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The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is world famous for the diversity of its plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and many excellent hiking trails. Our annual trip is a great way to begin your hiking season. Designed to give you an overview of one of our most treasured National Parks, our trip will give your hiking legs a great spring beginning to the hiking season. We'll see wildflowers and waterfalls, hiking at a leisurely pace to enhance our enjoyment of the scenery, take time to take pictures and identify flowers, and soak those 'winter tired' feet in beautiful pools at the edge of waterfalls. Whether you are intrigued by salamanders or birds, wildflowers or trees, waterfalls or mountain vistas, learning about the fascinating cultural history, or just seeking less traveled paths, you will quickly understand why the Great Smokies have been designated both an International Biosphere reserve and a World Heritage Site. Maximum group size: 12
This trip is appropriate for any woman who exercises regularly at a moderate level (such as going for 45 minute brisk walks 3 to 5 days a week), and who either enjoys hiking or is new to hiking and wants to learn in a safe and fun environment. On this trip there is a special emphasis on cultural and natural history and stopping to smell the flowers (literally). Rating:1 [2]3 4 5
This trip combines hiking with learning about the natural and cultural history of the area. With lots of instruction and tips to make your hiking more enjoyable, this is an ideal trip for novice hikers. You can also learn to identify the many wildflowers found here.
On this trip we stay the entire week in a luxury lodge, perched on a mountainside just outside Gatlinburg. There are 12 private rooms (some with king beds and others with Queens) all with private bathrooms. Amenities include a pool table, a covered porch with rocking chairs and a great view, a hot tub, fireplace, and a large dining and living room. Everyone gets her own bedroom on this trip. Rooms are assigned by lottery.
If you are coming with someone with whom you would like to share a room and bed, there is a 10% discount (limited to 2 people).
Trip Resources
Below is the proposed itinerary for the trip. As is true on any adventure travel trip, plans for any specific day may be modified due to weather considerations, unforeseen circumstances, new opportunities, and group interests.
This itinerary may be adjusted based on weather conditions and where the wildflowers are in full bloom.
If you're flying in, we'll meet you at the Knoxville Airport at noon. From there, we'll drive to the park and begin with an introduction to the cultural history of the Smokies by exploring what was once the Little Greenbrier Community. Highlights include the Little Greenbrier School, first opened in 1882, a pioneer cemetery, and the Walker Sisters’ cabin and home site. This slightly uphill trail follows an old roadbed.
If you're driving, please plan to meet us at the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic parking lot (south side) by 2:00 p.m. We'll hike the Little Brier Gap Trail, which is 2.6 miles round trip. Dinner tonight will be at our lodge, where you'll enjoy a classic Southern barbecue meal, complete with hush puppies and corn on the cob!
Included Meals: Dinner
Accommodations: Mountain Laurel Chalets
Daily Activities: Hiking (2.6 miles)
Travel: Driving (1 hour 15 minutes)
Our trail today ascends at a steady, moderate grade through a forest of towering Eastern Hemlocks and Fraser magnolias, eventually transitioning into a moist, sheltered cove hardwood forest. Renowned for its stunning wildflower display in April and May, the forest floor can become a vibrant carpet of 30 to 40 different wildflower species. Rich in cultural history, Porters Creek Trail features landmarks such as the old Baxter Cabin, stone walls, a historic cantilevered barn, and the Owenby Cemetery—remnants of a once-thriving community.
We’ll hike to Fern Branch Falls, where we’ll pause for lunch before heading back. Porters Creek Trail is approximately 4 miles. Tonight’s dinner will begin with appetizers and continue with the first of several delicious, homemade meals prepared by your guides, ending (of course!) with dessert!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Mountain Laurel Chalets
Daily Activities: Hiking (4 miles)
Travel: Driving (1 hour)
Our first stop this morning will be the Sugarlands Visitors Center, where we’ll have the opportunity to learn more about the park, its history, and its natural inhabitants through the orientation film and the natural history museum. Then, it’s back to hiking and the search for wildflowers!
