Charlies Bunion Private Hike
Day Hike Tours
1 Day 9MI / 14KMTrip Highlights
This exciting Smoky Mountains day hike offers stunning hiking on the Appalachian Trail, amazing views from an exposed ridge, and a unique rock outcropping. You’ll meet your Wildland Trekking hiking guide at the Newfound Gap parking lot and embark on your hike from there. Our route climbs for the first couple miles while we’re rewarded with a dense beautiful spruce-fir forest and then incredible views of distant Blue Ridge mountains. Much of our hike follows a narrow ridge traversing the spine of the Appalachian Mountains, with breathtaking 360-degree views at Charlies Bunion. We’ll soak up the stunning views of the surrounding mountains, which include Mount Kephart and Mount Guyot. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch, and eventually make our way back to our starting point to complete our Appalachian Trail hike.
(Important: We run hikes in almost all weather conditions and very rarely cancel. See our terms and conditions for information on cancellations and refunds.)
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Spectacular Views
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Unique Geology
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Hike on the Appalachian Trail
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Top-shelf Backpack & Trekking Poles
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Opportunities to See Wildlife
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Tasty Trail Snacks & Picnic Lunch
Book This Trip
Trip Details
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Trip Type
Day Hike Tours -
Trip Length
1 Day -
Daily Hiking Distance
9 mi -
Group Size
1-7 Guests
Is This Trip Right For me?
There are some steep, rocky parts but it is a well maintained, and well-traveled trail.
Trip Dates
What's Included
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Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
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Transportation for the duration of the tour (pickup and drop off in Asheville, NC)
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A commitment to make the tour as exciting, challenging, informative, and full as you'd like, and as is possible in a day
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Trail snacks and a picnic lunch
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Use of a top of the line, technical day pack
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Use of trekking poles
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Mandatory 5% national park fee that passes through directly to Great Smoky Mountains NP
What's Not Included
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Clothing and personal items
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Water (2 liters capacity)
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Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
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Trip Logistics & FAQs
Where Do We Meet?
If you are staying in Asheville, NC will pick you up at your hotel in Asheville. If you are staying elsewhere and/or would prefer to meet at the trailhead, that is also an option. 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 full day tour if we start from Asheville – the pickup time will be around 6:30 AM, and ending times can vary but are often after 6:00 PM.
Safety Precautions
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. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval on a case by case basis
Weather in the Great Smoky Mountains
The weather in the Great Smoky 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 Great Smoky Mountains:
Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit) | ||||||
Month
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Low Elev
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High Elev
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hi
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low
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hi
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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°
|
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December
|
52°
|
28°
|
37°
|
21°
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Reviews
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Lichym W
3 years agoWonderful
Wonderful to hike with Kyle , he is so knowledgeable. Would like to hike with him again
Franklin B
3 years agoOutstanding
Kyle was an outstanding tour guide. We really learned alot while hiking in the Smokey Mountains.
Gerry P
4 years agoGreat Hikes
Just completed 2 great day hikes in the Smokies: Ramsey Cascade and Charles Bunion. Both great hikes made even better with our guide Tommy Smith. We have been on several guided hikes and Tommy ranks among the top tier.
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