cades Cove is without a doubt most beautiful in the Winter after a snowfall. That is, of course until the flowers bloom in the springtime making that the most gorgeous season. A 2.5 mile hike to Abram’s Falls to cool off in the heat, makes summer the perfect time to visit the Cove. And Autumn takes the most beautiful prize when the leaves began to show their fall colors.

Even after leaving the Cove, the scenery continues to be beautiful. Parking pull offs on the side of the road are available to get a better view of the Little River.