Cades Cove Trading Company

06/20/2026

🌸 It's summertime in Great Smoky Mountains National Park!

The trees are green, the trails are calling, and—yes—the crowds are here! Summertime in the Smokies brings millions of visitors. With warm weather and long days, some popular areas fill up quickly, so planning ahead (and having a backup plan!) is key to a great visit.

🅿️ Don’t forget your parking tag
Visitors need a valid parking tag to park a vehicle longer than 15 minutes anywhere in the park. Park only in designated spots—illegally parked vehicles can block emergency vehicles and damage park resources.
https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/fees.htm

🚧 Check for closures
Stay updated on road closures, trail conditions, and more before you head out.
https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

⛈️ Check the weather
Mountain weather can change fast! Afternoon storms and flash floods can create hazardous situations. Always check the forecast for the specific area you're visiting.
https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/weather.htm

🗺️ Plan your visit
Find must‑see places and important information to help you make the most of your trip. Exploring less‑visited areas can lead to a more peaceful and enjoyable experience.
https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/index.htm

📱 Download the free NPS App
Access maps, guides, and key park information—even offline. Just search “Great Smoky Mountains” in the app.
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/digital/nps-apps.htm

⏳ Beat the crowds
Traffic in the Smokies can be heavy during summer. Learn more about the best times to visit.
https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/trafficandtraveltips.htm



NPS Photo

06/16/2026

🐻

You’ve probably heard how protective a mother bear can be over her cubs, so if you find one by itself, it’s easy to assume the worst.

The truth is, if you see a bear cub on its own, the chances that mama bear left her baby alone on purpose are actually pretty high. Mother bears often leave their cubs in or near a “babysitter tree,” where they’re safe from predators.

What should you do if you see a bear cub by itself? Mama bear may be off looking for food, or she may be waiting for you to leave so that she can come back for her cubs. The best thing to do is to leave the cubs alone so that mom can come back and take care of them.

Remember that it’s a federal offense to willfully approach a bear within 50 yards. Coming between a mother bear and her cubs may cause stress to the bears, and worse, may cause the mother bear to attack.

Bear cubs are just as wild as adult bears, so you should never pick them up or touch them. If you truly believe that a cub has been abandoned, you can report a bear incident at the link below, call (865) 436-1230, or stop at a visitor center and let them know.

Learn more about what to do if you see a bear here ⬇️

https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/nature/black-bears.htm

Photo by Bill Pattison

06/15/2026

Keep your eyes 👀 open for turtles 🐢

🐢 It's box turtle season in the Smokies!

Eastern box turtles are on the move this time of year, and many females are currently gravid (carrying eggs) and searching for suitable places to nest. As they travel, they often cross roads, putting them at risk from vehicle traffic.

If you spot a box turtle on the road, slow down and watch for additional turtles nearby. If it is safe to do so, you can help a turtle cross by moving it in the direction it was traveling and then wash your hands. Never relocate a turtle to a different area. Box turtles spend their lives in relatively small home ranges and may struggle to survive if moved elsewhere.

Every turtle that safely reaches the other side helps support the next generation of these remarkable reptiles.

Keep an eye out, drive carefully, and help keep the Smokies wild.

Learn more about the reptiles that call the Smokies home: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/nature/reptiles.htm



NPS Photo

06/11/2026

We have got some cool new product hitting the floor! Ornaments, magnets & shel sitters. Several NEW Tees on the floor! New things coming almost daily!

**Heres some ornaments.

See ya soon

06/01/2026

Miss Samantha has come all the way from Michigan with her friend Crawly the squirrel 🐿️, who she has had for 4 years, to meet all of her relatives! She also picked up a new friend, Leasha, the raccoon 🦝!

How precious is she!! 🧡🧡

🐻 🐿️ 🦝 🦌

05/21/2026

Just one of our wonderful groups from bike 🚲 day Wednesday!! This was a church ⛪️ group from Covington, La. We had SO many groups from all over! I wish I had been able to get pics from all of them! Just to name a few… groups from Israel 🇮🇱, Spain 🇪🇸, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, Japan 🇯🇵…. There were so many more and I know I have left some out! Probably every state in the US! Lol We ran out of bikes 🚲 at 7:50 am!! Then almost ran out again! A very successful bike 🚲 day was had and many great friends were made!!

If you rode with us yesterday… tell us where your from!

05/19/2026

PHONES ARE BACK UP AND RUNNING.
THANKS!

05/19/2026

Are you and your loved ones planning to visit the Smokies for Memorial Day? We're expecting lots of visitors, so make sure you plan ahead for a safe and fun Smokies weekend:

1.🚗Park only in designated parking spots! Don't park in the grass or on the road (Illegally parked vehicles may be ticketed or towed). If a parking lot is full, have a backup plan to explore a different area of the park.
2. ⛰️ Slow down and enjoy the views! Always follow the posted speed limit, and take advantage of roadside pulloffs to allow faster vehicles to pass you. Remember that traveling to popular destinations will probably take more time than normal on busy weekends.
3. 🗺️ Do your research ahead of time! Know what your plans are for the day, and have some backups in mind in case of overcrowding or bad weather. Bring enough food, water, and safety gear. Dress appropriately for your activities, and bring a trail map since you won't have cell service.
4. 🐻 View wildlife from a distance. Stay at least 50 yards away from bears and 25 yards from elk or deer, and never touch or feed any wildlife. Only leave food in locked vehicles with the windows rolled up.
5. 🎟️ Parking is free on Memorial Day, but if you plan on visiting for the whole weekend, you'll need to purchase a tag.

Learn more about how to prepare for the weekend at the link below:
https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/news/plan-ahead-for-safe-memorial-day-weekend-in-the-smokies.htm

05/18/2026

👀
Our phones are out. You can message us on fb for now. Sorry for the inconvenience

05/16/2026

PSST… another secret is coming… 🔜

Keep your 👀 open…
to be continued…