Shuttle to the Smokies: 1.5-hour drive from Asheville

Hiking Mileage: 8.1 miles

Elevation Gain/Loss: 1640 feet

This inn-based Appalachian hiking tour begins with a beautiful drive from Asheville, North Carolina into Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where we’ll enjoy a short visit to the Mountain Farm Museum. This wonderful exhibit includes early settler buildings and historical information about the amazing lives of the tough Appalachian farmers who carved a living out of these mountains in the 19th century. Also on display are artifacts from and information about the Smokies’ oldest citizens: the Cherokee.

We will continue into the Park to our first hike, which is along the famous Appalachian Trail to a breathtaking viewpoint. Massive panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, and the exploding colors of the forests, abound on today’s hike. We will enjoy a relaxing picnic lunch at today’s destination viewpoint, and then make our way back to the trailhead. After our invigorating hike we will shuttle to Great Smoky Mountain National Park’s highest peak at 6,643′, to take in more sweeping, fall foliage views. Eventually we’ll bring our first day of exploration to a close by continuing to our lodge on the “quiet side of the Smokies” in Townsend, TN. After checking in and cleaning up, we’ll head out for a wonderful Appalachian dinner.

Shuttle to trailhead: 30 minutes

Hiking Mileage: 8.3 miles

Elevation Gain/Loss: 1140 feet

This morning we begin with a delicious, hot Appalachian breakfast prepared by your guide at a beautiful picnic area at the edge of an open meadow area (weather depending). We encourage guests to walk around the meadow and enjoy the fall color explosion that surrounds us. After eating, we will explore the meadows, forests and historic buildings while watching out for classic Smokies wildlife such as black bear, elk, turkeys, deer and more. Often this morning is a high point of the tour thanks to the many historic buildings, stunning fall foliage scenery, and peaceful tranquility of this rich mountain valley.

Today’s scheduled hike is a forested trek up a pristine mountain creek to two waterfalls. The stunning river valley we explore is home to what many consider to be Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s most beautiful waterfall hike. Add in dramatic fall colors to the crystal clear creek, lush vegetation, diverse forests, and cascading waterfalls, and today’s walk is a truly special one. We will enjoy a picnic lunch near one of the falls, and eventually return to our lodge for a relaxing evening and wonderful dinner.

Hiking Mileage: 7 miles

Elevation Gain/Loss: 1200 feet

Shuttle to Asheville: 2-hour drive to Asheville

The third day of our Appalachian fall foliage tour begins with breakfast at a charming, family owned restaurant. After eating we will enjoy a scenic drive to the first of two hikes of today. Our hikes focus on two of Appalachia’s most endearing themes: historic buildings and breathtaking waterfalls, both of which will be all the more beautiful than usual with the autumn colors popping.

Our first hike is to arguably the Great Smoky Mountains’ most unique waterfalls. Our trail actually goes behind the waterfall, setting the stage for amazing photography. We will return to our vehicle and continue along a historic loop road, making several stops at historic pioneer cabins and buildings as we go. Our picnic lunch is along the crystal clear waters of a prominent Smokies river, enroute to our second hike. The second hike leads us to two more spectacular waterfalls, for a total daily waterfall count of three!

After a final shuttle of the day, we’ll return to Asheville and check into our lodging for the night. We’ll have an hour or two to shower and relax before enjoying an evening stroll through the streets of downtown Asheville to tonight’s restaurant.