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Hiking Vacations

Hiking Vacations in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina

Grab your pack and strap on your boots. Come explore one of the most amazing destinations for hiking vacations in the world. The Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina offer hundreds of blazed trails that wind through some truly awe-inspiring landscapes. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most biologically diverse place on earth, and the surrounding areas of Western North Carolina enjoy bountiful wildlife, wildflowers, waterfalls.

Hiking vacations in Western North Carolina give you a chance to explore these beautiful places by foot. Walk past rushing rivers and crystal clear streams, climb cliffs, tour lush valleys, and ascend to mountaintops with views that seem to stretch to infinity. No matter your level of experience or skill, you can have the time of your life on hiking vacations in the North Carolina Smokies.

Suggested NC Hiking Vacations for Beginners to Experts

Western North Carolina is home to the Nantahala National Forest, Pisgah National Forest, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and numerous state parks. There are so many trails in WNC, each with different features, elevation changes, and views. The Great Smokies vary in elevation from less than 900 feet all the way up to 6,634 feet at the top of Clingman’s Dome, so you can choose a trail based on your physical fitness level and interests.

A good outfitter such as the Nantahala Outdoor Center, or NOC, can help you get maps, make sure you are wearing appropriate shoes and clothes, and maybe suggest a trail off the beaten path. The Appalachian Trail goes right through the NOCs main campus! You can also plan a whitewater rafting trip on one of your hiking vacations in North Carolina. We warn you, the more you research, the more you’ll realize you will need to take multiple hiking vacations to try all the trails you’ll want to in the North Carolina Smokies.

Whether you are bringing your kids or grandkids on first hiking vacations or want to take on a challenging backpacking trek, we’ve got some suggestions for you:

  • Joyce Kilmer Memorial Trail: Easy two-mile loop trail that takes you through an incredible old growth forest. Put this trail on your “must-do” hiking vacations list.
  • Appalachian Trail to Charlie’s Bunion: Moderate four-mile trail that rewards you with awe-inspiring, panoramic views of the Smoky Mountains.
  • Mountains-to-Sea Trail: This thousand-mile trail stretches from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks. Backpack or section-hike the mountainous terrain of this great trail in Western North Carolina.

Biking, Boating, Hiking Vacations: Outdoors Adventures in WNC

In Western North Carolina, hiking vacations can easily turn into multi-sport outdoors adventure vacations. Hundreds of miles of trails wind through our five distinct forest ecosystems encompassing rivers, streams, and lakes. Our bounty of natural wonders makes the NC Smokies a haven for outdoor sports adventurers. Enjoy mountain biking, road cycling, fishing, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, tubing, zip lining, geocaching, camping, rock climbing, and hiking vacations in Western North Carolina’s Smokies.

Get Help Planning Hiking Vacations in Western North Carolina

Smoky Mountain Host of North Carolina offers a travel guide that can help you plan amazing hiking vacations in North Carolina’s Smokies. Get info on trails, outfitters, scenic byways, and many of the great mountain towns you can visit during your stay.

Safe and enjoyable hiking vacations begin with careful research. To begin planning, order our free guide online or call 1-800-432-4678 to request one.

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