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Waterfalls and Blue Ridge Parkway Hiking Tour with Expert Naturalist
Asheville, United States
Special Offer
From $79.20
$99.00 Save $19.80
Select Date and Travelers
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance.
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- 4 hours 45 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
One of the most biodiverse spots in the nation, the Blue Ridge Parkway shouldn’t just be driven—it deserves to be seen on foot, with a naturalist leading the way. With your guide at the helm, you and your small group will hike to gorgeous waterfalls, up to panoramic mountain views, and through the technicolor meadows, hills, and valleys that make Asheville and the Pisgah National Forest so beloved.
- Spend a half-day following in the footsteps of a naturalist
- Witness several of the Asheville area's most prized waterfalls
- Wander the Pisgah National Forest across ~3 miles for fantastic views
- With a maximum of 9 travelers, you'll get a more personalized hiking experience
What's Included
- Local guide
- Hiking Poles
- Ponchos
- Gratuities
- Lunch
- Snacks and water (which you can purchase at beginning of your tour)
Meeting And Pickup
Meeting point
- 162 Craven St162 Craven St, Asheville, NC 28806, USA
Transportation provided from the lots at 162 Craven Street, Asheville NC – guests may take taxis, etc or can park for free. We offer a comfortable riding experience, though forest roads limit vehicle size. Our clean, well-maintained fleet (Ford Expedition/Econoline Van) has varied height/leg room.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 9 travelers
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
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Traveler Tips
I highly recommend this tour and don’t forget to ask for Paul as your guide.
This is a worthwhile experience that is only about 2.5 miles of actual hiking.
The drive to and from downtown Asheville was easy and would highly recommend this tour to others who want to enjoy a nice 1/2 day of hiking and spectacular scenery of the Blue Ridge Mountain area.
Reviews
5.0
296 reviews
Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 296 reviews
A senior' s best hiking day!
Jocelyn_M, Mar 2023
The waterfalls were awesome. My guides Nico and Paul made the hike memorable. They extended our hike which was challenging ,and exhilarating. The stop at the base of the fall to splash on the face was extra fun.Learning the history of forestry and seeing it is something to marvel.Nico is my hero! He realized that I needed help with my jacket. His help helped me maneuver like an experienced hiker. Oh!! the trekking pole made the experience professional.
Go chasing waterfalls!
Tracy_G, Feb 2023
Eli and Mark were expert tour guides that brought the experience to life! We were able to see the beautiful waterfalls and had a short drive on the parkway. It was great to enjoy the scenery and learn more about the local ecology at the same time.
Great hiking tour around Asheville
Brigitte_S, Jan 2023
We had an absolutely amazing time on this tour! Our guide, Eli, was phenomenal. She was very knowledgeable about the area and took us on some great hikes. Plus, she was just plain fun to be on an extended car ride with. We had debated on whether or not to just try the hikes on our own, but going on this tour was so much better. We will definitely be doing this again.
Beach meet mountains !
Rosina_S, Nov 2022
Sad. We were not able to download photos. I tried too often ! The best thing was Paul our guide. He was so knowledgeable about everything involving the beautiful environment. He patiently educated us on conservation and preservation. Uses of various plants. History. Thank you Paul. We come back ! Come to Mytle beach. Rose Scotto.
A must outing!
Anila_A, Oct 2022
Very educational and fun - Shannon had a wealth of information and stories along the hikes-with beautiful waterfalls
Hiking in Pisgah
lroesch, Oct 2022
Our guide, Paul, was fantastic. He knew the area, all the trails, the animals and plants, and explained everything in detail. He adapted the tour based on our interests. We saw multiple waterfalls and hiked some lovely areas.
Amazing
leeann_r, Oct 2022
Paul was AMAZING!!! Super knowledgeable, funny, and upbeat!! Perfect hike for easy day with beautiful sites.
Great way to experience the area!
Carma_R, Sep 2022
Our naturalist Paul was knowledgeable and friendly. We learned so much about the area. Thanks for a great experience!
Eli was Awesome!!!
Kelly_L, Aug 2022
What a great experience and amazing guide. Eli was knowledgeable, super personable and an amazing soul to spend the day with. We thoroughly enjoyed the entire journey and the knowledge gained.
Waterfalls and learning with a naturalist - amazing
Tricia_M, Aug 2022
We had the best time with Ashley, our Naturalist, leading the way. We saw three waterfalls but learned so much more. She is truly excited about all things nature and was able to point out specific plants, trees, mushrooms, etc. as we came across them. We even got to try a spicy leaf and a spearmint leaf-branch off of some trees that were hanging into the walkway. Fun trail snacks if we can remember them next time! The Smokies were beautiful. Touring with a naturalist was an incredible experience. She was able to speak to much more than the history of the place, which we also enjoyed. It really added a new depth for us.
In total we hiked about three miles. The hikes were as gorgeous as the falls. There are stairs, muddy trails (if recent rain), and plenty of up-hills. My husband and are and in our early 50s and in good shape. We were offered walking poles, which I love to use on hikes. You have the opportunity, but are not required to, step over stones in the shallow waters to get closer to the falls so some balance is required.
We then drove back via the Blue Ridge Mountain parkway, stopping at the only hotel on the parkway to break, grab a snack, and use the restroom. Start time was 8:30am and we were back at our car by 2:00 (end time is advertised as 1:15pm but none of our group had commitments so we took more time to learn more). We recommend!
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