With its mist-covered mountains, wildflower meadows and endless winding trails, the Great Smoky Mountains region is a perfect destination for outdoorsy clients. Whether travelers are seeking family-friendly hikes, extraordinary views or exciting adventures, this area straddling Tennessee and North Carolina has something for everyone.
While the national park itself offers more than enough to fill an itinerary, the surrounding area is full of other amazing natural experiences that clients won’t want to miss. From Gatlinburg, Tennessee — a charming town in the mountains — travelers can access the park’s most iconic hikes, but also other natural attractions in neighboring Kentucky, including Red River Gorge and Mammoth Cave National Park.
Here are a few outdoor experiences that travel advisors can recommend to clients who are looking to unplug, get moving and soak in some of the South’s natural beauty.
Highlights of the Great Smoky Mountains
Alum Cave Loop
Adventurous clients looking for a challenge will love this 10-mile roundtrip trail that reaches the snowy summit of Mount Le Conte, the third-tallest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains. This rocky trail winds past natural soft rock arches, waterfalls, sweeping bluffs and spruce forests. Along the way, hikers traverse the dramatic Alum Cave Bluffs and meandering rivers. The first segment of the trail, a 1.3-mile forest hike to Arch Rock, can be crowded, but beyond Inspiration Point at 2.3 miles, the trail quiets and the views get even better. Those who make it to the top can grab a snack from the rustic LeConte Lodge — the highest guest lodge in the Eastern U.S. — and might even catch a glimpse of the resident pack of llamas hauling supplies up the mountain.
The Alum Cave Trail rewards hikers with dramatic mountain views as they ascend toward Mount Le Conte’s summit.
Credit: 2025 Scarlett LondonCades Cove
For a more relaxed, leisurely day in the mountains, Cades Cove offers a peaceful, 11-mile loop (also accessible by bike or car) through a valley with tons of wildlife, hiking trails and historic buildings. Located just south of Townsend, Tennessee, this area is surrounded by mountains on all sides. It’s one of the park’s best areas for spotting black bears and white-tailed deer. The Cades Cove Picnic Area at the entrance of the park is a great place to relax, grill and fish. Cades Cove Riding Stables also offers family-friendly horseback rides and hayrides along the trails.
For more ambitious hikers, some of the best views in the Smokies are at nearby Gregory Bald: a meadow at 4,900 feet, offering wonderful views of Cades Cove, the Yellow Creek Mountains, Rich Mountain and Nantahala National Forest. The bald is covered with native grasses, ferns, blueberries and, in June, vibrant flame azaleas. To summit, hikers must brave the challenging, 11-mile Gregory Ridge Trail, with more than 3,000 feet of elevation gain. The views along the way are well worth it, though, with sprawling mountain vistas and plenty of wildlife.
Kuwohi
Forty-five minutes from Gatlinburg, Kuwohi, formerly known as Clingman's Dome, is the highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains. On clear days, the views at the top stretch for more than 100 miles in every direction. Kuwohi is the Cherokee name for the mountain, which translates to “mulberry place.” The name was changed in January 2024 to honor the peak’s importance to the Cherokee people. It replaces the previous name, which honored a Confederate general, and recognizes the region’s Indigenous history — Kuwohi is the highest point within the traditional Cherokee homeland.
The short, 1.3-mile hike is paved, but the elevation gain makes it fairly challenging. The Kuwohi Observation Tower at the summit has one of the best views in the park, especially during sunrise or sunset. It’s well worth an early start or late hike.
Adventures Beyond the Smokies
Red River Gorge
If clients are up for a road trip, Red River Gorge in southeastern Kentucky is a mecca for outdoor adventurers.
With more than 4,000 sandstone climbing routes, the Red is known to offer some of the best sport climbing in the world, and there are plenty of companies that offer guided climbing tours in the area.
I used Southeast Mountain Guides and had a wonderful experience. Although they do not offer advisor commission, agents can recommend the operator’s full- and half-day experiences to interested clients of all experience levels — guides can be engaging instructors or merely belay partners. The company’s walls also feature the first via ferrata course in America (which involves holding and stepping on iron rungs along the side of a cliff, while clipped onto a cable). This is a great option for less-experienced climbers who still want a taste of the action. The course has both easy and challenging sections, which include hiking under a waterfall, crossing suspension bridges and walking on a tightrope.
Beyond climbing, Red River Gorge has plenty of memorable hiking trails, including the 4.2-mile Auxier Ridge Loop, a local favorite with spectacular views of the gorge and Courthouse Rock. After a day outdoors, clients can relax at Miguel’s Pizza, a climber’s hub with a gear shop and campground, or enjoy a meal at Thatcher’s BBQ, known as “a toothless man’s best friend.”
The writer’s brother climbing an iconic sandstone route in Red River Gorge, a world-class destination for both beginner and advanced climbers.
Credit: 2025 Scarlett LondonMammoth Cave National Park
Further west in Kentucky, Mammoth Cave National Park is home to the world’s longest cave system, stretching more than 400 miles. The National Park Service’s guided cave tours are an essential part of any visit, with dozens of options, ranging from a self-guided, one-hour walk through the main entrance to a half-day “caving” introduction that takes visitors through the cave’s tightest spaces and hidden caverns.
A popular option is the classic Domes and Dripstones tour, which has a good mix of history, science and adventure. The tour takes clients down 640 stairs through a sinkhole, passes by some of the most beautiful rock formations in the cave and ends in the dripstone section known as Frozen Niagara. (Note: This tour includes steep inclines that may be challenging for some. For clients with mobility needs, there are more accessible options, including a fully wheelchair-accessible tour via elevator.)
Mammoth Cave is also a perfect spot for those looking to get on the water. The park has 36 miles of the Green and Nolin rivers for clients to canoe, kayak and fish. The Green River, one of the most biodiverse waterways in the country, is home to a great number of endangered species. This area is great for spotting wildlife, exploring riverside caves and taking in the scenic cliffs and forests.
With towering mountains, ridges, caves and rivers, the Smokies region and surrounding landscapes are both family-friendly and full of adventure. Whether clients are looking for exciting climbs, scenic hikes or just an escape into nature, this corner of the South has something for everyone.
