All Trips > Tennessee > Great Smoky Mountains Hiking & Rafting Weekend Great Smoky Mountains Hiking & Rafting Weekend View Dates & Book Your Spot AT A GLANCE Tennessee 12 Explorer Chicks Locally Unique Hiking, National Park, Smoky Mountains, Weekend, White Water Rafting 4 Days 3 - Active Physical demand level for this trip Mountains and Rivers Photos Itinerary Logistics Activity Level What's Included View Dates & Book Your Spot Download Packing List Book a Call Share Mountains and Rivers Hike the best trails by day and rest in cozy cabins with your gal pals by night on this long-weekend women’s hiking trip through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Enjoy four days of sweeping mountain vistas, forest hikes, whitewater rafting, and glamping near Gatlinburg, TN. Your hiking adventure has been carefully (okay, obsessively) curated by the Explorer Chick team after countless in-field tests. Only the top treks made the cut. Expect a challenge and serious OMFG-level payoffs. Trip Highlights Climb to one of only three remaining fire towers in the park on the strenuous Mt. Cammerer hike Stand on a bald rock outcropping at Charlie’s Bunion for panoramic views Hike to a beautiful waterfall inside the National Park Trek sections of the legendary Appalachian Trail Raft Class 3–4 rapids on the Pigeon River with your estrogen-powered crew The Vibe Stride through sweet-smelling pine forests with a girl gang you trust more than Paul Bunyan. Laugh yourself silly as you crash through whitewater waves. Collapse into Pinterest-worthy mountain cabins with private bathrooms, Wi-Fi, AC, and a heated saltwater pool. This is real life with WILD women—no filters needed. Photos Itinerary Expand All Days Day 1 - Welcome to the Smokies Welcome to the Beautiful Great Smoky Mountains National Park! Plan on arriving today to our cozy cabins at 5pm to settle in before our 7pm Official Kick-off and Welcome Dinner! Tonight, we take it easy as we have a big hike up a mountain in the morning. Meals: D Day 2 - Hiking Mt. Cammerer Today is our biggest and most challenging hike! After a hearty breakfast, we’ll load up our private passenger van driving east towards the border of North Carolina. Today’s goal is the historic Mt. Cammerer Fire Tower. Not only is this tower one of only three remaining in the park, it offers stunning panoramic views of Mt. Sterling, the Pigeon River Gorge, Snowbird Mountain, and the Smokies. It was fully functional until the 1960’s and fully restored in 1995. Now it’s a great spot to chow down on a sammie and take in the views! Those views will be earned! The hike up is long and steep. You’ll gain 2,000 feet just in the first three miles. You gain some reprieve once on the Appalachian Trail where it traces a ridgeline. The final push is a rugged and rocky scramble to the tower. After our hike, we’ll return to our cabins to shower and enjoy a meal freshly prepared by your Explorer Chick guides. Elevation Gain: 3,045’ Distance: 11.1 miles Time: 7 hours hiking Elevation: 4,928’ Meals: B-L-D Day 3 - White Water Rafting and Hiking Get that home cooked brekkie in your belly and don’t be afraid of scarfing seconds. We’ll take it easy this morning, stretching our gams on a gentle hike before the feisty main event. CLASS 3 AND 4 RAPIDS! The words “Pigeon River” don’t exactly inspire an adrenaline rush but have you SEEN a pigeon throw down over a slice of pizza? This rafting adventure is fiercely frothy and full of crashing waves that we’ll work together to conquer. Once that river knows who’s boss, we’ll slip into something a little more fabulous (aka dry) and belly up for some hard-earned BBQ. Stop offering to tidy up, woman. As the sun sets, we’ll hit the town in Gatlinburg for an evening of SHE-nanigans. Hiking: 3-6 miles. Rafting: 6.5 miles. Class 3-4 rapids. Approximately 2 hours river time. Meals: B-L-D Day 4 - Charlies Bunion Hike It’s our saddest day as we pack up our belongings and leave our cabin basecamp. Of course, we’ll squeeze in one more hike together. Everyone will take their own mode of transportation to the Newfound Gap trailhead ready to hike the Appalachian Trail to Charlies Bunion. On our way up, we’ll be sure to pause to take in the outstanding views of Mount LeConte and Myrtle Point. Yet, the real show is from the outcropping at the summit. Stepping out onto the rocks, you’ll feel like the Queen of the Smokies with mountains in every direction! Afterwards, we’ll say our teary goodbyes, and head our separate ways. Plan to depart no earlier than 4pm EST. Elevation Gain: 1,640’ Distance: 8.1 miles Time: 5 hours hiking Elevation: 