Best of The Smokies

• 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 Appalachian hiking tour starts with a scenic drive from Asheville, NC to the Oconoluftee entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where we’ll stop briefly at the Mountain Farm Museum to peruse the early settler buildings and learn about 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 our enriching museum 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 trek we will drive up to the Park’s highest peak, Clingman’s Dome at 6,643′, to take in more sweeping views. Lunch today will be a tasty and healthy picnic, prepared by your guide, at one of these amazing 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
• Accommodations: Dancing Bear Cabins

Today starts with a delicious 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, turkeys, and more). We will explore the many historic buildings, stunning scenery, and wonderful tranquility of this rich mountain valley. 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: appx 7 miles
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 1200 feet
• Accommodations: Hyatt Place hotel

Our third day of Smoky Mountains 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 themes of today are 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 the trailhead we will continue along a historic loop road, stopping at ancient pioneer 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. Our afternoon trek takes us past more amazing waterfalls: Midnight Hole Falls and Mouse Creek Falls, which brings our daily waterfall count to 3! A short shuttle from here brings us back to Asheville, where we’ll check into our beautiful hotel and hit the town for some amazing, local farm-to-table cuisine!

• Shuttle to trailhead: 2 hours
• Hiking Mileage: 7 miles
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 1400 feet
• Accommodations: Hyatt Place hotel

Our Appalachian exploration pivots today to the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains! After a hearty breakfast we drive from Asheville, NC to the amazing views and waterfalls near Linville Gorge in the Pisgah National Forest. Our first stop will be the Linville Falls Visitor Center, where we will enjoy a 1.6 mile round trip hike to 3 different viewpoints of this outstanding area and waterfall. We will then shuttle to our next trailhead for a hike up Table Rock Mountain for stunning, sweeping views of the spectacular Linville Gorge. After a picnic lunch on the summit of Table Rock Mountain we’ll continue along the Blue Ridge Parkway for more spectacular wonderful Appalachian views.

If time allows we’ll take one last hike for the day through diverse forests to another outstanding waterfall at Crabtree Meadows. We end this spectacular first day with a return drive along Blue Ridge Parkway back to our cozy lodge, and then an award winning meal at one of our favorite Asheville restaurants.

• Shuttle to trailhead: 1 hour
• Hiking Mileage: appx 6.4 miles
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 1650 feet
• Shuttle to Asheville: 1.5-hour drive

On the final day of our Appalachian hiking adventure we’ll start by hiking to the summit of one of the most iconic landmarks in the region, Looking Glass Rock. This is one of the best and most iconic hikes in the Pisgah National Forest. After reaching the summit our efforts will be rewarded by massive, sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, and a wonderful picnic lunch prepared by your guide.

After enjoying our lunch with a view, we’ll descend back to our vehicle and head to the spectacular roadside waterfall, Looking Glass Falls. Our travel back to Asheville will again be along a different stretch of the famous Blue Ridge Parkway. We’ll stop along the way for fantastic views of Looking Glass Rock, the hike we just completed. As we drive back into the city of Asheville we can reflect on our unique Appalachian hiking experience and begin dreaming of the next one!