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Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Our most recommended tours and activities

Pigeon Forge: Whitewater Rafting Tour in the Smokies

1. Pigeon Forge: Whitewater Rafting Tour in the Smokies

Cruise through the Smoky Mountains on this Pigeon River whitewater rafting adventure. Get up close to nature as you splash your way through exciting rapids that require no previous experience. Get access to a 10-acre island with a nature trail, beanbag toss games, and a playground. Meet your guide at the tour supplier's outpost and get fitted with your helmet and life jacket. Listen as your guide provides you with a safety briefing to ensure you are confident. Head out to the Pigeon River and embark on your whitewater trip. Follow your guide through lively rapids with equally engaging nicknames such as Too Late, Vegamatic, Razor Blade, After Shave, and Lost Guide. After your ride, enjoy the amenities at the rafting outpost which has a nature trail, beanbag toss games, and a playground at the water’s edge.

Pigeon Forge: French Broad River Helicopter Tour

2. Pigeon Forge: French Broad River Helicopter Tour

Two options allow you to choose the perfect flight: The Lake View flight extends past the French Broad River and takes you out to Douglas Lake. Douglas Lake is a 33,000 acre man-made lake with over 450 miles of shoreline. This flight will get you up to 1,500 feet in altitude, allowing you a superb view of the Great Smoky Mountains towards the south. Along the route, you will see areas of farmland and quilt-like patterns of pastures. As you get closer to Douglas Lake you will fly next to Douglas Dam. Lake view is a 6-minute flight covering 12 miles. The most popular option, Extended Lake flight, takes you even further. You will fly directly over Douglas Dam, and then proceed over the lake. In the summer take in astonishing sun-glistening views of the water and the people enjoying their time on the lake. In the winter the water level is lowered, so expect majestic views of exposed islands and coves. As well as the beautiful lake, you will see the Great Smoky Mountains towards the southwest. On this option, you climb to a slightly higher altitude than on the Lake View flight, allowing for better visibility of the National Park. Extended Lake is an 8-minute flight over 16 miles.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Self Driving Tour

3. Great Smoky Mountains National Park Self Driving Tour

Explore the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and discover why it’s the most visited National Park in the country. Buckle up and prepare for a deep dive into the most famous stretch of the Appalachians. Enjoy a flexible route that allows you to take all the time you need to admire the timeless wonders of the mountains. Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app that will function as your personal guide, audio tour, and map all in one. Drive through the scenic mountains and hear all about parts of Cherokee history, like the ancient Cherokee monarchy and the revolutionaries who fought against it. Get detailed accounts of Cherokee ancestral legends, from the great buzzard who shaped the Smoky Mountains from clay to the witch whose droplets of blood bloom into stalks of corn. Experience animated videos allowing you to visualize what you cannot see, such as snapshots from different centuries or interior rooms. Be pointed towards some of the most awe-inspiring sights in the park. Gaze at the majestic Rainbow Falls, the breath-taking 360-degree views atop Clingmans Dome, and hear about the deep-rooted history of the Elys Mill. Learn about the complex flora and fauna which call the mountains home. Get to know the creatures of Cades Cove and learn how wildfires form an integral part of the vast and interconnected ecosystem. As you drive, audio stories will automatically pop up and start playing, allowing you to keep your attention on the natural beauty of the Smoky Mountains.

Great Smoky Mountains NP & Cades Cove Self-Guided Tour

4. Great Smoky Mountains NP & Cades Cove Self-Guided Tour

Explore the Great Smoky Mountains at your own pace with a self-guided and self-driving tour. Hike to Alum Cave, enjoy a panoramic view from Charles Overlook, and discover Cades Coves from the comfort of your own car. Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app that will function as your personal guide, audio tour, and map all in one. Drive to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center to start your journey. After exploring the Visitor Center, head past the Mingus Mill, a remnant of a once-thriving town. As you drive to Beech Flats Quiet Walkway, hear accounts of the Cherokee people who once lived here. Learn about their legends and their struggle to hold onto their land. Once you arrive, enjoy a meditative stroll through nature. Hop back into your car and head to Charles Webb Overlook, which offers a panoramic view of the park. Once you’ve snapped some stunning photos, continue toward Clingman’s Dome, the highest peak in the Smokies, for more unparalleled views of the mountains. Continue to the trail for Alum Cave, one of the most popular hikes in the park. If you wish, take the moderate 4.4-mile roundtrip trail for beautiful panoramas and fascinating rock formations. After your hike, drive to Chimney Tops Overlook, offering more stunning mountain views. Next, enjoy an easy wilderness walk at Balsam Point. As you continue past yet another incredible vista and another secluded walkway, hear little-known park history. Jump back in your car and drive towards Gatlinburg, stopping on the way to check out the pristine Cataract Falls. In Gatlinburg, pass the famous Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Drive past Ogle Place, an old-timey homestead dating back to the 1800s, before arriving at Rainbow Falls. Continue your drive past several more waterfalls and the historic cabins of Ephraim Bales and Reagan Tub, offering a fascinating glimpse into the past. Finally, finish your Great Smoky National Park tour with a visit to the old Ely’s Mill, which is still in operation today. Start the second part of your combination tour, discovering Cades Coves, just west of Gatlinburg. From there, continue west toward the scenic loop. The first landmark on your route is John Oliver Place, once home to some of the first homesteaders to make a living here. After that, pass 3 churches dating back to the 1800s and uncover the devastating impact of the Civil War on this community. Drive to Elijah Oliver Place, a beautifully-preserved homestead offering an authentic look at early pioneer life. If you wish to stretch your legs, hike to Abrams Falls, a secluded, powerful waterfall. Next, drive to Tipton Place. Finally, reach the Carter Shields Cabin, another idyllic homestead from a bygone era. Finish your tour at the start of the loop as you hear about the last family to call the cove home.

