(0)Tons of hiking trails (800+ miles), cool mountain streams, rushing waterfalls, a variety of trees and blooming wildflowers, changing leaves in the fall, diversity of wildlife, incredible mountain vistas, plus lush valley views attract millions of visitors each year to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Combined with its more central location within the Eastern U.S., it’s no wonder the Smokies claims top spot as the most visited national park in the country!
Naturally, many people make their way to the Great Smoky Mountains for memorable mountain vacations throughout the year. Fall is a great time to see the landscape transform from green to rich reds, golds, and yellows and enjoy the crisp, cool air. In spring and summer, enjoy wildflowers, frolicking wildlife, bright green trees, warm air, and flowing waterfalls. And winter ushers in a wonderland of snow and ice, giving you a whole new look at the majestic and gorgeous Smoky Mountains.
While you can always explore the area on your own, why not get the most out of your time in the Smokies by teaming up with a professional Smoky Mountain guide? After saving all year for a mountain getaway and having a limited amount of time to fit in as much as you can, Smoky Mountain Guides comes in to make each moment count for YOU.
Smoky Mountain Guides
At Smoky Mountain Guides, you’ll find professionals who know the area, enjoy the outdoors, and love showing others how Great the Smoky Mountains are. They offer everything from all-inclusive corporate retreats to guided hikes for just a few. Their tours, whether by foot or by car, are the perfect way to see as much of the mountains (and the best places!) as possible. They’ve even been featured on History Channel, TravelChannel.com, and Travel Mindset.
Tour Options
- Guided day hikes
- Multi-day trips
- Auto tours
- Interpretive history walks
- Seasonal hikes (wildflowers vs snowy peaks)
- Guided waterfall hikes
- Hiking trips across the Appalachian Trail
- Fly fishing trips
- Flatwater kayaking excursions
- All-inclusive corporate retreats
Guided Day Hikes
Hiking is easily one of the most popular activities in the Smokies. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to 100s of miles of trails that take you to historic buildings, gorgeous waterfalls, and mountain vistas — not to mention the stunning scenery and beautiful wildlife along the way.
On guided hikes with Smoky Mountain Guides, you’ll get those same great views with experienced guides who can take you to the best spots and tell you all about them. They take all the guesswork out; just let them know how far you want to go and what you want to see. And you don’t have to be a seasoned hiker for these trails. They have short, easy hikes and longer challenging hikes to fit any age and skill level.
While Smoky Mountain Guides has some great hiking options already on their tour menu, you can also create your own day out! Customize your day or opt for pre-planned easy, moderate, or difficult hikes.
Easy
- The Mountaineers Way (3 hours)
- Spruce Flats Falls (4 hours)
Moderate
- Spruce-Fir Stroll (6 hours)
- High Points Hike (6 hours)
- Clingmans Dome (4 hours)
- Alum Bluffs (3-4 hours)
- Grotto Falls (6 hours)
- Charles Bunion & Appalachian Trail (6 hours)
Difficult
- LeConte (full day)
- Rocky Top & Appalachian Trail (full day)
Multi-day Trips
Looking for something a little more involved? If you’re here for a week and want to really invest some time into exploring the Smokies (and we hope you do!), take advantage of the multi-day trips offered with Smoky Mountain Guides. They have some incredible options, taking you all around the area for one-of-a-kind experiences you’ll not soon forget.
You can travel to the highest backcountry campsite in the national park, spend 3 or 4 days breaking in your hiking shoes on the Appalachian Trail, walk in a winter wonderland (literally), enjoy gourmet meals, take a memorable father-son adventure, and more.
Auto Tours
Plenty of scenic drives through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park await…but if you want to enjoy the views without the hassle of driving yourself, try an auto tour with Smoky Mountain Guides!
Along the drive, they’ll tell you about the area, from moonshine and logging to the Sugarland Valley and historic Cades Cove. Tours also range from 3 hours to an entire day, so you can enjoy a ride no matter how much time you have to commit.
Want a combo of an auto tour + day hike? Select the Shuttle Hike & Waterfalls tour that makes a would-be-strenuous journey easy. See cascading waterfalls, splash in pristine swimming holes, and visit hard-to-reach areas of the forest without breaking too much of a sweat.
