Thick rhododendron bushes line a path at the Doe Mountain Recreation Area in Tennessee.
Rhododendron Rhododendron lines a path at the Doe Mountain Recreation Area in Tennessee. © Byron Jorjorian

This departure is currently full. Please reach out to travel@tnc.org to be added to a waitlist. 

Your journey begins in Knoxville, Tennessee, where you will be met by your guide before departing on a two-hour drive to Abingdon, Virginia. On arrival, take time to explore the historic downtown that dates back to the 1700s. Your home for the next two nights is the Martha Washington Inn.

Explore Shady Valley, where TNC hosts will guide you through Orchard and Quarry Bog, Schoolyard Springs and the Jess Jenkins Cranberry Bog. Bring your galoshes (or an old pair of shoes!), as there'll be plenty of time spent exploring the boardwalks and wetland bogs.

Next, head to Doe Mountain Recreation area; in addition to protecting wildlife habitat, promoting biodiversity and sequestering forest carbon, TNC and local partners are using the area to capitalize on growing tourism traffic across the region. We’ll explore the area on side-by-side vehicles, stopping to hike, bird watch and learn from TNC experts.

Making our way south, spend three days in the “Quiet Side of the Smokies.” Here, you’ll have an opportunity to meet with local TNC staff, National Park and National Forest partners and a representative of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation. Time for hiking, kayaking and relaxing will be available as we explore the most visited national park in the nation!

With exclusive insight from TNC experts, visits to local preserves and local highlights, you’ll experience unique places throughout Tennessee that most visitors never see. 

Dates: October 29 - November 3, 2023

Price: $4,510 per person based on double occupancy; $5,075 single occupancy

For Questions and To Register, Email Us at travel@tnc.org

Landscape view of wide valleys and thick forests of the John R. Dickey Birch Branch Sanctuary in Shady Valley.
John R. Dickey Birch Branch Sanctuary The John R. Dickey Birch Branch Sanctuary in Shady Valley. © Terry Cook/TNC

The John R. Dickey Birch Branch Sanctuary in Shady Valley.

Program Highlights

  • Learn About Appalachian Culture — From traditional food, customs, traditions, and music, experience what Appalachian culture is all about. 
  • Explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park — Visit the most visited national park in the nation; here, you will meet with local experts, learn about threats to the majestic landscape, and do plenty of hiking!
  • Tour the Landscape on a Side-By-Side — Hop on a side-by-side vehicle to explore Doe Mountain. Recently appointed as an Adventure Tourism District, learn how TNC and the State of Tennessee are using the natural resources of the area to help stimulate the local, rural economy. 

Lodging Highlights

  • Martha Washington Inn — This historical hotel dates back to the early 1800s, serving as a private residence to prominent Generals. It has been meticulously preserved throughout the years and has hosted guests such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Jimmy Carter and Elizabeth Taylor.
  • Little Arrow Outdoor Resort — Tucked in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains is Little Arrow Outdoor Resort. Your comfortable, modern cabin is the perfect place to rest your head after a long day of hiking and exploring the surrounding landscape.
Landscape view of vast, rolling grass-covered hills at Cadillac Point, located near the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee; dramatic white clouds float in a blue sky overhead.
Cadillac Point Cadillac Point is located near the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. © Byron Jorjorian

Cadillac Point, located near the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.