Thundering Streams and Falls of the Smokies Guided Hiking Tour
Recommended by 97% of travelers
Gatlinburg, USA
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
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Overview
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.
- Learn about the local ecosystem while you hike
- Enjoy a hike on a less-traveled section of the park
- Stop along the way to take in the scenic views
- A small group means more attention from your guide
What's Included
- All Fees and Taxes
- Snacks
- Professional Guide
- Gratuity for your guide is not included in the cost. Industry standard recommends 15-20%.
- Bottled waterDrinks are not provided. Bring plenty of water.
- Rain Gear - we do have extra emergency ponchos on hand if needed.
- Transportation
- Parking Tag not included.
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Sugarlands Visitor Center1420 Fighting Creek Gap Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USA
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park will require parking passes for any vehicle stopping longer than 15 minutes. **NOTE: You will follow the guide in your own vehicle to the trailhead.**
End point
- Chimney Tops Trail TrailheadGatlinburg, TN 37738, USA
You will end your tour here. Since you will have followed the guide to the trailhead in your own vehicle, you are free to explore the area further if you'd like or head out.
Itinerary
1
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Newfound Gap Road (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Must be in good physical condition, able to climb over downed trees, walk on uneven surfaces and climb in elevation
- Please note that, while we do our best to follow the itinerary listed, we may need to pivot due to road closures or events outside of our control. We require a minimum of 2 people to operate this tour. We operate rain or shine.
- We do not provide transportation. You will follow the guide to the trailhead in your own vehicle.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 11 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Gina_W
Great experience and learned so much! Our guide was fantastic!! As a former park ranger she was so full of knowledge, experience, had great stories! The hike was absolutely beautiful!! We had nice learning breaks to catch our breath, dipped our feet in the streams, I would 100% recommend this hike to anyone visiting the Great Smoky Mountains!
Reviews
4.9
based on 155 reviews
Sindy_B, Mar 2026
Luci was a wonderful tour guide! She is very knowledgeable and was on our level of hiking experience. We hike here often and she gave new insights.
Cathy_D, Mar 2026
Michael our guide very knowledgeable of the area.
Engaging conversations, answered all our questions
Safety was never a concern, he explained the best ways to maneuver around the obstacles nature had on our path.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for the wonderful review Cathy. We appreciate it!
Sharon_C, Nov 2025
We had an amazing time exploring the beautiful trails and sampling the delicious flavors of nature's candy! Our tour guide, Chini, was absolutely wonderful - her knowledge and enthusiasm were contagious! If you're planning a trip and looking for a great guide, I highly recommend Chini! Just a heads up, the terrain can be a bit challenging, so make sure you're prepared for some steps and hills. We loved every moment.
Enjoy it’s very worth it.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you for the great review! We appreciate it and hope to see you again in the future!
Yolanda_M, Nov 2025
We did a great hike and our tour person China was awesome! The scenery and the education behind each thing shown was definitely an experience
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you so much for the great review! We hope to see you again in the future!
Shannon_L, Oct 2025
Ken was great and we thoroughly enjoyed this tour. Beautiful landscape to experience and were told so many interesting things by Ken!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you so much for the great review! We are so glad you enjoyed your time with Ken!
Kelle_D, Oct 2025
We had a great hike with Andy! He was so knowledgeable about the park, including the history, the plants, the wildlife , and the hiking trails. So glad we did this at the beginning of our visit to the Smoky Mountains.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you so much for the 5 star review! We hope you'll come visit us again!
Rebecca_J, Oct 2025
We had such a a good time on our hike. China is a fantastic guide! She is such an enjoyable person and shared a ton of interesting info. We saw several gorgeous waterfalls and fall colors. Even on a day when the weather was "moody," we couldn't have spent our time better.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
So glad you had a great time with China!! Honestly, moody Smokies weather is maybe my favorite! We hope to see you again in the future.
Frank_B, Oct 2025
The nice things about having a guide is the sharing on knowledge. Our guide did just that. It's nice to just hike, but learning things on the way make it better. The hike was mostly gentle. The rough trail, a dried stream, was tricky. But he stopped many times allowing all to catch up.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for the great review! We really appreciate it.
Cynthia_B, Oct 2025
It was a scenic walk on easily navigated ground with minimal physical demands. The guide was knowledgeable and had interesting information to share.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you so much! We appreciate the great review and hope to see you again in the future!
diwanji, Sep 2025
Nice hike with informative guide, left 914am ,a bit late, waiting in the parking lot, and then drove ourselves instead of the expected guide operator vehicle to one hiking spot 15 17 minutes away, thus missing the opportunity to enjoy the scenic ride and perhaps further interaction and information from the guide.
It may well be better to meet at the hiking trail point, that information could be given the night before the trip, after the cancelation window, and waiting time for the late shows be also restricted.
The hike itself was great!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hello! Yes, this tour does not include transportation and that is noted in the description. Our Best of the Smokies tours or our Driving Tours offer transportation if you would like to be with the guide the whole time. We meet at the Sugarlands Visitors Center at a place where we still have cell reception. Meeting at the trailhead causes chaos, unfortunately, with no reception to get ahold of each other. We've tried! Unfortunately everyone gets lost. We're so glad you enjoyed the hike and we hope to see you again next time! Thanks!
Carrie_F, Sep 2025
Definitely recommend the earlier the better, you will love it. Not as many people on trail then. Nice
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for the great review Carrie!
Jeffrey_S, Aug 2025
Our guide Mike was very knowledgeable and friendly and customized the tour for us. We would highly recommend this tour. It was excellent.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you so much for the great review! We look forward to seeing you again in the future.
