Bear's Den Vacation Cabin - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

04/16/2026

New Tennessee Law Makes Feeding Bears a Crime Statewide Starting July 1

If you’ve spent time in the Smokies, bear encounters are just part of the experience. Starting July 1, feeding black bears anywhere in Tennessee where posted notices prohibit it will be a Class B misdemeanor.

Governor Bill Lee signed the bill into law this week after it passed nearly unanimously in the state senate.

Here’s what to know:

🐻 Intentionally feeding a black bear — a minimum $250 fine.

🗑️ Leaving food or garbage unsecured — a written warning on your first offense, but a $250+ fine after that.

Until now, Gatlinburg was the only city in Tennessee where feeding bears was illegal, with fines and court costs topping $100. And inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, federal law already carries penalties up to $5,000 and six months in jail.

The new law also allows the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to partner with local law enforcement to help enforce wildlife safety rules.

Point blank: respect the bears, secure your trash, and never feed wildlife. It’s safer for you and for them. 🏔️

04/01/2026

Happy April 1st!!!

🚨 Smoky Mountain Update: Temporary Closure for Wildlife Movement 🚨

Heads up if you’re planning to visit Cades Cove this week…

Park officials have announced a temporary closure of Cades Cove and surrounding areas due to a rare and protected Bigfoot migration event moving through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

According to sources, this migration pattern only happens every few years when environmental conditions align just right. Rangers have reported increased nocturnal movement, large unidentifiable tracks, and unusual activity deep in the Cove and nearby wooded areas over the past several nights.

For the safety of both visitors and wildlife, access to:
• Cades Cove Loop Road
• Nearby trailheads
• Select backcountry areas

will be restricted until the migration has safely passed.

Officials are asking visitors to:
• Avoid the area completely during this time
• Do not attempt to hike or enter closed sections
• Respect wildlife boundaries (even the… elusive ones 👀)

While sightings are extremely rare, this is considered a sensitive and protected movement period, and minimizing human interference is critical.

There is no official reopening date yet, but updates are expected once rangers confirm the migration has cleared the area.

If you’ve visited the Smokies before… you know there’s always a little mystery in these mountains 👀🌲

Have you ever experienced anything “unexplainable” in the Smokies? Drop your stories below 👇

And go ahead and share this so others planning a trip this week are aware!

02/08/2026

The Bear's Den Vacation Cabin - Gatlinburg, Tennessee is located about 1/2 mile off Roaring Fork Motor Trail, near East Parkway, Gatlinburg. Ely’s Mill is the last stop as you leave the one/way Motor Trail, but can also be reached where Roaring Fork has two-way traffic.

One of the Smoky Mountains’ most historic stops, Ely’s Mill sits at the very end of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail in Gatlinburg. It was built in 1925 by Andrew Jefferson Ely, a Yale-trained lawyer who left city life behind to live in the mountains. The mill once used a huge 30-foot water wheel to power woodworking tools and a working gristmill. Today, Ely’s granddaughter still runs the place and keeps the family land alive. You’ll see old logging trucks, tractors, and simple mountain displays, shop for handmade Appalachian crafts, and watch weaving done on old looms. You can even stay overnight in one of the small cabins. Visiting feels like stepping back to an earlier mountain life.

01/31/2026

The Bear’s Bear's Den Vacation Cabin - Gatlinburg, Tennessee is vacant this weekend . . . Which turn out is a “Good Thing”. ❄️👍🏼 Snow & Ice on our hilly roads always presents winter driving issues.

12/04/2025

Bears Den 2025 Christmas

11/17/2025

You may not think about Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg as a place for a tasty meal but there are several things we love on their menu, one being their fish & chips. It’s a great option when the Parkway is super crowded or ifnyou want to hear some live music on Fridays and Saturdays.

11/09/2025

11/01/2025

10/31/2025

Roads/Motor Nature Trails
* Anthony Creek Horse Camp - open until
November 8
* Newfound Gap Road, Cades Cove Loop Road,
Upper Tremont Road, Wear Cove Road,
Cataloochee Road, and the Foothills Parkway
- open year-round
* Kuwohi Road - open until November 30
* Forge Creek Road - open until December 31
* Parson Branch Road and Rich Mountain Road
- open until November 9
* Little Greenbrier Road - open until November 29
* Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail - open until
November 29
All roads subject to closure due to snow, ice and other hazardous weather events

PARK CONCESSIONS
* Smokemont Riding Stable - open until November 22
* LeConte Lodge - open until November 25
* Cades Cove Riding Stable and Sugarlands Riding
Stable - open until December 6
* Cades Cove Campground Store and Bike Rental -
open until December 13

HIKING TRAILS
• Most hiking trails remain open year-round; however, some trailheads may be inaccessible to motor vehicles due to seasonal or weather-related road closures. Numerous trails remain closed in the Cataloochee area due to damage from Hurricane Helene.
Check the park website for the latest status on all trails

VISITOR CENTERS
* Cades Cove (Cable Mill) Visitor Center, Oconaluftee
Visitor Center, and Sugarlands Visitor Center are
open year-round
* Kuwohi Visitor Center and Kuwohi Road are open
until November 30, subject to closure due to snow,
ice and other hazardous weather events

Local governments are banding together to keep the park open and we are thankful for their efforts!

We will do our best to keep you up to date on everything going on in the Smokies! Come on and enjoy the mountains! They are calling!

10/29/2025