FAQ's and General Tour Information

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park requires parking tags for any vehicle parked longer than 15 minutes at any location in the Park. You can get your daily or weekly parking tag through us (a small convenience fee will be applied if we purchase and print your tag) or here.

Daily tags are $5, weekly tags are $15 and annual tags are $40. All proceeds benefit the park.

A Walk in the Woods has taken over 250,000 people out into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In fact, people that have hiked for years, have felt their experience was so much richer with a guide. Anyone can walk through an art museum and enjoy the beauty. However, when you learn a little about art, the experience is deeper and more rewarding. Additionally, our guides are trained naturalists. Let us show you the small worlds that operate inside what is the most bio-diverse place in the temperate zone. We will point out plants only found in this area and have you taste delicious wild foods. Our goal is to have you come away with a more complete understanding of this amazing place.

A Walk in the Woods is the oldest and most experienced Guide Service in the Smokies. We are locally owned and have operated for over 2 decades. Our guides are the secret ingredient to our success. Consequently, they will entertain, educate and keep you wowed throughout every tour. Additionally, our guides are trained naturalists, former Park rangers and outdoor educators. Many are Appalachian Trail thru hikers, as well as, Certified in Wilderness Medicine, Leave No Trace and Non Lethal Bear Aversion Techniques. Each of them have a passion for adventure, the incredible diversity of the Smoky Mountains and the Southern Appalachian region’s rich culture and history. From exploring hidden waterfalls to sharing wild foods, they will keep the tour comfortable, safe, and fun! We will ensure all participants have a fun and safe adventure while experiencing the true beauty and culture of our unique Southern Appalachian region.

A Walk in the Woods is a guide service for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We currently do not have a store front. Consequently, we meet all of our clients closer to the areas they will be exploring. Please refer to your confirmation for directions to your meeting location. Office visits for equipment rentals are by appointment only. All of our walks, hikes and backpacking trips meet at locations convenient to the program. If you are in the area, and want to find out what is available, please call (865) 436-8283 or check out our activity calendar for an up to date schedule.

We do not meet at the A Walk in the Woods office. However, we do meet at a location convenient to your walk. Some of the most common meeting places include the Sugarlands Visitors Center, the Greenbrier entrance to the Park and the Cosby campground. Please refer to your confirmation for specific instructions. Also, please give yourself ample time to get to the area. Traffic in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and inside the Smokies can get heavy during peak tourist season. 

GPS has gotten a bit better in our area over the years. When you book a tour with us, you will be given specific turn by turn driving instructions. Some of these locations also have addresses. If you receive an address in your confirmation, you are welcome to use it, but please check the turn by turn directions periodically. Also, feel free to contact our office at 865-436-8283 if you have further questions.

If you’re happy with the the service we have provided, tips are the best way to show your appreciation. Industry standards recommend between 10% to 20% of your tour cost.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a temperate rain forest. As a result, our trips go out rain or shine. Rain jackets, or at least ponchos, are strongly recommended. We reserve the right to cancel any program for hazardous weather conditions. However, we do not charge for real weather related cancellations. Please note that your guide or our office staff may offer a plan B in the event of weather issues.

• 1-7 clients : Programs canceled less than 72 hours prior to scheduled departure will be charged 50% of cost. Programs canceled less than 48 hours prior to scheduled departure will be charged full cost.
• 8 -14 clients: Programs canceled less than 7 days prior to scheduled departure will be charged 50% of cost. Programs canceled less than 72 hours prior to scheduled departure will be charged full cost.
• Over 14 clients: Programs canceled less than 30 days prior to scheduled departure will be charged 50% of cost. Programs canceled less than 7 days prior to scheduled departure will be charged full cost.

The entire price of the backpacking trip is charged on the day you book. $100 per person of this amount is a non-refundable deposit. Due to the planning involved, we require a 45 day cancellation. A refund will be provided for cancellations up to 45 days prior to arrival, less the $100 deposit. Cancellations between 44 and 30 days of your trip will be refunded half of the full trip charge. There are no refunds for cancellations with less than a 30 day notice. However, we will extend a 25% discount on a future trip to be taken within a one year period. We are not responsible for medical or family emergencies. You are encouraged to research travel insurance services to best meet your needs if you must cancel or interrupt your trip due to unforeseen circumstances . MH Ross offers insurance for our overnight trips. Click here for more info.

Overall, the Park is a very safe place to leave a vehicle. The Park gets over 4 million cars a year. On average, there are only about 150 reported break ins each year. The ones that do get hit tend to have something of value visible in the cab section of their car. Consequently, we suggest that you leave as much out of view in the cab of your vehicle as possible.

A knowledgeable, professionally trained naturalist guide and all associated Park fees. Most walks include nut-based snacks, walking sticks and emergency ponchos. Additionally, we can provide lunch on half day and full day programs for a small additional fee. Please bring your own water and a day pack or sack to carry your items in. With advance notice, we can provide a day pack for no extra charge. Transportation can be provided on a case by case basis for an extra fee with enough advanced notice unless otherwise noted.

Generally, the group will meet at a central location and follow the guide in their personal vehicle to the trailhead. We do offer transportation from most Gatlinburg locations for a small extra fee based on availability. Please make arrangements when you book. For overnight trips that do not loop back to the same location you began, the group will be shuttled from one end to the other. Additionally, we also offer shuttle service if you are not hiring one of our guides. 

• Comfortable walking shoes or boots.
• Drinking water.
• Poncho or other light rain gear.
• Layers for upper elevation walks and hikes.
• Camera and extra batteries or a fully charged phone on airplane mode!
• A day pack or bag to carry your things in.
• Specific recommendations for each trip are in your confirmation. 

First, we practice leave no trace principals. A Walk in the Woods works hard to ensure that bears are kept in their most wild and natural state so that everyone, bears and humans alike, stay safe. Second, our guides are trained in techniques to travel through bear country safely, and we will share that with you. Third, keeping bears out of our back country site is our top priority. In the rare event that we see a bear on a trail, we will teach the best techniques to ensure the bear and guests do not have a negative experience. Lastly, since 1998, taking over 250,000 guests into the Park, we have never had a situation that is considered dangerous. A Walk in the Woods has never caused a trail or back country site to be closed due to our negligence.

The Smokies have somewhere between 1,600 and 1,800 black bears. However, they are in their most wild and natural state, afraid of humans and solitary. Bear location and activity level varies by the season, and by what food sources are doing well or poorly. You will probably see signs that bears are around, but seeing them in person is not guaranteed.

The Park is a half a million acre wildlife habitat with dense forests. Consequently, these forests provide plenty of hiding places. Viewing of wildlife depends on time of year, group size and location. Although you may not see wildlife, you will learn how to identify signs that they are around and sounds they make. Additionally, you’ll learn how to identify the difference between male and female species and other tricks to wildlife viewing.

Unless you specifically call our office to arrange for a private tour, all tours are open to the public. We have a ratio of 11 clients per guide on all day tours. Overnight trips in the Smokies are limited to 7 clients. If you have a large group, please call our office at 865-436-8283.