A Walk in the Woods Offers Buckhorn Guests Guided Van Tours

Van tours with pick-up and drop-off service at Buckhorn Inn are offered by A Walk in the Woods which has been offering conventional guided hikes for 12 years. The company is the recipient of REI Adventures Top Guide Award.

The two van tours currently offered are described below. For more information or to book a van tour, phone 865 436 8283.

Tour One: The Mountains are Calling (2.5 hour tour)

A Naturalist Guide will conduct this  tour which takes you from Sugarlands Visitiors Center to Newfound Gap. The guided tour includes several beautiful photographic opportunities of the sea of mountains, a stop to see the Rockefeller Memorial at Newfound Gap,, plus stories of the natural and human history of the Park. After photos of the sea of mountains, we’ll head back down the mountains and stretch our legs on a half hour history tour. Learn how the settlers of the area farmed these rugged mountains, find out what the Cherokee used to cure headaches, and soak your feet in the clear mountain stream.  You may even get to taste a wild mountain treat.

Tour Two: History and Turkeys and Bears…Oh My! (5-6 hours)
Cades Cove is so popular it could be its own national park. With almost three million visitors a year, this beautiful valley can often become a frustrating driving experience. Let our experienced naturalists take the burden of driving from you as you sit back in our comfy large passenger van.

This highly interpretive tour will include many beautiful stops as we wind our way to the famous Cove. Explore the rich Southern Appalachian history in this living museum, through the 6000 acre valley. Visit cemeteries, churches, and beautifully restored cabins. Learn the history Cherokee and the fiercely independent Scottish and Irish settlers. On many of these tours, our guests will be lucky enough to spot the icon of the Smokies–the black bear. Birds, deer and even coyotes frequent this verdant valley.

Feeling a little adventurous? We might take you to see the mouth of a hidden cave and even glimpse some sleeping bats! What did kids do before video games? You’ll find out when we take a hidden path.