Paddle and Hike Private Day Tour
Asheville, NC
5.0 (1 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Fantastic Lake Kayaking
- Fulfilling Hike
- Moderate & Difficult Options
- Viewpoint or Historic Town
- Amazing Natural & Cultural History
- Top-shelf Backpack & Trekking Poles
- Tasty Trail Snacks & Picnic Lunch
Description
This day of flat-water paddling and mountain hiking in amazing Great Smoky Mountains National Park gives you the best of both worlds – water and land . Our multi-sport adventure starts with a scenic drive from Asheville, NC to Fontana Lake (including pick up at your hotel in Asheville, or we can rendezvous at the lake). This tour has two options, with significant variation in difficult and level of adventure between the two. Both feature majestic paddling across a pristine lake with breathtaking views of the towering, forested mountains around us.
Option A
Difficulty: Level 2
Duration: 6-8 Hours
Distance: 12+MI / 19+KM
With this option, our paddle takes us to Hazel Creek and the historic town site of Proctor where the W. M. Ritter Lumber Company once thrived. We will exit our boats on shore and hike through this historic area exploring old home sites, cemeteries, and forgotten farm fields. Your guide will explain how early life and industry worked in this hard environment. We’ll enjoy a delicious picnic lunch at one of the Park’s backcountry campsites before heading back across the lake in our kayaks to our awaiting vehicle. After loading the boats, we can check out the Eastern United States’ tallest dam and its amazing museum. Eventually we’ll head back to Asheville, ending our amazing Historic Paddle & Hike adventure in the Smokies.
Option B
Difficulty: Level 4
Duration: 12-14 Hours
Distance: 16+MI / 25+KM
With this option we’ll paddle across Fontana Lake to a small island for a short break or a swim if desired. After our break we’ll continue to where Eagle Creek flows into the lake. Our hike starts by leaving the shores of Fontana Lake, and following an old logging historic railway. Along our journey we will ford Lost Cove Creek many times while enjoying the amazingly diverse forests of the Smokies. Our goal today is reaching some of the Park’s best mountain top views from the historic Shuckstack fire tower off the historic Appalachian Trail. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch at the tower while soaking up the stunning scenery. After lunch, we’ll retrace our steps back to our boats and end our day with a relaxing paddle back to our waiting vehicle. After loading the boats, we can check out the Eastern United States’ tallest dam, Fontana Dam at 480’, and its wonderful museum. Afterwards, we’ll head back to Asheville ending our amazing High Mountain Paddle & Hike adventure in the Smokies.
(Important: We run hikes in almost all weather conditions and very rarely cancel. See our terms and conditions for information on cancellations and refunds.)
$210-$340 Per Person
Season: Apr-Oct
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 2
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
The difficult level of this tour depends on which hiking option you prefer – A (historic town of Proctor) or B (Shuckstack Fire Tower). Option A is a Level 2 difficult. The day trip has a paddle to Hazel Creek and then explore the historic sites of the area. There is not much hiking on trails. Option B is Level 4. This day trip has a big paddle to Eagle Creek and then hiking up the steepest trail in the Smokies gaining quick elevation the entire time. Returning the same way we arrived can make for a long day on the water and in the mountains.
Hiking Distances:
6-8 miles
Backpack Weight:
10-15 pounds
Terrain:
Moderately Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
Up to 2000 ft.
Heights Exposure:
None
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Option A: paddling on the lake and hiking uphill or downhill with a 10-15 pound backpack for 6-8 hours
- Option B: paddling on the lake and hiking uphill or downhill with a 10-15 pound backpack for 12-14 hours
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
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Rates
- 2 people: $340 per person
- 3 people: $280 per person
- 4-5 people: $240 per person
- 10 and younger: $150 per person
*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)
- Kayak equipment including single or double sit-on-top sea kayaks, paddles, life jackets and waterproof dry bags
- 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?
Your guide will pick you up at your hotel in Asheville, NC at an agreed upon time. If you’re already staying in the Park, the option to meet your guide at Fontana Lake is also available. Your guide will be in contact approximately 7 days prior to your hike to coordinate the exact time and location of your rendezvous. The pick up time will vary depending on the time of year.
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
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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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|||
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January
|
51°
|
28°
|
35°
|
19°
|
||
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February
|
54°
|
29°
|
35°
|
18°
|
||
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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°
|
||
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September
|
83°
|
55°
|
60°
|
47°
|
||
|
October
|
73°
|
43°
|
53°
|
38°
|
||
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November
|
61°
|
33°
|
42°
|
28°
|
||
|
December
|
52°
|
28°
|
37°
|
21°
|
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Trip Reviews
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Michele R
Excellent Trip
We had an excellent trip. Our guide, Tommy, was knowledgeable, fun, mindful, and great to spend the day with. I would highly recommend him and Wildland Trekking.
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