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Discover the Great Smoky Mountains: A Self-Guided Tour

4 Reviews 4.00 out of 5 stars Based on 4 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and TripAdvisor | Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA
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from $4.50 per person

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Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 22 (0) days in advance.
8 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Instant confirmation

Overview

Explore the Great Smoky Mountains with your self-guided tour through America’s most visited national park. Walk through the stunning Newfound Gap Road past misty peaks and ancient forests, walk behind a waterfall at Grotto Falls, and stand atop Kuwohi at 6,643 feet, the highest point in Tennessee. Discover Cades Cove’s preserved pioneer cabins, churches, and mills that tell the story of Appalachian mountain life. Watch for black bears in misty meadows and learn why these mountains are the salamander capital of the world with thirty species. Hear the powerful story of the Cherokee people who called these peaks home for thousands of years before the park was created. Beyond the park, explore Gatlinburg’s arts and crafts community, Pigeon Forge’s famous Dollywood, and Townsend’s peaceful trails. From moonshine history to mountain music, synchronous fireflies to spectacular fall foliage, the Smokies reward curious visitors with natural wonders and deep Appalachian culture at every turn.

What's Included

  • Digital Map.
  • This tour is NOT a ticket or in-person guided tour.
  • Self-guided walking tour (app)
  • Private transportation
  • Entry fees to tourist attractions, national parks or museums.
  • Headphones, transport, parking, food,Wi-Fi or cellular data, rentals.
See 2 moreSee 4 more

Meeting Location

Meeting point

1420 Fighting Creek Gap Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USA

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Book Online

Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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Safe & secure Easy breezy Hassle‑free

Sugarlands Visitors Center

Begin your Smoky Mountains experience at Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, where exhibits introduce the park’s remarkable biodiversity of over nineteen thousand documented species. The center, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, provides maps, ranger advice, and orientation for exploring America’s most visited national park. The Great Smoky Mountains are one of the few national parks with no entrance fee, though parking tags are required. From here, Newfound Gap Road stretches thirty-one miles across the spine of the mountains to Cherokee, North Carolina.
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1 hour Admission Ticket Free

Newfound Gap Road

Drive the most scenic route in the park, climbing from two thousand feet to over five thousand feet at Newfound Gap where Tennessee meets North Carolina. Continue to Kuwohi, recently restored to its Cherokee name meaning mulberry place and formerly known as Clingmans Dome, where a steep half-mile trail leads to a forty-five-foot observation tower at 6,643 feet. On clear days the views extend over a hundred miles across rolling blue ridges, though the famous smoky haze often creates an atmospheric scene. The road passes through four distinct forest ecosystems as you climb.
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1 hour Admission Ticket Free

Cades Cove

This eleven-mile loop road through a broad valley surrounded by mountains preserves one of the most complete collections of pioneer-era buildings in the Southern Appalachians. The John Oliver cabin from 1818 was the valley’s first permanent European settlement, and the preserved churches, mills, and homesteads tell the story of communities that thrived here for over a century before the park was established. Cades Cove is also one of the best places to spot wildlife, with black bears, white-tailed deer, and wild turkeys frequently visible from the road, especially at dawn and dusk.
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1 hour Admission Ticket Free

Grotto Falls Trail

The moderate 2.6-mile roundtrip trail through old-growth hemlock forest leads to the only waterfall in the park you can walk behind. The twenty-five-foot cascade pours over a rock ledge creating a natural grotto where the trail passes directly behind the curtain of water. The path follows the Trillium Gap Trail through one of the park’s most atmospheric forest sections, and lucky hikers may spot the llama train that carries supplies up to LeConte Lodge, the highest guest lodge in the eastern United States.
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1 hour Admission Ticket Free

Cataloochee Valley

The best viewing times are early morning and late evening, particularly during the September and October. Maintained historic structures including churches and homesteads dot the landscape, and the valley’s remoteness means far fewer visitors than Cades Cove, creating an intimate viewing experience.
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1 hour Admission Ticket Free

Chimney Tops Trail (pass by)

The dramatic twin bare-rock peaks of Chimney Tops rise above the forest canopy, formed from two-hundred-million-year-old rock that resisted the erosion wearing down the surrounding mountains. The challenging trail to the summit involves over 1,400 feet of elevation gain in a short distance, rewarding hikers with panoramic views across the heart of the park.
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Dollywood (pass by)

Dolly Parton’s beloved theme park in Pigeon Forge celebrates Appalachian heritage through world-class rides, award-winning entertainment, and mountain crafts demonstrations across one hundred sixty acres in the foothills of the Smokies. The park features over fifty rides including the new NightFlight Expedition hybrid coaster, traditional craftspeople demonstrating blacksmithing and glassblowing, and performances ranging from bluegrass to gospel. Dollywood consistently ranks among America’s top theme parks and serves as a cultural ambassador for the Smoky Mountain region.
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Rainbow Falls Trail

The 5.4-mile roundtrip trail leads to the highest single-drop waterfall in the Great Smoky Mountains, where LeConte Creek plunges eighty feet over a rock ledge. The trail climbs steadily through rich cove forest alongside the creek, passing old-growth trees and crossing several log footbridges. In winter, the falls can freeze into spectacular ice formations, and on sunny afternoons the mist creates the rainbows that give the falls their name. The strenuous hike rewards with one of the park’s most dramatic natural features.
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1 hour Admission Ticket Free

Show 7 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Discover the Great Smoky Mountains: A Self-Guided Tour?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EST). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

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Activity code: C-5520738P35

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.00
4 reviews

Average 4.00 out of 5 stars based on 4 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
2
4 stars
1
3 stars
0
2 stars
1
1 star
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Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 22 (0) days in advance.
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Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Activity name

The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from Cool Shore Excursions customers.

Filter by:

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Discover the Great Smoky Mountains: A Self-Guided Tour?
A:
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EST).
Apr 2025
Q: What's included in the price?
A:
The following is included:
  • Digital Map.
  • This tour is NOT a ticket or in-person guided tour.
  • Self-guided walking tour (app).
  • Access to the audio guide for 60+ Great Smoky Mountains stops, trails, and hidden spots.
The following is NOT included:
  • Private transportation.
  • Entry fees to tourist attractions, national parks or museums.
  • Headphones, transport, parking, food,Wi-Fi or cellular data, rentals.
  • Our app-based self-guided tour has no physical guide on-site.
Apr 2025
Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
A:

The minimum age to participate is 15..

Apr 2025
Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
A:

If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

Apr 2025
Q: Is this an accessible tour?
A:

Accessibility information for the Discover the Great Smoky Mountains: A Self-Guided Tour is as follows:

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Apr 2025
Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
A:

Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Discover the Great Smoky Mountains: A Self-Guided Tour will be included in your confirmation email from Cool Shore Excursions. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

 

 

Mar 2024
Q: How long does a refund take to reach my card, and can I get it faster?
A:

Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.

Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.

If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.

Oct 2026

What's Included

Activity name

  • Digital Map.
  • This tour is NOT a ticket or in-person guided tour.
  • Self-guided walking tour (app)
  • Access to the audio guide for 60+ Great Smoky Mountains stops, trails, and hidden spots.
  • Private transportation
  • Entry fees to tourist attractions, national parks or museums.
  • Headphones, transport, parking, food,Wi-Fi or cellular data, rentals.
  • Our app-based self-guided tour has no physical guide on-site.

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Report Product Issue

Activity name