Blue Ridge In a Day Private Tour
Asheville, NC
5.0 (4 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Full Day Tour
- Stunning Waterfalls
- Two Iconic Blue Ridge Summits
- Tasty Trail Snacks & Picnic Lunch
- Amazing Natural & Cultural History
- Quality Backpack & Trekking Poles
Description
The Blue Ridge Parkway is justifiably famous for it’s winding roads, scenic Appalachian scenery, amazing views, waterfalls, and deep forests. On this day trip we explore over 40 miles of scenic views along the Blue Ridge Parkway, summit 2 different 6000’ peaks in a 5 mile loop hike, enjoy other views off the Parkway in multiple spots, and enjoy an amazing waterfall, Looking Glass Falls, all in one unforgettable day!
We start our day by driving to the Parkway through the entrance to the Pisgah National Forest in Brevard, North Carolina. We’ll stop at the visitor center and a breathtaking roadside waterfall, Looking Glass Falls. Once we reach the Parkway it is a short drive to our first hike, which is a loop hike allowing for new scenery throughout. Our first views come early after only 1 mile as we reach the summit of Black Balsam Knob (6,214’). We’ll soak up the endless view of ridges and valleys that the Appalachian Mountains are known for. Our next summit is on Tennent Mountain (6056’), where more massive views await. Our hike brings us in and out of Balsam Fir groves and along grassy meadows full of blueberry and blackberry bushes. Our turn around spot is on the edge of the amazing Shining Rock Wilderness at Ivestor Gap. Here we’ll enjoy a rest and a nutritious lunch prepared by your guide, before heading back along another route to our vehicles.
We’ll top off our day with stops at several amazing viewpoints and shorter hikes along the Parkway. We’ll even check out the highest elevation in the entire Pisgah National Forest at Richland Balsam (6,410’). We’ll eventually head back toward Asheville along an extremely scenic 40-mile stretch of the Parkway – what a day it’s been!
(Important: We run hikes in almost all weather conditions and very rarely cancel. See our terms and conditions for information on cancellations and refunds.)
$145-$495 Per Person
Season: Apr-Dec
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 2
- Level 1: 2-6 miles, less than 500 feet elevation change on good trails
- Level 2: 3-8 miles, up to 2000 feet of elevation change on good trails
- Level 3: 4-10 miles, up to 3000 feet of elevation change on good to rugged trails
- Level 4: 4-12 miles, up to 4000 feet of elevation change on rugged trails or off trail
- Level 5: 6-16 miles, up to 5,500 feet of elevation change on rugged trails or off trail
SOLITUDE LEVEL 2
- Level 1: around other hikers the entire time
- Level 2: around other hikers most of the time
- Level 3: around other hikers some of the time
- Level 4: see a couple other groups during the hike
- Level 5: most likely to have the trail to ourselves
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private TripsRates
- 1 person: $495
- 2 people: $245 per person
- 3 people: $215 per person
- 4-5 people: $175 per person
- 6-7 people: $145 per person
- 10 and younger: $105 per person
Private day hike tours are only open to your party.
*Prices do not include guide gratuity
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
This tour is booked on a custom basis for private groups so does not have set dates (requested dates are almost always available). Give us a call at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to schedule your hike!
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
What's Included
- A professional, knowledgeable, medically trained, friendly wilderness guide.
- Transportation for the duration of the tour (pickup and drop off in Asheville, NC)
- A commitment to make the tour as exciting, challenging, informative, and full as you’d like, and as is possible in a day
- Trail snacks and a picnic lunch
- Use of a top of the line, technical day pack
- Use of trekking poles
What's Not Included (Required)
- Lightweight hiking shoes or hiking boots
- Waterproof rain jacket or poncho
- Warm wool or fleece top (Spring, Fall, Winter)
- Warm hat and gloves (Spring, Fall, Winter)
- Water bottles or bladder (2 liters total capacity)
- Sunhat
What Not Included (Recommended)
- A cold or frozen bottle of water or Gatorade (Spring, Summer, Fall)
- Sunglasses
- Knee braces (if needed)
- Sunscreen
- Camera
- Gratuity for your guide
Food: What to Expect
Day hike tours include energizing trail snacks and a delicious picnic lunch. Your guide will customize the food for your hike, but a typical lunch consists of gourmet sandwiches or wraps, fruit, veggies, chips, drinks and a dessert. On wintery or cold days you may be treated to soup or a hot, freshly cooked lunch (if you’d prefer a hot meal, please let us know!)