Pigeon Forge: Smoky Mountains Rope Obstacle Course Adventure

5. Pigeon Forge: Smoky Mountains Rope Obstacle Course Adventure

Embark on an adventurous high ropes course in the treetops surrounded by the Great Smoky Mountains near Hartford. Each course has a series of fun and challenging activities that wind their way through the treetops — it all gets wobblier, longer, and more challenging as you progress. Don your full-body harness, attach yourself to an overhead belay cable with ropes and carabiners, and work through each of the obstacle courses at your own pace. Leap, grab, and pull through the first levels to build confidence, working your way up to the more difficult courses. Challenge your personal boundaries in the breathtaking scenery at the Outpost’s Family Adventure Island, with a view of the Pigeon River and the Great Smoky Mountains as your backdrop. There’s something here for everyone, from first-timers who enjoy a more laid-back adventure to experienced enthusiasts.

Pigeon Forge: Wears Valley Helicopter Tour

6. Pigeon Forge: Wears Valley Helicopter Tour

Get an amazing overview of Sevier County’s most beautiful areas on this helicopter tour. Upon departure, you will travel over historic downtown Sevierville with the Smoky Mountains National Park in the distance. Continue over the rolling foothills of the Smoky Mountains and the Pigeon Forge Parkway before getting away from civilization over Pine Mountain. As you climb in altitude, you’ll follow the terrain up to the crest of Cove Mountain at the National Park boundary line where you’ll be met with spectacular views of the Wears Valley area. Cruising along Wears Valley, travel north over the east end of Waldens Creek and the foothills of Bluff Mountain before returning over the Tennessee Valley.

16+ National Parks Self-Guided Driving Tours Bundle

7. 16+ National Parks Self-Guided Driving Tours Bundle

Start any of these tours by downloading the app that will function as your personal guide, audio tour, and map all in one. This bundle includes: • Grand Canyon • Yellowstone • Grand Teton • Rocky Mountains • Great Smokies & Blue Ridge Parkway • Shenandoah • Acadia • Sequoia & Kings Canyon • Joshua Tree • Arches • Bryce • Canyonlands • Capitol Reef • Zion • Grand Staircase • Monument Valley • Death Valley • Olympic National Park • Yosemite National Park Read more about 16+ National Parks Self-Guided Driving Tours Bundle - https://www.viator.com/tours/Moab/National-Parks-Self-Guided-Driving-Tours-Bundle/d5600-259428P10?mcid=56757 Marvel at a mile-deep crack in the earth at the Grand Canyon. Tour the rim, hike eye-popping trails, and learn how this awe-inspiring landscape formed. Watch Old Faithful erupt in Yellowstone, but don’t stop there! See Grand Prismatic, observe the nation’s largest bison herd, get the truth about the Yellowstone supervolcano, and more! Travel to new heights in the Grand Teton mountain range, offering unbelievable vistas, dramatic mountain passes, and tons of history. Explore Colorado’s dramatic Rockies, from gorgeous vistas to the enormous Bear Lake. Plus, learn how this park exists thanks to some very capable women. Discover why Great Smoky is the most-visited national park. Find sparkling waterfalls, verdant hiking trails, and a rich Cherokee heritage. Plus, explore little-known Civil War history at Cades Cove. Cruise through tree-filled mountains on the Blue Ridge Parkway and Shenandoah’s Skyline Drive, both of which offer perfect wilderness sights as well as plentiful wildlife and legends. Get in touch with nature at Acadia, one of the greenest places in the country. Or visit in the fall for a truly unforgettable display of autumn foliage! Visit living giants in Sequoia, home to the largest trees on Earth. Then go beyond those groves to Kings Canyon, boasting dramatic vistas for those seeking the perfect photo op. Cruise through Joshua Tree, where two deserts meet. See great desert hikes, wacky Dr. Seuss-like trees, and some of the best sunsets you’ll ever see. Discover the gravity-defying wonder of Arches, named for impossible rock formations millions of years in the making. Hear how they formed and what they meant to the tribes who lived here. Marvel at the towering hoodoos which dot Bryce Canyon. Dive into the legends behind them, including the harrowing tale of giants who were turned to stone. Visit the staggering beauty of Canyonlands, home to the stunning red desert and more canyons than you can shake a stick at. Stand atop breathtaking vistas, find a piece of history at Aztec Butte, and much more. Tour remnants of a pioneer town in Capitol Reef. Explore striking contrasts as you move from harsh desert to verdant orchards! See why Mormon pioneers thought Zion was heaven on earth! Visit natural wonders from towering rock temples to emerald pools and a hiking trail like no other. Unearth hidden secrets at the Grand Staircase. Visit a petrified forest, sparkling waterfalls, and sweeping vistas. Plus, learn about dino fossils found here! Visit the spot where Forrest Gump ended his famous run at Monument Valley! Explore this valley’s jaw-dropping mesas and spires which made it Hollywood famous.

Other Sightseeing Options in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Want to discover all there is to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 90 reviews

give your self time to set it up and allow it to synch. i put it on apple play and the entire vehicle enjoyed the history and guidance. excellent. program. It triggers when you reach a key point and is very informative.

They experience was so great, im scared of heights but the staff made me feel very comfortable. The ride was smooth and very peaceful. Definitely something worth trying

It was amazing we did it twice the view was beautiful don’t leave too late you will miss out a lot. It’s most definitely a two hour ride

We loved this way of seeing the BRP. We will use this way on future trips to other parks.

Loved hearing the history of the Smokey Mountains.