Smokies in a Day Private Tour

Asheville, NC
5.0 (8 reviews)

Trip Highlights

  • Waterfalls
  • BIG Appalachian Views
  • Hiking & Exploring
  • Comprehensive Experience of the Smokies
  • Top-shelf Backpack & Trekking Poles
  • Amazing Natural & Cultural History
  • Tasty Trail Snacks & Picnic Lunch

Description

If you want to enjoy a comprehensive experience of Great Smoky Mountains National Park  in one day, this tour is for you! Picking you up at your hotel in Asheville, we take you to many of the Park’s most spectacular waterfalls and amazing high country views. We hike, we sight see, we learn, we eat, and we enjoy all the Smokies have to offer!

This trip begins with pickup from your hotel in Asheville, where we proceed to the Oconaluftee entrance to the Park. Enjoying the Blue Ridge Parkway for part of this scenic drive, your guide will begin introducing you to the history, ecology and beauty of the Smoky Mountains. We will serve breakfast at one of the many overlooks along this famous road, then continue to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, Mountain Farm Museum and the Mingus Mill. At these phenomenal historic sites we will explore the lives and remnants of the earliest inhabitants of the Smokies. We’ll even visit a cemetery from these early settlers.

Our next destination is the big view from Clingman’s Dome, the highest point in the Park. From the parking lot we’ll enjoy a hike to Andrews Bald, taking us through a unique Great Smoky Mountains ecosystem. We’ll enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch, prepared by your guide, before heading back to the lookout tower on the summit of Clingman’s Dome. After taking in the sweeping views from the tower, we’ll head back down the mountain to the multiple waterfalls in the Deep Creek area of the Park near Bryson City, NC. Eventually we’ll head back to Asheville, ending our full day exploration of the North Carolina side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park!

(Important: We run hikes in almost all weather conditions and very rarely cancel. See our terms and conditions for information on cancellations and refunds.)

Read more …
Sliding Scale (See Below)
$210-$340 Per Person
Season: Year Round

Season: Year Round

Trip Type: Day Hike Tour
Difficulty Level:
Solitude Level:
Group Size: 1-7 Guests
Trip Length: 10 Hours
Distance: 4+MI / 6.5+KM

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 2

Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult

SUMMARY OF DIFFICULTY
This day hike will be a long day seeing most of the Smokies. Van touring, a short hike to a grassy along a well maintained trail and then visiting some easy accessed waterfalls make for a full day in the park.

Hiking Distances:

4+ mi

Backpack Weight:

8-12 lbs

Terrain:

Moderately Rugged

Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:

900 ft

Heights Exposure:

None

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP

  • Hiking uphill or downhill with a 8-12 lb backpack for 2-4 hours
  • Maintaining balance and footing on moderately rugged terrain
* For an official and complete list of physical requirements, please see our Essential Eligibility Criteria.

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
We’re here to help. If you have any questions, call 800-715-HIKE or contact us online.
PDF Trip Itinerary Packet Book online
Or fill out a Reservation Request
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private Trips

"*" indicates required fields

Receive Emails about Wildland Trekking Promotions, Updates, and Discounts:

Rates

Rates

  • 2 people: $340 per person
  • 3 people: $280 per person
  • 4-5 people: $240 per person
  • 6-7 people: $210 per person
  • 10 and younger: $150 per person

Private day hike tours are only open to your party.

*Prices do not include gratuity for your guide

Trip Dates & Booking

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

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

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 full day tour – 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
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

Trip Reviews

  • Average Customer Ratings:

  • 5.0 (8 reviews)
Donna J.
5.0

Fantastic

4 years ago

One would never be Disappointed in booking with Wildland trekking company. If I could use one word to describe our trip it would be fantastic.

Lucy N.
5.0

Excellent, Knowledgeable Guide

4 years ago

Kyle Nush is a knowledge guide. Called us to introduce himself, and get meal ideas. explained the day at pickup. Taught us about the local plants. Ensured we stayed safe from the large crowds. We were excited to know that Kyle would be our guide on the second trip.

Katherine C.
5.0

Will definitely hike again.

7 years ago

Really had a great first time hiking experience. This hike is full pack with experiences to offer. We went to different places as mentioned in the itinerary and they were wonderful. Our guide, Dan Reinis, showed great knowledge and expertise with regards to the Smokies, its history, what can be found in the mountains, and gave us some hiking 101, which can be useful for our future hiking trips. He was so considerate with our requests especially with my meal preference and then food were great with lots of snacks. The entire team were also responsive with your questions and they even accommodated me even though i booked close to the trip date. Thank you Dan and the entire Wildland Trekking team, it was a nice reboot for me from the city stress. Forest bathing is really effective. Will definitely hike again.

See All Guest Reviews!

Go to our reviews page

Related Trips

Receive a PDF info packet via email which includes:

"*" indicates required fields

Receive Emails about Wildland Trekking Promotions, Updates, and Discounts:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

*