The Best Place to See Black Bears in the Park
According to park rangers, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is now home to roughly 1,900 black bears and counting. While official estimates place the population at around 1,900, some observers believe the actual number could be as high as double that due to undercounting in remote areas. That’s a lot of bears! Even so, there is no guarantee you will see black bears during your visit.
With careful planning, however, you may be able to spot one of these amazing creatures; and from a safe distance. Every year, thousands of vacationers see black bears in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, mostly on the Tennessee side.
According to numerous sources, the best place to see black bears is in Cades Cove, a few miles from Gatlinburg and Townsend, Tennessee. Other popular spots include the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail and Little River Road, where bears are frequently sighted along roadways and trails.
Another excellent spot is Cataloochee Valley on the North Carolina side of the park, known for its remoteness and lush habitat that attracts bears. This area offers a quieter alternative to Cades Cove, with opportunities to see bears foraging in meadows or near historic structures.
Black bears love Cades Cove for its ecosystem and the abundance and variety of food sources. Wild berries like blueberries, blackberries, and huckleberries grow throughout the valley and are easily harvested by bears.
Eighty-five percent of a black bear’s diet consists of vegetation. They also eat fish, bugs, insects, bees, hornets, and many other small animals. Cades Cove is a virtual trove of these resources.
Marc’s Take: You just never know, seeing a bear is not guaranteed. However, as of late, there are so many bears running around the mountains I can’t imagine not seeing one. Ooh and aah when you do, but at a distance!
Black bears thrive in remote, highly wooded areas. Cades Cove fits the bill in every way. The semi-isolation, climate, food sources, density of oak and hickory trees, and a forest of rhododendron, all make black bears at home here.
Black bears find berries irresistible. They go wherever they have easy access to them. In Cades Cove, try looking alongside the Cades Cove Loop Road for berry bushes. When they are loaded with berries, you may see a bear eating.
The following video features a mama black bear and her four cubs crossing the road in Cades Cove in April 2017.
Video Courtesy of Catherine S. Blakespear (Used with Permission)
While Cades Cove may be the best place to see black bears, it is not the only place. You could see black bears walking across streets, in campgrounds, near streams, on hiking trails, or even in hotel parking lots.
Since they prefer remote areas, you are more likely to see them in the forest, but if they get hungry, they will go to more populated areas to look for food.
When is the Best Time to See Black Bears?
Black bears are like most people in two particular ways, they don’t like extremely cold or extremely hot weather. Contrary to popular belief, bears in the Smoky Mountains do not hibernate in winter, although they do sleep for longer periods than in summer. Technically, it is a semi-hibernation.
Bear Cub Strolling Through Cades Cove (NPS Warren Bielenberg)
Spring and summer provide the best opportunities to see black bears in the Smoky Mountains.
Early morning and late afternoon sightings are more likely, since that is when they forage for food. Black bears avoid activity during the heat of summer days, preferring to lounge in the shade or rest high up in a tree.
Bears are great climbers and often hang out in trees. Hikers regularly see black bears on early morning hikes or before the sun goes down in the evening.
Winter in the Smokies is not one long cold period, but many short cold snaps. During winter warming periods, bears will wake and wander around a bit before returning to their den to sleep again.
While you are less likely to see black bears in winter, it is not impossible. Be careful when hiking in winter and do not go looking for sleeping bears!
If you want to see black bears up close in the Smoky Mountains, the best way to do it is through binoculars, a spotting scope, or a telephoto lens. As cute and cuddly as stuffed bears are in gift shops, keep in mind that black bears are wild animals and can be very dangerous when they feel threatened. They need and want their space!
Bear Encounter Guidelines
If you spot a bear from afar, observe quietly without approaching, maintain at least 50 yards (150 feet) distance. If the bear approaches:
- Back away slowly while facing it; do not run.
- Make yourself look larger by standing tall and waving arms.
- Shout, clap, or throw non-food objects like rocks to deter it.
- If you carry bear spray (recommended in bear country), deploy it only if the bear is within 20 yards and charging.
- In the rare event of physical contact, fight back aggressively, do not play dead.
Read: What to Do If You Encounter a Black Bear
If hiking with dogs, keep them on a 6-foot leash at all times (dogs are only allowed in campgrounds, picnic areas, along roads, and on specific trails like the Gatlinburg or Oconaluftee River Trails). Dogs can provoke bears, leading to most physical encounters, so leave the area immediately if a bear is nearby and never let your dog chase or harass wildlife.
Report any aggressive bear behavior or rule violations to park dispatch at (865) 436-1230.
When you see a wild black bear on your vacation, it is the icing on the cake. Just remember to leave the cake in the cabin, and NEVER, EVER FEED A BEAR.
IMPORTANT: It is illegal to approach a bear, disturb a bear, or feed a bear. This is a serious offense. Federal law states that a person knowingly doing any of these things is subject to a $5,000 fine and up to six months in jail. Park rangers have the authority to issue citations to anyone suspected of breaking the law.
Bear Conservation in the Park
The park’s black bear population is carefully managed through efforts like bear-proof trash containers, food storage requirements in the back country, and ongoing monitoring. These have reduced the need to relocate problem bears by up to tenfold in some areas over the past decade. Over the last 10 years, an average of 339 negative human-bear encounters have been reported annually; many more go unreported.
While the official estimate remains around 1,900, remote areas may lead to undercounting, with some suggesting the true number could be higher. By following park rules, visitors help protect these animals and ensure future generations can enjoy sightings responsibly.
According to park rangers, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is now home to roughly 1,900 black bears and counting.
While official estimates place the population at around 1,900, some observers believe the actual number could be as high as double that due to undercounting in remote areas.
That’s a lot of bears! Even so, there is no guarantee you will see black bears during your visit.
