The Boogie Woogie Bugle Tour is a guided Smoky Mountain elk viewing tour through some of the most beautiful scenery in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Join our expert naturalist guides for a relaxed driving and walking tour to the North Carolina side of the Smokies, where elk, mountain history, Cherokee culture, rivers, wildlife, and wide mountain views come together.

We’ll travel over the mountains, stopping along the Tennessee/North Carolina divide for photos and sweeping views before descending into the beautiful Oconaluftee Valley, one of the best places in the Smokies to look for the magnificent Smoky Mountain elk. These incredible animals are one of the great wildlife reintroduction success stories of the national park, and seeing them in their mountain habitat is an unforgettable experience.

Along the way, we’ll stop to admire pristine mountain water, watch for signs of beaver, otter, birds, and other wildlife, and explore the natural beauty that makes the Great Smoky Mountains one of the most biodiverse places in North America. In the fall, during elk rut season, guests may even hear the unforgettable sound of a bull elk bugling across the valley.

This tour also includes time at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, the museum, gift shop, and historic mountain farm, where we’ll explore the stories of the rugged families who once lived in these mountains. From there, we’ll stretch our legs on the scenic Oconaluftee River Trail, learning about Cherokee history, mountain settlement, native plants, wildlife, and the people who have shaped this remarkable landscape.

This is a great Smoky Mountain wildlife tour for guests who want elk viewing, mountain scenery, cultural history, and a deeper connection to the quieter North Carolina side of the national park.

Best for: Wildlife lovers, elk viewing, fall bugling season, photographers, families, seniors, history lovers, Cherokee culture, scenic driving tours, and guests looking for a guided Smoky Mountain experience beyond Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.