Traveling off the beaten path, today’s trail leads into a natural limestone sink. White Oak Sink is home to many rare plants, various caves, and a waterfall that flows into one of the caves, offering unique opportunities to explore the area’s geology, natural history, and cultural heritage. Spring wildflowers abound in the sink, carpeting the trail with a stunning variety of colors.
Our hike begins on the School House Gap Trail, an old roadbed with a gentle uphill grade. Soon, we’ll turn off the School House Gap Trail onto the unmaintained trail to White Oak Sink, which features occasional steep ascents and descents. Depending on time and energy levels, we may also have the option to visit Laurel Falls on our way back. A 2.4-mile walk on a paved trail leads to the most visited falls in the park. After our hikes, we’ll head back to the lodge for some well-deserved relaxation—and tonight is pizza night! Definitely well deserved!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Mountain Laurel Chalets
Daily Activities: Hiking (5 miles)
Travel: Driving (1.5 hours)
This morning, we’ll head to the Grotto Falls hike, one of the park’s most spectacular waterfalls—and the only one you can actually walk behind! The trail is a moderate 2.6-mile hike through a hardwood cove, offering great wildflower spotting and beautiful views across the valley.
After our hike, we’ll return to our condo for lunch, with a few different options to choose from. The afternoon is free, and there are no wrong choices!
Your guides will offer the opportunity to journey to the highest points of the park—New Found Gap (with a short walk on the Appalachian Trail) and Clingman’s Dome, at 6,643 feet, the highest point in the eastern U.S.
Alternatively, you could choose to enjoy downtown Gatlinburg or, since it’s vacation, relax back at the lodge, perhaps enjoying the porch or the hot tub. Your guides will help you navigate the options and get you where you want to go. Or, maybe your afternoon will include a scoop of ice cream—just a prelude to another delicious meal at the lodge. Mileage will vary depending on your choices.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Mountain Laurel Chalets
Daily Activities: Hiking (2.6 - 4 miles)
Travel: Driving (1.5 hours)
Ready to give your legs a break and explore a completely different part of the ecosystem? We’ll start with a delicious pancake breakfast before heading to the whitewater of the Pigeon River! While the rapids are exciting, the trip is perfectly suitable for novice rafters.
Afterward, we’ll return to Gatlinburg and visit the historic Bud Ogle’s farm, where we’ll take a 1.2-mile nature hike to explore what a typical homestead was like in this region, including a plume for water and a gristmill.
Back at the lodge, you’ll have time to relax—perhaps in the hot tub or by unwinding in rockers on the porch—before enjoying another homemade dinner!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Mountain Laurel Chalets
Daily Activities: Rafting (2-4 hours), Hiking (1.2 miles)
Travel: Driving (2 hours)
Today’s trek will take us through Eastern Hemlock and deciduous forests as we hike along the Maddron Bald Trail. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the trail begins as an old roadbed and ascends steadily but moderately throughout its length. We’ll enjoy lunch by the beautiful cascades before having the option to continue on to Albright Grove, an old-growth forest named for Horace Albright, an advocate for the park and a director of the National Park Service.
Here, you’ll experience the sights, sounds, and feel of a home to ancient trees. We’ll have plenty of time to stroll among and admire the grand Eastern Hemlocks, silverbells, Fraser magnolias, tulip trees, and other tree species before returning along the Maddron Bald Trail.
We’ll return to the lodge with plenty of time to freshen up before heading into Gatlinburg to share our last dinner together at one of the many local restaurants.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Mountain Laurel Chalets
Daily Activities: Hiking (6.7 miles)
Travel: Driving (1 hour)
It’s our last morning in the Smokies, but we’ll make sure to savor every minute! We’ll take our time this morning, enjoy our final breakfast together, and soak in the view from the lodge before making our way back.