With careful planning, however, you may be able to spot one of these amazing creatures; and from a safe distance.
Every year, thousands of vacationers see black bears in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, mostly on the Tennessee side.
According to numerous sources, the best place to see black bears is in Cades Cove, a few miles from Gatlinburg and Townsend, Tennessee.
Other popular spots include the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail and Little River Road, where bears are frequently sighted along roadways and trails.
Another excellent spot is Cataloochee Valley on the North Carolina side of the park, known for its remoteness and lush habitat that attracts bears. This area offers a quieter alternative to Cades Cove, with opportunities to see bears foraging in meadows or near historic structures.
Marc’s Take: You just never know, seeing a bear is not guaranteed. However, as of late, there are so many bears running around the mountains I can’t imagine not seeing one. Ooh and aah when you do, but at a distance!
Black bears love Cades Cove for its ecosystem and the abundance and variety of food sources. Wild berries like blueberries, blackberries, and huckleberries grow throughout the valley and are easily harvested by bears.
Eighty-five percent of a black bear’s diet consists of vegetation. They also eat fish, bugs, insects, bees, hornets, and many other small animals. Cades Cove is a virtual trove of these resources.
Black bears thrive in remote, highly wooded areas. Cades Cove fits the bill in every way. The semi-isolation, climate, food sources, density of oak and hickory trees, and a forest of rhododendron, all make black bears at home here.
Black bears find berries irresistible. They go wherever they have easy access to them. In Cades Cove, try looking alongside the Cades Cove Loop Road for berry bushes. When they are loaded with berries, you may see a bear eating.
The following video features a mama black bear and her four cubs crossing the road in Cades Cove in April 2017.
Video Courtesy of Catherine S. Blakespear (Used with Permission)
While Cades Cove may be the best place to see black bears, it is not the only place. You could see black bears walking across streets, in campgrounds, near streams, on hiking trails, or even in hotel parking lots.
Since they prefer remote areas, you are more likely to see them in the forest, but if they get hungry, they will go to more populated areas to look for food.
When is the Best Time to See Black Bears?
Black bears are like most people in two particular ways, they don’t like extremely cold or extremely hot weather.
Contrary to popular belief, bears in the Smoky Mountains do not hibernate in winter, although they do sleep for longer periods than in summer. Technically, it is a semi-hibernation.
Spring and summer provide the best opportunities to see black bears in the Smoky Mountains.
Early morning and late afternoon sightings are more likely, since that is when they forage for food. Black bears avoid activity during the heat of summer days, preferring to lounge in the shade or rest high up in a tree.
Bears are great climbers and often hang out in trees. Hikers regularly see black bears on early morning hikes or before the sun goes down in the evening.
Bear Cub Strolling Through Cades Cove (NPS Warren Bielenberg)
Winter in the Smokies is not one long cold period, but many short cold snaps. During winter warming periods, bears will wake and wander around a bit before returning to their den to sleep again.
While you are less likely to see black bears in winter, it is not impossible. Be careful when hiking in winter and do not go looking for sleeping bears!
If you want to see black bears up close in the Smoky Mountains, the best way to do it is through binoculars, a spotting scope, or a telephoto lens. As cute and cuddly as stuffed bears are in gift shops, keep in mind that black bears are wild animals and can be very dangerous when they feel threatened. They need and want their space!
Bear Encounter Guidelines
If you spot a bear from afar, observe quietly without approaching, maintain at least 50 yards (150 feet) distance. If the bear approaches:
- Back away slowly while facing it; do not run.
- Make yourself look larger by standing tall and waving arms.
- Shout, clap, or throw non-food objects like rocks to deter it.
- If you carry bear spray (recommended in bear country), deploy it only if the bear is within 20 yards and charging.
- In the rare event of physical contact, fight back aggressively, do not play dead.
Read: What to Do If You Encounter a Black Bear
If hiking with dogs, keep them on a 6-foot leash at all times (dogs are only allowed in campgrounds, picnic areas, along roads, and on specific trails like the Gatlinburg or Oconaluftee River Trails).
Dogs can provoke bears, leading to most physical encounters, so leave the area immediately if a bear is nearby and never let your dog chase or harass wildlife.
Report any aggressive bear behavior or rule violations to park dispatch at (865) 436-1230.
When you see a wild black bear on your vacation, it is the icing on the cake. Just remember to leave the cake in the cabin, and NEVER, EVER FEED A BEAR.
IMPORTANT: It is illegal to approach a bear, disturb a bear, or feed a bear. This is a serious offense. Federal law states that a person knowingly doing any of these things is subject to a $5,000 fine and up to six months in jail. Park rangers have the authority to issue citations to anyone suspected of breaking the law.
Bear Conservation in the Park
The park’s black bear population is carefully managed through efforts like bear-proof trash containers, food storage requirements in the back country, and ongoing monitoring.
These have reduced the need to relocate problem bears by up to tenfold in some areas over the past decade. Over the last 10 years, an average of 339 negative human-bear encounters have been reported annually; many more go unreported.
While the official estimate remains around 1,900, remote areas may lead to undercounting, with some suggesting the true number could be higher.
By following park rules, visitors help protect these animals and ensure future generations can enjoy sightings responsibly.
Disclaimer
My Smoky Mountain Guide aims to provide accurate, up-to-date information about Great Smoky Mountains National Park and surrounding areas, using reputable sources. However, details about events, attractions, trails, or businesses may change without notice due to factors like weather or park policies. We cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of our content. Visitors should verify details with official sources, such as the National Park Service or local businesses, before planning. My Smoky Mountain Guide is not liable for inaccuracies, omissions, or consequences from using this information. You are responsible for your own decisions based on our content. For feedback or corrections, please contact us.
