Nighttime Forest and Fireflies Hike

Offered Nightly
May 21, 2026 - June 1, 2026
June 22, 2026 - June 30, 2026

Western NC is home to 17 species of firefly, including the Blue Ghost Firefly. Join us for an epic night hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where we'll look for this elusive firefly species. Your guide will lead you to a prime viewing location and will share fascinating insights about this species. This special tour fills quickly - reserve your spot today!

Red light flashlights are required (and provided) for this tour, as white light can impact firefly behavior. Participants are encouraged to wear pants; closed toe shoes are required. No artificial white light will be allowed (including phone and/or camera screens), so photography and videography are strongly discouraged; please reach out to our Admin team if you have questions about photography and/or videography on this trip.

Cost:

$145 per person

Cost includes a guided hike, snacks, transportation between Asheville and the trailhead, and the use of a red-light headlamp during the hike. This hike requires 2 participants to operate; maximum group size is 6 hikers. If the minimum has not yet been met, we'll reach out to the registered participant 48 hours before the trip to discuss options.

Sign-Up Details:

In order to sign up for this trip, please go to our trip calendar and select your desired trip date. This hike is available daily from May 22 - June 1, 2026 and from June 25 - June 29, 2026.

Itinerary:

After meeting at our downtown Asheville location, the group will drive about an hour to the trailhead. The hike is easy to moderate, on wide and well-graded trails. Total hiking distance is under 2 miles, allowing plenty of time to stop and enjoy the fireflies. While you're hiking, the guide will tell you about the history of the area, as well as native plant life found in the forest. Participants should pack an extra warm layer (even in the summer, temperatures can be cool at night) and wear closed toe shoes. This hike is accessible to folks with most fitness levels. This tour is recommended for participants aged 13 years and older.

Tour departs Asheville at 7pm, and returns around 11pm. Hike is subject to change based on a variety of factors, including weather, trail conditions, and participants needs and abilities.

While we've planned this experience in an area and season where Blue Ghost Fireflies are known to inhabit, we are unable to guarantee firefly sightings. The impact of flooding due to Hurricane Helene on local firefly populations is not yet known.

Guides:

Eli "Little Bit" Adams
Originally from South Florida, Eli is a former kayak guide who traded the Gulf Coast for the Appalachian Mountains. With four years as a mountain guide, she spends her free time foraging and studying Appalachian ecosystems while running a local hiking club that partners with WNC conservation non-profits. If you are looking for an energetic guide with a keen eye for flora and forest lore, Eli is your guide! To further outdoor inclusivity, she is currently re-learning her first language and hopes to begin guiding Spanish-speaking groups within the next year. 

Anna Conard
Originally hailing from Atlanta, Anna settled in Western North Carolina after thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2023. This life-changing journey made her fall in love with the deep peace you can only find in the forest. On a hike with Anna, you can expect fun facts about trees, morning yoga, random outbursts in song, and lots of laughs. She shares her nature writing on pithandforest.com.

Amy "Slider" Hunsucker
Born and raised in South Carolina, Amy grew up hiking in the Carolinas. Her love for backpacking started on the Appalachian Trail with her first overnight trip in 2012. Since then, she has thru hiked all of the triple crown trails - Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Pacific Crest Trail - along with other trails throughout the US, totaling over 8,000 miles of backpacking. Her trail name, Slider, comes from her background in music and because she is known to take her trombone out on the trail with her.

Tamera "Caboosy" Trexler
Tam has been on many adventures, exploring the Mountains of WNC for 30 plus years. In addition to thru-hiking many long distance trails, Tam is also a world traveler. She can take you to the lesser known trails and landmarks of this region. All the while sharing her knowledge and love of it’s history, geology, wildflowers and animals. She is working on her Blue Ridge Naturalist Certification. Full moon and sunset hikes are her favorite!

Cancellation Policy:

Payment in full is required to register. Trip cost includes a 15% non-refundable administrative fee. Hike may be cancelled up to 1 week before the trip for a refund (minus the 15% fee). Within 1 week, a 50% refund will be offered. Within 48 hours, a refund will only be offered if Blue Ridge Hiking Company cancels the trip due to severe weather.

If your guide does an outstanding job, please show your appreciation with a tip! Our team of well trained, professional guides never expects but always appreciates a tip. Industry standard gratuity is 20% of the trip cost.

If you have any questions regarding this trip, you can reach us by phone at 828-713-5451 or by email at trips@blueridgehikingco.com.