Charlies Bunion Private Hike
Asheville, NC
5.0 (6 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Spectacular Views
- Unique Geology
- Hike on the Appalachian Trail
- Top-shelf Backpack & Trekking Poles
- Opportunities to See Wildlife
- Tasty Trail Snacks & Picnic Lunch
Description
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.)
$190-$550 Per Person
Season: Year Round
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 3
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
There are some steep, rocky parts but it is a well maintained, and well-traveled trail.
Hiking Distances:
9 mi
Backpack Weight:
10-15 pounds
Terrain:
Moderately Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
1890 ft
Heights Exposure:
Moderate
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Hiking uphill or downhill with a 10-15 pound backpack for 5-7 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on moderately rugged terrain
- Hiking with short sections with moderate heights exposure
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 Trips"*" indicates required fields
Rates
- 1 person: $550
- 2 people: $290 per person
- 3 people: $260 per person
- 4-5 people: $215 per person
- 6-7 people: $190 per person
- 10 and younger: $135 per person
Private day hike tours are only open to your party.
*Prices do not include gratuity for your guide
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
- 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.
- 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
- Mandatory 5% national park fee that passes through directly to Great Smoky Mountains NP
What's Not Included
- Clothing and personal items
- Water (2 liters capacity)
- Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
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?
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) | ||||||
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Month
|
Low Elev
|
High Elev
|
||||
|
hi
|
low
|
hi
|
low
|
|||
|
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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Lichym W
Wonderful
Wonderful to hike with Kyle , he is so knowledgeable. Would like to hike with him again
Franklin B
Outstanding
Kyle was an outstanding tour guide. We really learned alot while hiking in the Smokey Mountains.
Gerry P
Great 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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