We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.
Trip Logistics
How Do I Register?
Ready to hike? Day hike reservations are made through our Adventure Consultant team. You can click here to get the ball rolling. Our adventure consultants will confirm availability, and if you’re ready to register we’ll email you a link to a registration profile. You’ll have 72 hours to complete your profile (and that of any dependents) and make your payment.
Feel free to call us for more info – we’re here 7 days a week!
Where Do We Meet?
We will pick you up at your hotel in Asheville, NC. Your guide will be in contact approximately 7 days prior to your hike to coordinate the exact time and location of your rendezvous. This is a 3/4 day tour – the pickup time will be between 6 and 8 AM, and ending times can vary but are often between 4-6 PM.
Safety Considerations
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. We’ve developed comprehensive risk management protocols that our guides adhere to in case of an emergency, and most tours carry a satellite phone. If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Guides
Your tour will be led by a trained, experienced professional with a solid guiding background, years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios.
Group Size and Age Restrictions
The maximum group size on this hiking tour is 7 guests. If you have more questions about group size, please give us a call at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) and we’ll answer all your questions.
Age restrictions are as follows:
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval determined on a case by case basis
Weather in The Appalachian Mountains
The weather in the Appalachian Mountains varies greatly by time of year. To be fully prepared, please follow the recommended clothing list closely (this list comes as part of your trip packet when you register). Read below for average high and low temperatures in for low elevations in the Appalachian Mountains:
| Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit) | ||||||
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Month
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Low Elev
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High Elev
|
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hi
|
low
|
hi
|
low
|
|||
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January
|
51°
|
28°
|
35°
|
19°
|
||
|
February
|
54°
|
29°
|
35°
|
18°
|
||
|
March
|
61°
|
34°
|
39°
|
24°
|
||
|
April
|
71°
|
42°
|
49°
|
34°
|
||
|
May
|
79°
|
50°
|
57°
|
43°
|
||
|
June
|
86°
|
58°
|
63°
|
49°
|
||
|
July
|
88°
|
59°
|
65°
|
53°
|
||
|
August
|
87°
|
60°
|
64°
|
52°
|
||
|
September
|
83°
|
55°
|
60°
|
47°
|
||
|
October
|
73°
|
43°
|
53°
|
38°
|
||
|
November
|
61°
|
33°
|
42°
|
28°
|
||
|
December
|
52°
|
28°
|
37°
|
21°
|
||
Trip Reviews
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Donna J.
Great Memories
I chose this company to take a tour with and I’m glad I did. Their website was very friendly to use, they have wonderful guides to help you with your trip. They go out of their way to make sure that you have a wonderful time and they will go at your pace. One can call their agents and get friendly service. I hope to take another trip again with them. Lots of great Memories.
Lucy N.
Wonderful Guide and Day
We asked our guide Kyle to take us to waterfalls. He made it clear that this was our trip experience. We loved the falls, looking glass and Moore cove. Beautiful trails and a wonderful picnic lunch. Kyle has a great humor and a wonderful personality.
Steven N.
Our Guide Angie did an awesome job!
Our Guide Angie did an awesome job coordinating with us, accommodating our requests, and adjusting the trip itinerary on the fly due to weather. She was very professional and just an all around great person to spend three days with! We saw some really beautiful areas and ate some fantastic meals over the course of the trip. Would highly recommend to others!
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