Top Gatlinburg Culture

Discover the history and culture of Appalachia as you tour the Great Smoky Mountains from Gatlinburg. Join a small group and explore along one of the mightiest rivers while learning about the lives of loggers and pioneers. Drive along the scenic Newfound Gap Road and stop to take in views of valleys, mountains, and the Appalachian Trail.

The Great Smoky Mountains boast scenic views and this hiking tour takes you on a journey to find them. Join a small group and traverse through the lush landscapes to discover several streams, cascades, and creeks. Each season of the year puts on a different show for hikers so there's always something to enjoy. This is a moderately adventurous hike that gains elevation and climbs over downed trees.

Uncover the haunted history of Gatlinburg on this family-friendly 90-minute walking tour through one of the most storied corners of the Smoky Mountains. Perfect for all ages, the Ghosts of Gatlinburg tour weaves together spine-tingling legends, historical hauntings, and eerie encounters drawn from local lore. You’ll visit some of the city’s most iconic and mysterious locations!

Step into the shadows of the Smoky Mountains with Grave Intentions, an adults-only walking tour blending haunting true crime, Southern ghost stories, and historical legend. Designed for ages 16 and up, this 90-minute nighttime tour takes you beyond the tourist charm and deep into Gatlinburg’s darker past.

Discover a bygone era on a 3-hour tour of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Hear stories about the Cherokee people and settlers that lived and worked in the mountains, and learn how they survived off the land. See a small family cemetery, 19th-century barn and an old fashioned spring house, then get a glimpse of settlers’ daily lives in a small restored cabin. Enjoy a relaxed nature walk with a guide that brings the Smoky Mountains’ distinctive wildlife, plants and geology to life at every turn.

Discover a different side of Gatlinburg on this haunted ghost walking tour. Learn all about the spooky history of this town during this nighttime tour, during which you’ll look for supernatural spirits and possibly communicate with the local "residents" yourself using ghost hunting equipment.

This tour focuses on Cades Cove and the 11-mile loop road that circles the valley. Along the way we'll stop at several historic buildings and scenic vistas as we learn about the mountaineers and moonshiners that called this place home. Historic buildings include a cabin built in 1822, a cemetery with the graves of Revolutionary War and War of 1812 veterans, and a working grist mill. And of course we'll keep our eyes open for wildlife including deer, turkeys, bears, and coyotes. Most stops on the tour require limited or no walking, but two stops include a half mile walk on pavement. Bring lunch or buy lunches through Smoky Mountain Guides

Discover Gatlinburg distilleries and wineries on this guided moonshine and wine tasting walking tour with a small group. Enjoy VIP treatment and go behind the scenes at a working distillery to learn how moonshine is traditionally distilled. You'll try plenty of samples along the way, too, including a moonshine cocktail, and learn about the history of moonshine.

Take a hike through the Great Smoky Mountains when you book this half-day tour from Gatlinburg. Join your dedicated guide for a trek to Clingmans Dome, hiking through the highest section of the Appalachian Trail. Learn about the local fauna and flora as you walk and enjoy unparalleled views of the surrounding area from the observation tower at the top.

“The Mountaineers Way” tour is a casual stroll with a local/professional guide. Hear the stories of how the first settlers entered this area when the Native Indians were still using the land. This area was a large mountain community. We will have the opportunity to see physical structures used for farming, cemeteries, and beautiful streams along the way.

This tour travels over the crest of the Smokies from Tennessee into North Carolina. Along the way we'll experience one of the most scenic roads in the Southeast along with several panoramic mountain vistas. When we arrive in the Oconaluftee Valley we'll visit historic structures learning about the culture of the native Cherokee and European-descended mountaineers. While exploring this historic valley, we'll keep an eye out for elk. The largest animal in the Smokies, they were reintroduced by the park service in 2001.

No need to sidle up to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park visitor center at 9am to catch that ranger-led tour—with this self-paced audio guide, you have your own expert at your disposal, right on your phone. As you drive through the park, stories, tips, and more automatically play, getting you the most out of your Smoky Mountain adventure.