USA – 5 Days Blue Ridge Parkway to Great Smoky Mountains

Today after breakfast you will be heading to Grandfather Mountain! 

At 5,946 feet, it is the highest peak on the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge Mountains, one of the major chains of the Appalachian Mountains. You will start the exploration with Mile High Swinging Bridge, America’s highest suspension footbridge, which was built to give visitors easy access to the breathtaking view from Grandfather Mountain’s Linville Peak. The 228ft suspension bridge spans an 80ft chasm at more than one mile in elevation. Later, continue the adventure with the most popular hike at MacRae Peak, it is one of 3 peaks on Grandfather Mountain. The route to MacRae goes in and out of wind dwarfed spruce and fir, across and around rock walls, and requires the use of cables and ladders to get to the peak.

After the hike, we'll make a photo stop at Linn Cove Viaduct - a 1243ft long concrete segmental bridge that snakes around Grandfather Mountain. Before heading to the hotel, stop at the Linville Gorge to explore the area with a short hike and amazing waterfalls. We'll spend the night at our hotel in Spruce Pine.

Today after breakfast continue the road trip to Cherokee, while making multiple photo stops and popular hikes. You start with Mount Mitchell, the highest peak of the Appalachian Mountains and the highest peak in mainland eastern North America. 

Enjoy the beautiful drive to Mount Mitchell and explore the area with a short hike of the Summit Trail (0.4 miles). It is a heavily trafficked trail but promises beautiful wildflowers and stunning views, this trail is suitable for all fitness levels. 

Next, we'll stop at Craggy Gardens which offers one of the most dramatic viewpoints on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Stunning vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains stretch far into Tennessee to the west and toward central North Carolina to the east. We'll enjoy a 1.4-mile round-trip hike to the top of the 5892ft summit, Craggy Pinnacle. The exceptional panoramic 360-degree views are hard to beat in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains.

Next, while enjoying fall foliage, you will stop at the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway – Richland Balsam. There’s a great highland hike that offers a cool hiking option on hot summer days. Afterwards, we'll spend the night in our hotel in Cherokee.

Today you will explore the Great Smoky Mountains by doing some great hikes, overviews and waterfalls. You will enjoy:

Charlies Bunion (4 miles) - Enjoy breathtaking mountain views along the world-famous Appalachian Trail on this hike to a picturesque stone outcrop known as Charlies Bunion. Elevation change of 1600ft; this is a firm-packed trail that traverses some exposed cliffs.

Clingmans Dome (1 mile) - A 1-mile roundtrip hike from the parking lot, Clingmans Dome is the highest point along the Appalachian Trail at 6643ft. It’s also the highest point in Tennessee.

Laurel Falls (2.6 miles) - The 80ft high Laurel Falls are not be missed! The hike is considered moderate in difficulty. It takes about 2 hours to hike to the waterfall and back.

In the evening we'll enjoy some free time before spending our last night in Gatlinburg.

It’s time to say goodbye to your fellow travellers and the guide as the tour ends today! We'll transfer you to the Knoxville Airport and hope to leave you with a host of travel memories to carry back home with you.