Flatwater Kayak Tours
Any water lovers in the cabin? Opt for a flatwater kayak tour with breathtaking mountain backdrops, aviary sightings, and island hopping. From paddling downriver to exploring lakeside, Smoky Mountain Guides has the water tour of your dreams.
Kayak tours range from half to full day outings, so you can enjoy the water for a little while or as long as you please. Visit the highest dam east of the Mississippi River, harken to peaceful streams, and relax on a river island with a scrumptious mountain-style lunch to start.
Specialty Trips
One great thing about the Great Smoky Mountains is the changing seasons. The area truly offers 4 distinct seasons: warm summers, breezy springs, crisp falls, and cool winters. With unique seasons come varying views, changing temperatures, and a huge diversity of seasonal activities.
Smoky Mountain Guides’ specialty trips take advantage of the seasons, offering you something different and fun any time of year you visit. Come, explore, and see what the Smokies is all about — year-round.
- Trek + Dine — Chow down on fajitas or pasta (and dessert!) after a backcountry hike through the scenic Smoky Mountains.
- Waterfalls + Wine — Hike along an enchanting trail with cascades and waterfalls before heading into town for some local wine at Sugarland Cellars.
- Synchronized Lightning Bugs Tour — This must-see experience will be elevated with transportation plus snacks. Or step it up a notch with the Mountain Delight that caters with cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and dinner!
- Leaf Chasers — Spectacular fall colors explode over the mountains each fall. This tour will take you to all the best viewing spots by hike or auto tour
- Fly Fishing — For seasoned anglers or beginners, this tour will take you out into the cool waters of the mountains for a half, full, or multi-day fishing trip.
- Adventure Photography — Get the perfect souvenir — a fantastic photograph — and some great wilderness photography tips with guides who can show you the best places for the best shots in the Smokies.
Corporate Services
Smoky Mountain Guides offers a range of corporate services, from retreats to team-building activities. They can do simple exercises and short trips to give your team a little boost, and they can put on full-service corporate retreats for some serious growth. And you don’t have to be corporate for a retreat — families, schools, and church groups are welcome as well.
A retreat is what you make of it, and Smoky Mountain Guides are there to help every step of the way. They’ll do as little or as much as you need, with services ranging from helping you pick a venue and choosing activities for your group to food and drink choices and photography and videography services!
Team-building Activities
- Mountain rescue workshop
- High adventure & wilderness programs
- Map & compass
- Urban scavenger hunts
- Moonshine mixing competition
- Strategy & planning sessions
- Ober Gatlinburg team challenge
- DISC workshops
Other Services
Beyond their tours and guided hikes, Smoky Mountain Guides also offers shuttle services for any occasion. Want to kick up your feet after a one-way hike? Hop in their shuttle and they’ll take you back to your start! Need to grab some more food and supplies and don’t want to drive into town? They’ll pick you up and take you back. They also offer outdoor safety consulting for film crews, offering expertise, local guiding, and safe operation plans.
YOUR Guides
Want to know more about the professionals who will be leading you over the river and through the woods? Go online to read about the guides. They’re all about personal attention, so tours are small. You’ll have plenty of time to ask your guides questions, and they’re sure to ask you what your hopes for the tour are as well.
Along with being professional, the guides are from the Great Smoky Mountains, so they really know the area. They also know, and stay up to date with, wilderness medicine protocol. So, in case of an emergency, you’ll be in good hands.
Smoky Mountain Guides
278 Ruth Lane
Sevierville, TN 37862
865.654.4545
Cabins for YOU
After exploring the national park with your guide, continue to experience the Great Smoky Mountains like a local in your Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg cabin. With options currently ranging from 1-16 bedrooms and budget-friendly to luxury and everything in between (including pet-friendly cabins), Cabins for YOU has the perfect rental to suit your trip needs.
With our informative blog, website articles — loaded with tips, tricks, recipes, and local info — and beautiful cabins with everything you need (and more) for a memorable stay, Cabins for YOU works to make your trip to the Smokies easier and more fun!
Cabin Amenities
- Mountain, river, wooded, or city views
- Outdoor hot tub
- Private indoor pool
- Indoor jetted tub
- Home theater with big screen TV/projector screen
- Gas or electric fireplaces
- Outdoor firepit
- Rocking chairs + porch swings
- Game-loaded rec room
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Gas or charcoal grill
- Washer & dryer
- Complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi
- Convenient location to the national park