We’ll stop by the Sugarlands Visitors Center for one last chance to pick up any items you may want to take home, and we’ll even have time to walk the nature trail to Cataract Falls.
Afterward, we’ll reluctantly head to the Knoxville airport. If you're driving, plan to leave by 10 a.m. If you're flying, we’ll return you to the Knoxville airport by 11:00 a.m. for a flight out after 12:00 noon.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Daily Activities: Nature Walk (.7 miles)
Travel: Driving (1.5 hours)
The guides, the hikes and my fellow travelers.
the guides went over and above with food prep and hiking hints. Also the entire group got along splendidly. Loved having my own room.
This was an amazing introduction for AGC for me. The guides were so knowledgable and super accommodating, the hikes were beautiful and the meals were delicious!
Thorough and timely pre-trip emails followed by outreach from our guides. Guides were friendly, knowledgeable, welcoming, and inclusive - everyone's needs were attended to from lodging to meals to adaptable hiking experiences based on individual needs. The group was diverse in personality but very cohesive during the trip. This was my first trip traveling on my own and the experience was fantastic. Thank you AGC
I think the overall group dynamic was fantastic. All of the participants were engaged in the activities and had a genuine desire to get to know each other.
The guides were amazing, supportive women and the lodging was great.
The guides were amazing. Not only were they great guides but also wonderful cooks. I was so appreciative of their cooking and providing us with delicious meals. The accommodations were exceptional. The hikes were nice and leisurely. Saw many waterfalls and wildflowers; however, we seemed to be a little early for some of the wildflowers. I would have liked a little more discussion on trees and shrubs. All the women on the trip were great - everyone was positive and easy to be with. The one downside was the afternoon shopping at the so-called craft stores. Most were not open on the day we were there, and even if they had been open they did not look very interesting.
The wildflowers were spectacular.
The wildflowers and the Great Smoky National Park were beautiful. The guides provided amazing meals, expert driving, and great guiding on the trails. They were flexible and changed our itinerary slightly to accomodate the group's wishes for less traveled trails. The accomadations were wondereful and I really appreciated everyone having their own room and bathroom. It was a great week.
Hiking in the Smokey Mountains.
The trip leaders were personable, knowledgeable, flexible (in terms of the trip schedule) and well organized.
The different trails, awesome guides and for the most part, wonderful and interesting women.
Seeing the marvelous wildflowers in bloom.
The venue and vistas were spectacular - beautiful hikes along carpets of wildflowers and flowing waterfalls in the Smokies and a spacious, comfortable lodge with a gorgeous setting. In addition, the amazing yummy home-cooked meals, comraderie and conversations with other participants, and our amazing guides who did everything and did it so very well - kudos to you!
The guides were very knowledgeable. The accommodations were impressive and the food was excellent.
The guides were not only knowledgeable but they were fun and cooked great meals. My fellow hikers were the best. So much fun. And beautiful views.
This trip exceeded my expectations.
So many things: Having my own room and bathroom, the food, the guides, the weather, and the other adventurers.
The wildflowers and waterfalls in the Great Smoky Mtns were just gorgeous. The guides were knowledgeable, caring, patient, and flexible and intuitive enough to work around bad weather and delays. They were also great cooks and treated us all like queens. I learned so much history of the area and names of wildflowers from them. And to top it all off, I got to share this experience with an awesome group of ladies!
Beautiful environment, lodge was wonderful. Carrie and Chloe were fantastic. The knowledge that Carrie had about the plants and the area was unbelievable. The group melded together and was a lot of fun.
A great introduction to the Smokies! Lovely hikes, lots of flowers, nice accommodations, delicious food, and two professional guides that kept everything running smoothly.. I particularly liked the unrushed feeling of our days.
Great guides, the friendly and inclusive group of participants, beautiful scenery, the variety of hikes during the week, and the excellent lodge.
As described, we saw multiple wildflowers and waterfalls.