6,122’ Meals: B-L Explorer Chick reserves the option to modify trip itineraries at the discretion of your tour director as necessary due to weather, conditions, illness, injury, group dynamics, availability, or other unforeseen incidents. Logistics What to Pack We’ve done ALL the thinking for you in this free packing list! You’ll also receive a complete packing list in your Travel Guide upon booking; note that trips may require additional specialized items. Arrival Airport City: Knoxville, TN (TYS). Approximately 1 hour drive to Gatlinburg. Meeting Location: Cabin Resort. Gatlinburg, TN Meeting Time: 5pm on Day 1 Departure Airport City: Knoxville, TN (TYS). Approximately 1 hour drive to Gatlinburg. Depart Location: Self drive to Newfound Gap parking lot for final hike. Return Time: Plan to depart by 4pm on Day 4. You will receive a Travel Guide with all the campground, packing, and additional information you’ll need to prepare for your epic trip. We require a minimum of 5 Explorer Chicks for this trip. Please confirm your trip is guaranteed before booking airfare. Activity Level Rated 3 – ACTIVE This trip is rated Active because of the daily hiking in particular the Day 2 hike to Mt. Cammerer is strenuous. Daily Hiking: Day 2: Mt. Cammerer. 11.1 miles. 3.045′ gain. Strenuous. Day 3: Hiking 3-5 miles. Rafting: 6.5 miles. Class 3-4 rapids. Day 4: Charlie’s Bunion. 8.1 miles. 1,640′ gain. Please consider your ability to meet the physical demands very seriously. It is for the safety of both you and our group. All Explorer Chicks will be required to sign an Acknowledgement of Physical Demands as part of their waiver upon booking. Read more about our Activity Levels. What's Included Lodging 3 Nights in a Cabin on the edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Shared 3 per cabin. Twin or queen beds, assigned randomly. Our cabins are tucked beneath the trees, the perfect blend of rustic charm and boutique comfort. Each cabin features its own private bathroom with spa-worthy toiletries, climate-controlled interiors, soft bedding, cozy seating, and a private porch overlooking a babbling stream – ideal for sipping morning coffee or unwinding under the stars. Heated saltwater pool, a covered picnic pavilion, coin-op laundry facilities, Wi-Fi, and a resort lodge with a coffee shop and bar onsite. Activities Entrance and commercial permit fees to all National Parks and public lands All activities as outlined in the itinerary Gratuities for all excursions Meals All meals as indicated in itinerary: B-3, L-3, D-3 Gratuities for included meals Practical Professional leadership team with 2 Explorer Chick Guides A detailed Travel Guide with everything you need to know for your trip The freedom to enjoy your vacation and mindlessly wander! Not Included Airfare Airport transportation Alcoholic beverages Travel insurance (Learn about our preferred insurance provider) Meals exclusive of itineraries Costs for additional activities Gratuity for your Explorer Chick Guide (read our tipping guidelines here) Explorer Chick reserves the option to modify trip itineraries at the discretion of your tour director as necessary due to weather, conditions, illness, injury, group dynamics, or other unforeseen incidents. More from the Smokies She said it best: “If you’ve been thinking about joining an Explorer Chick trip… the answer is YES.” 🤍Yes to showing up and feeling at home right away.Yes to big laughs, new friends, and zero logistics stress.Yes to finally putting yourself first for a few days.✨ Tag the friend you’re going to say “yes” to an adventure with!#solofemaletraveler #grouptravelforwomen #womenwhotravel #womenwhoexplore #hikingtrips #explorerchicksmokies #ECinherwords 62 2 Open 62 2 The Smokies gave us everything this weekend ✨🌲 Seven women started as strangers and left as a sisterhood, bonded by trail dust, spontaneous dance breaks, and late-night giggles under the stars.There were glamping site tours that felt like an HGTV dream, complete with “oohs,” “ahhs,” and a few “can I move in?” jokes. Inside jokes formed somewhere between waterfalls and the 1934 log cabins, the kind you’ll find yourself laughing at on the drive home.We found magic in unexpected places: a mama bear and her cub reminding us to play, and a scavenger hunt through Gatlinburg that ended with the biggest slice of pizza we could find (and a record-breaking finish we’ll brag about forever).And somewhere between the morning coffees, shared trail snacks, and heartfelt talks around the fire, we remembered why we do this: for the connection, the courage, and the pure joy of saying YES, to