Gina_W, Jul 2025
Great experience and learned so much! Our guide was fantastic!! As a former park ranger she was so full of knowledge, experience, had great stories! The hike was absolutely beautiful!! We had nice learning breaks to catch our breath, dipped our feet in the streams, I would 100% recommend this hike to anyone visiting the Great Smoky Mountains!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much! We appreciate the great review and we are so glad you had fun with Deb in the Smokies!
Kimberly_P, Jul 2025
Kells was a terrific guide. She was very enthusiastic and informative! She went the extra mile to answer questions and point things out on our hike.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for the great review. We are so glad you enjoyed your time in the Smokies with Kels!
Micah_A, May 2025
It was very enjoyable, lots to see and the guide Luci was super knowledgeable about the area and we even got to eat some of the plants on the trail !
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you so much for the great review!
Jennifer_A, Apr 2025
I can’t recommend the Thundering Cascades and Falls tour with Walk in the Woods highly enough—and having China as our guide made it absolutely unforgettable. From the start at Sugarlands Visitor Center to the quieter, less-traveled trails, this hike was a perfect mix of scenic beauty and discovery.
China was incredible. Her knowledge of the Smokies was deep, but it was her curiosity and enthusiasm that made the day truly special. We were hoping to spot salamanders, and she was all in—carefully lifting rocks, gently searching along stream edges, and pointing out snails, millipedes, and anything else she could find. Every small discovery was met with such joy, it was impossible not to feel that same wonder.
As a photographer, I tend to stop often, and China was incredibly patient, always making sure I had time to get the shot without ever feeling rushed. Her energy, care, and genuine love for the natural world made this tour stand out. If you have the chance to hike with her—take it!
Response from Host, Apr 2025
You are going to make China's day! She had so much fun with your group. Thank you for the great review!
Bonnie_S, Mar 2025
China was they're accommodating in very knowledgeable. A great experience and beautiful waterfalls. She involved people in our group of different ages.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you so much for the great review! We really appreciate it. Glad you had a great time with us!
Annette_P, Oct 2024
Ken was such a great guide. He showed us beautiful streams & waterfalls. The hike was also very educational as he told us about different trees & history of the area. This was my husband & I’s first hike but it definitely won’t be our last.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
We are so glad you've been bitten by the hiking bug! Ken is a great guide. We're glad you all had a great time!
Jeanne_T, Oct 2024
Could not find the meeting place and no reception in the park. We went on our own up to Laurel Falls. There should be a marker to indicate where 1420 Fighting Creek Gap is located to assist the hiker who is new to the park.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Hello,
We are so sorry you had trouble finding the meeting location. We meet here almost daily and rarely have an issue.
In addition to the address, the building name is also stated in the confirmation as the Sugarlands Visitors Center. In the future, if you have trouble with reception, the park staff in the visitors center will also let you call us if needed.
Hope you enjoyed your hike to Laurel Falls.
Thanks,
Patricia
Amy_L, Oct 2024
We ended up having a private guided hike after another couple cancelled. It was great! Sam was incredibly knowledgeable about the park. We really enjoyed it and would definitely book another experience with A Walk in the Woods.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Sam is lovely. Glad you all had a great time!
Jeff_J, Oct 2024
Learned a lot about the forest. Excellent guide, Deb. Very knowledgeable and personable. Beautiful tour.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Thank you so much! We hope to have you again in the future!
Lev_R, Sep 2024
Excellent group and tour guidance from group lead. I was enjoying to be in the woods. Group Lead share a lot of information about trail, nature and her personal experience.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Thank you so much!
GarrettR, Sep 2024
China was a great guide! We had a fun Labor Day experience and learned a lot about the park, including plant and animal life.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thanks! So glad we could help make your experience enjoyable.
Jennifer_M, Aug 2024
My adult daughter and I had so much fun on this hike. Luci was a great guide and was very knowledgeable. We definitely recommend!
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Luci had a great time as well. Thanks for walking with us. We hope to see you on a future trip!
Kerigan_R, Aug 2024
China did an amazing job giving us this hike. The scenery is beautiful, and the view at the top is worth the steps!
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Thank you so much!
Diana_B, Jul 2024
Was the perfect hike for me and my family! About 2 miles round trip with beautiful landscapes, waterfalls and bridges! Our tour guide Luci gave us some history of the mountains, lessons on the plant and animal species and even folklore! Was a wonderful experience!
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Thank you so much for this great review!
Mickey_P, Jun 2024
Ken was a fantastic guide. Hike was beautiful. The river, stream, and cascade views were very amazing 🤩
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you! Glad you had a great time with Ken!
Laura_J, May 2024
Really enjoyed the pace and learning about the plants, animals, etc. our guide, Lucy was very knowledgeable and accommodating.
Response from Host, May 2024
Thank you so much for the review! Lucy had a great time!
jeff_h, Dec 2023
Sam our guide was excellent. Money well spent. Guide was knowledgeable about the area and provided lots of information that we wouldn’t have known otherwise. We wouldn’t have been able to find the trail on our own.
Response from Host, Jan 2024
Thank you so much for this great review!
Stephanie_K, Nov 2023
Luci was the absolute best!!!! The flowers and certain plants were already gone for the winter but that did not take away from our experience at all. She shared many interesting details and historical facts with us throughout the hike and we truly admire her passion for wildlife and nature. We look forward to coming back and embarking on another great adventure with her again!
Response from Host, Jan 2024
We are so glad you enjoyed your time with Luci!
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