Trip ran smoothly due to the excellent guides. The other participants were welcoming: some returning and a couple of women , like me, were on our first organized group trip. The hiking was varied and let everyone go at their own speed, with time to take photos.
I always enjoy meeting women from around the country and hearing their travel stories. I get ideas for future trips from them. This trip was a nice get away from northern winter months and an opportunity to see spring flowers and the leafs greening on the trees.
It went beyond my expectations with the natural beauty of the waterfalls and wildflowers in bloom to my first rafting rip in forty years. The people on the trip were terrific and the lodging and food were fantastic. Your company did well!!!
I loved the trip. The only suggestion that I would make is to increase the hiking time.
Really enjoyed the hikes and seeing/identifying the wildflowers. Excellent meals! Love Jan and nice meeting Alicia. Nice group of women.
Jan's knowledge of not only wildflowers, but the history of the area. The wildflowers weren't as plentiful as I expected, but that is due to a chillier then typical Spring which isn't something you can control. The waterfalls were beyond my expectations and that probably was because of the weather. :) It was an empowering week of getting to know such a variety of women.
Seeing all the wildflowers, White Oak Sink, meeting the other hikers, the history of the area and park...
The mountains were beautiful. It was fun learning about the wildflowers and some of the history of the area. Lodge was comfortable
I greatly enjoyed learning about the history of the area as well as the various wildflowers. I also needed a week to escape from "real life" and spend quality time with my Mom. This trip met and exceeded those needs.
Loved the history of the land and its families, and the wildflowers were beyond expectations
Being outdoors. regardless of the weather. I really enjoy being supportive to new travelers or those who need encouragement. I want everyone to know they can do it. doesn't matter the order you finish. it never does.
Hiking, experiencing nature, sharing the experience with new friends
Hiking, experiencing nature, sharing the experience with new friends
Highlights: the pace of the hikes, the gentleness of the long ones the daily hikes the interaction with the hikers
The beautiful scenery and the wonderful women.
It was a well-planned, well thought-out trip. I enjoyed the interaction with the guides and other women. I like active vacations, and enjoyed the hiking. The area is just beautiful!
Jan and Carrie were without a doubt the highlight of my trip. They were knowledgable about the area, had great hiking skill tips, kind, cool under pressure, and last but not least, amazing cooks! I thoroughly enjoyed every meal. I appreciated the healthy and great taste of every single meal. outstanding!
Each hike was special. Not just for the flowers and scenery but also for the history lessons that went along with the place we hiked.. I was so glad I did the artist circle because I got to talk to some of the real locals and appreciate the area even more
Hilights were all of the wildflowers that we saw and identified. Eating lunch by a waterfall or creek was lovely!
I loved the park and the wildflowers.
Grotto falls ogle farms nature walk the sinks
All expectations were beyond met. I have a whole new appreciation for the Smokey Mountains and their beauty.
Loved being challenged daily and was inspired by all the women
The highlight of the trip was meeting all the adventurous women. They were fantastic and inspirational because they had traveled all over the world.
Hiking in the Smokies and meeting new women.
Great scenery, wildflowers, waterfalls and weather.
I loved the smoky mountains and getting to know other women and having some relaxation and I tried some new things!
Impressive guides- knowledge, organization, patience, accommodating to my needs (Diet Dr Peppers) Beauty of the plants, rocks, and waterfalls on the hikes We saw bears Food was great I learned so much about hiking and about this part of the country
Staying at one place, private room, spacious lodge was great. Super excellent guides, beautiful place, just-right variety of daily activities. Liked the activity level--challenging enough to be doing something out of the ordinary, but no anxious anticipation. Lovely group of women. Lots of outdoor time, in a place warmer than home.
Certainly the Smokey Mts. were spectacular providing us with gorgeous wildflowers and waterfalls and wonderful weather. Along with this, the knowledge, warmth, and passion of our guides enhanced the experience by educating us about the wildflowers. the history of the Smokies, and backpacking. So fu!
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