adventure, and to each other.Until next time, Smokies. We’re leaving with full hearts, tired legs, and a few extra inside jokes that’ll keep us laughing for months💚Comment “BEAR” below, and I’ll send you over the dates for our next Smokies trip! #explorerchicksmokies #greatsmokymountains #greatsmokymountainsnationalpark #grouphiking #hikingtrips #womensgrouptravel #womenwhotravelsolo #womenwhotravel 118 7 Open 118 7 No view hit better than that last one 🙌🏽Seven Explorer Chicks just spent four days wandering the Great Smoky Mountains, and wow, these views were on another level. Lush green valleys, dreamy blue ridgelines, hidden waterfalls… it felt like stepping straight into an enchanted forest.And a HUGE shout to my ECs for playing along with my social media shenanigans! 😉Have you ever experienced the magic of the Smokies? Tell us your favorite trail or memory below! 🌿✨ #explorerchicksmokies #explorerchick #greatsmokymountains #greatsmokymountainsnationalpark #grouptravel #grouptravelforwomen #womenstravel #girlstrip #hikingtrip 57 1 Open 57 1 Packing for the Smokies? Let’s make it effortless, because you’ve got better things to do than overthink your socks 😉Here are two bonus packing tips straight from your Explorer Chick guide:✔️ Packing cubes—because digging through your bag like it’s a yard sale? No thanks.✔️ Wear your hiking shoes on the plane. They’re bulky, and trust us—you’ll want them broken in before day one.We’ve done this a time or two, so we know what makes the difference between “good trip” and “why didn’t I do this sooner?”✨ Want the full Smokies Packing Guide, with all the essentials, smart extras, and the one thing most women forget?👇 Comment SMOKIES and we’ll send it your way.#ExplorerChickSmokies #SmokyMountains #packingtips #hikinggearrecs #PackingList 23 12 Open 23 12 Headed to the Smokies? Don’t pack a thing until you hear Emily’s top 3 must-haves. 🎒She’s spilling the gear she never hikes without, because nothing ruins a trail day faster than soggy socks or sore knees.Want her full Ultimate Smokies Packing Guide, the one she still uses for every hiking trip?Comment SMOKIES and we’ll send it your way. Smart packing = happier hiking. 😉#ExplorerChickSmokies #SmokyMountains #packingtips #hikinggearrecs #packinglist 52 16 Open 52 16 You, me, and champagne in the Smokies? Don’t threaten us with a good time. 🥂⛰️This is why hiking with Explorer Chick hits different, we don’t just serve up epic views, we add a little ✨magic✨ along the way. Because why just hike when you can sip, toast, and celebrate at the top?Happy Friday! Tag your adventure bestie who owes you a cheers this weekend🍾#travelmemories #explorerchicksmokies #womenwhohike #uniquetravelexperiences #uniquetravel #solofemaletravel #traveltheworld #womenover40 101 4 Open 101 4 Bears, Boats, & Bold Women! 🏔️Last week in the Smokies, 10 Explorer Chicks went all in on an Appalachian adventure.🌊From sunset views of baby bears, bluebird skies over the famous Charlies Bunion, to class three rapids and waterfall lunch views, these women soaked in all everything the Smokies had to offer. 🥾We hiked 20+ miles on beautiful spring trails past fawns, wildflowers, turkeys, and laughed the entire way.🛶Paddled miles of the wild Pigeon River on our SHEnanigan powered boats, pointing out softshell turtles, herons, and local art.☀️Sipped local moonshine cocktails while listening to locally famous live music on a downtown porch at sunset.💗And walked away with new friendships, inside jokes, and plans for our next adventure together.🗓️2025 dates for Smoky Mountains Hiking, Rafting And Glamping Weekend drop on July 2nd!#ExplorerChickSmokies #SmokyMountains #hikingtrip #solofemaletravel 44 0 Open 44 0 Load More Follow on Instagram Get Your FREE Packing List Download your copy of The Ultimate Smokies Packing List! URLThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.Email(Required) Name First Last View Dates & Book Your Spot Let's Do This 2026 Starting from $1,999 Book Now Save $200 with our Early Bird Discounts! Just book at least 6 Months in Advance! Discount is automatically applied. Non-Refundable Deposit: $200 due at booking to secure your spot Questions About The Trip? Book a call with our Destination + Guest Experience Manager, Amy, or fill out the form below. X/TwitterThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.Name(Required) First Name Last Name Email(Required) Enter Email Confirm Email Send us your Smokies questions!