If you’re considering investing in one of the many Smoky Mountain properties, you’re sure to love the area’s diverse climate. Within the Smoky Mountains, conditions change frequently. Overall, Cades Cove receives about 55 inches of precipitation each year, most of which occurs in spring and winter. Afternoon thunderstorms are common during summer months, and an average of 18 inches of snow falls between late December and early March each year. March is perhaps the most diverse month with respect to weather, with conditions that may include everything from snow to sunny 70-degree weather to damp, chilly days.

For truly spectacular scenery, you’ll love to venture out from your Smoky Mountain property vacation home each April, during peak wildflower season. Rhododendron, flame azalea, mountain laurel, yellow trillium, butterfly weed, European red clover, daisies, yellow-fringed orchid, trumpet vine and more adorn the rolling landscape throughout the spring and summer. Many Smoky Mountain homes for sale feature beautifully designed landscaping, optimally created to take advantage of the area’s unique climate.

Your Animal Neighbors

Ongoing research and collaborative improvements are always in progress within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Of recent note is the experimental release of elk into the park, an effort which began in early 2001. Over-hunting and loss of habitat were the two main reasons that the great numbers of native elk eventually dwindled down to zero in the mid-1800s. In the current project, just two dozen elk were introduced initially, and another two dozen or so are planned annually. All animals are radio collared and monitored extensively, to ensure that the animals and park visitors can thrive in harmony.

Typically, the best times to see elk are during the early morning and late evening, as these are the times they come out to feed. You may be surprised by the size of these creatures, which are in fact larger than the black bears commonly seen in the Park. Elk may become dangerous if threatened or if guarding young calves, so be sure to keep your distance from these majestic creatures. You may find it helpful to use long-range binoculars to safely observe elk in the Smokies. During the fall, you may hear the male elk (also called “bulls”) bugling their mating calls to attract female elk (also called cows) for breeding. It is definitely possible to view elk and other wildlife from a variety of residential Smoky Mountain property.