3-Day Smoky Mountain Hiking Experience

• Shuttle to the Smokies: 1.5-hour drive from Asheville
• Hiking Mileage: 8.1 miles
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 1640 feet
• Accommodations: Dancing Bear Cabins

This inn-based Great Smoky Mountains hiking tour starts with a scenic drive from Asheville, NC to the Oconoluftee entrance to the park, where we’ll stop briefly at the Mountain Farm Museum to peruse the early settler buildings and the extraordinary practices of hearty 19th century Appalachian farmers. The museum also features artifacts from and information about the Park’s oldest inhabitants: the Cherokee. This stop helps set the context for the next 3 days so we can fully appreciate the history, wilderness and scenic beauty of the Smokies as we hike through its forests and along its ancient creeks.

After this enriching stop we will continue on to our first hike, which follows the famous Appalachian Trail from historic Newfound Gap (the site of Roosevelt’s park dedication speech in 1940) to Charlies Bunion. Endless views over the lush, timbered ridges of the Smokies abound on today’s hike. After this rewarding hike we will drive up to the Park’s highest peak, Clingman’s Dome at 6,643′, to take in more sweeping views. Eventually we’ll bring our first day of exploration to a close by continuing to our lodge at the “quiet side of the Smokies”, Townsend, TN, checking in, cleaning up, and heading out for a wonderful Appalachian dinner.

• Hiking Mileage: 8.3 miles
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 1140 feet
• Accommodations: Dancing Bear Cabins

Today starts with a hearty Appalachian breakfast cooked by your guide at the Cades Cove Picnic area (weather depending). After breakfast we will explore the culturally rich Cades Cove historic district, while keeping an eye out for some of the Park’s many types of wildlife (black bear, deer, elk, turkey, and more). Often this is a highlight of the trip due to the many historic buildings, stunning scenery, and wonderful tranquility of this rich mountain valley.

Today’s official hike is a forested creek-side hike up the lush Middle Prong of the Little River to the Lynn Camp Prong Cascades and Indian Flats Falls. This stunning river valley is arguably home to the Smokies’ most scenic waterfall hike. The hike starts in the historic logging area of Tremont. Here the Little River Lumber Company had a large camp prior to the establishment of the Park. We’ll relax for a picnic lunch near the first cascades before heading on up to more lovely cascades and waterfalls. We’ll enjoy the falls, take photos, and eventually hike back to the trailhead. A short shuttle ride to our hotel, a tasty Southern dinner and a cozy night’s sleep top off another rewarding day of Smoky Mountains exploration.

• Hiking Mileage: 7 miles
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 1200 feet
• Shuttle to Asheville: 2-hour drive to Asheville

Our Last day of Appalachian exploration starts at a local family owned restaurant for breakfast. After breakfast we will head to the Roaring Fork Motor trail and our day’s first of 2 hikes! The overarching theme of today is historic buildings and waterfalls. Our first hike is to one of the Smokie’s most unique waterfalls, Grotto Falls. Our trail literally travels behind this torrent of water, making for fantastic photos. Once back at our vehicle we will continue through this historic loop road stopping at historic cabins and structures along the way. Lunch today will be a picnic along the rushing waters of the Little Pigeon River on our way to our second hike in the Big Creek area. This hike takes us past more amazing waterfalls: Midnight Hole Falls and Mouse Creek Falls. This will bring our daily waterfall count to 3! A short shuttle from here brings us back to Asheville, ending this action-packed, 3-day exploration of some of the Great Smokey Mountains’ finest sights and trails!