(Required) In Her Words Sierra W.Explorer Chick was absolutely phenomenal! I recently completed their Yosemite National Park Half Dome Backpacking trip and had an incredible experience. My guide, Kirstie, was beyond amazing. She was incredibly knowledgeable about the park, its history, and the surrounding area. Her enthusiasm and passion for the outdoors were contagious, making the trip even more enjoyable. Kirstie was also very approachable, making it easy to ask questions and feel comfortable in the group. I was impressed by her attention to detail, ensuring that everything was well-planned and executed. If you're looking for an unforgettable adventure, I highly recommend booking a trip with Explorer Chick!6/2025 update: Did another trip, still incredible! All the guides are so kind - Lauren and Kara were wonderful on this trip to the Great Smoky Mountains!12/2025 update: This time I did the Belize trip! It was absolutely wonderful! Christina did an amazing job with the group and our local guides Wilson and Siri were so knowledgeable! Would still highly recommend Explorer Chick and would recommend the Belize trip!Response from the owner:Wow, thank you for the double dose of Explorer Chick love!! We’re so glad your Yosemite Half Dome backpacking trip delivered that unforgettable adventure (shoutout to Kirstie and her passion for the outdoors!), and that your Great Smoky Mountains experience with Lauren and Kara was just as amazing. It means so much to hear how cared for and inspired you’ve felt across multiple trips. We can’t wait to see where you explore next! 🏞️✨Bernadette J.Had a FABULOUS first trip with Explorer Chick in the Smoky Mountains in late Oct/early Nov. I'm new to hiking and was nervous about my ability to handle mountain trails and about my limited knowledge of camping/glamping. EC took care of everything, and I had an amazing experience! The pre-trip guidance was helpful because I didn't know where to start in terms of packing or preparing. Once we were on-site, our guides, Christina & Savannah, were the BEST!! Knowledgeable, supportive, energetic and great fun to be with. They handled every detail of the trip with great poise and expertise, and instilled confidence and built camaraderie in our rambunctious group of women! The hikes were spectacular (the fall foliage was a wonderful bonus), the pottery class was a blast, and learning about the history and ecology of the Smoky Mountains along the way was rewarding. Food was delicious and nourishing (TY Christina & Savannah!!) and the accommodations were clean & comfortable. Best of all, that rambunctious group of smart, funny, supportive and adventurous women are now friends. Looking forward to my next adventure with Explorer Chick!!Response from the owner:Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful review! We’re thrilled to hear that your first adventure in the Smokies was such a confidence-boosting and joy-filled experience. Christina and Savannah will be over the moon to know they made such an impact — they truly pour their hearts into every trip. We love that the pre-trip guidance helped you feel prepared, and that the hikes, pottery, history, food, and glamping all came together to create something unforgettable. And nothing makes us happier than hearing that your group became friends — that’s the Explorer Chick magic. We can’t wait to adventure with you again whenever you’re ready!Laura H.I had a great time on my first Explorer Chick trip! We went on the great Smokies boots and roots trip and had a blast. The hikes were fun (the first a satisfying challenge) and beautiful! Our guide, Kara, was awesome at providing us with delicious food, great guidance and leadership on our hikes and fun extra adventures throughout the weekend! I can’t wait to plan another trip 🙂Response from the owner:We’re so glad your first Explorer Chick adventure was a blast in the Great Smoky Mountains! Kara brings such heart to every trip, and we’re thrilled you loved the mix of fun hikes, scenic views, and those extra special touches. Here’s to more challenges, laughs, and unforgettable moments, can’t wait to see where you head next!Jen I.Anna & Kara-Great guides and hosts on my glamping trip to Smoky Mountains. Book with Confidence Your wanderlust doesn’t have to wait. Our payment plans make booking your dream trip easier than ever. The best part? Zero additional fees. Payment Plans We want nothing more than for you join us. However, we understand emergencies do occur that may cause you to cancel your reservation. Cancellation Policy To protect your travel investment and your hide, we recommend purchasing travel insurance. Receive a no-hassle, online quote with our trusted insurance partner. 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