Great Smoky Mountains
Firefly Backpacking Trip

May 28-29, 2025

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to more than 19 species of fireflies. Two of the most unique are Blue Ghost Fireflies and Synchronous Fireflies, which are visible for only a few weeks at the end of May and beginning of June. Join us as we head into the backcountry to witness this magical natural phenomenon. This 2-day trip takes place in the historic Elkmont area of the park, once a bustling logging community. This laid back trip featuring featuring waterfalls, wildflowers, and riverside hiking on easy-moderate terrain is suitable for beginners or families, and is a fun trip for more experienced backpackers to kick back and relax while enjoying a truly special natural phenomenon!  

In late May, we're most likely to see Blue Ghost Fireflies only. While we have planned this trip during the season when fireflies are most active and in an area they're known to inhabit, we cannot guarantee firefly sightings. This trip is not affiliated with the public front country firefly lottery event operated by Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

"Hands down one of the most magical experiences of my entire life!" - AW, Private Firefly Backpacking Trip, June 2023

Cost:

$595/person
Scholarships and sliding scale fees are available for this trip.  Please reach out to use at trips@blueridgehikingco.com for more information.

This trip has a minimum group size of 2 hikers and a maximum group size of 5 hikers. If the minimum group size has not yet been met, we'll reach out to the registered hiker 2 weeks before the trip to discuss options. This trip can be booked out as a private trip; please reach out to our office for more information. Additional fees may apply.

In addition to your guide, this price includes backpacking gear, food while you're on trail, transportation between the meet-up location and the trailhead, and any necessary backcountry permits and fees. Price also includes access to a pre-trip Zoom call, where you can ask questions about your upcoming trip. It does not include personal items or gratuity for your guide.

Sign-Up Details:

In order to sign up for this trip, please go to our Trip Calendar and select the trip start date (May 28, 2025). You will find the trip listed there. 

A few weeks before the start of the trip, we will be in contact via email with an information packet for you to fill out. This includes a waiver, health form, and gear request form. Please complete and return this form at your earliest convenience. At that time we will also send a detailed packing list, and any trip-specific information.

Itinerary:

This trip meets at 9am on May 28 in Asheville, NC.

You will meet your guide at our shop in downtown Asheville (70 College Street, Asheville, NC 28801). Your guide will hand out your gear and food, go over necessary packing items, and discuss safety, weather, and logistics for the trip. They'll walk you through how to properly pack your pack, and may look in detail at the items you've packed to make sure you're not carrying too many extra items.

Around 11am, you'll head to Elkmont to start your hike! Drive time is approximately 2 hours. You'll hike approximately 4.5 miles the first day and 5 miles the second day, with approximately 1400ft of total elevation gain during the trip. The trail is mostly wide and well graded, with some short sections of narrow, rocky trail (mostly on the second day). Hikers should be able to complete a 6 mile day hike with a regular daypack. Because synchronous fireflies are active after dark, hikers should also be comfortable with a small amount of night hiking!

Hike generally finishes early afternoon the last day. Itinerary is subject to change based on a variety of factors, including weather, campsite availability, trail conditions, and participants needs and abilities. Please inform our admin team or your guide ahead of time if you have a time constraint the last day of your trip.

Itinerary listed depends on being able to secure the desired backcountry permits within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Permits open 25 days before the trip start date. The itinerary listed is our preferred permit; we frequently use 2 other campsites in the park where fireflies are frequently seen, both of which are shorter hikes (around 5-7 miles round trip). Once a permit is reserved, we'll notify hikers of the finalized itinerary.

Elevation profile created with Gaia GPS.

Trip Difficulty Rating:

Participants on this trip should have a minimum fitness level of 3 out of 10, and this trip is ideally suited for hikers with a fitness level of 4-5 out of 10. This is a beginner trip, meaning hikers don't need any specific hiking or backpacking experience. For more information about our difficulty and experience level ratings, please see our Trip Difficulty Page.

Guide:

Your guide for this trip has not yet been determined. All of our guides have extensive backcountry experience and are passionate about sharing their knowledge with other people. All of our guides have Wilderness First Aid (or higher) and CPR certifications. 

What we Provide:

Food: BRHC provides all on-trail food. Your guide will pass out the food for your trip on the first morning. You will be expected to carry your own individually packaged food (such as oatmeal packets) and some shared community items (such as a jar of peanut butter or a block of cheese). We do our best to cater to requests, but options are limited because it is important to keep food lightweight and fresh foods can be heavy and bulky. If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions, please notify your guide or our admin team ahead of time. 

Individual Use Gear: BRHC provides high quality, ultralight, cottage industry backpacking gear to make your experience as comfortable as possible.  We offer the following five pieces of gear at no additional cost:
Backpacks - We use a lightweight 60L pack. We will ask for your height and weight in order to fit the pack appropriately to you.
Tents - We provide a one-person tent, or and two-person tent if you are sharing with a partner or friend.
Sleeping Bags - We use a 20 degree synthetic sleeping bag. We also have sleeping bag liners available.
Sleeping Pads - We provide hikers with a closed-cell foam pad, for its excellent combination of weight and durability. Inflatable sleeping pads are available for an additional rental fee.
Trekking Poles - These will provide you with some added stability while hiking, and may be used to set up your tent.

Community Gear: BRHC provides all community gear for the trip, including water filters and back-up chemical treatment; camping stoves and fuel; bowls, spoons, and cups; trowels, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer; first aid kit; and map and compass.

What to Bring:

We will send all participants a detailed packing list a few weeks before the trip. You are expected to bring your own clothing/footwear, a headlamp, two 1L water bottles (Nalgene or disposable Smart Water bottles are good options), personal medications/toiletries, and approved optional items. Generally, comfortable trail shoes are better than heavy hiking boots. Please pack synthetic or wool athletic clothing rather than cotton. Cotton does not dry quickly and will not keep you warm when wet. For most trips you will need only one outfit to hike in, one outfit to sleep in, a raincoat, and a warm layer. A beanie and lightweight gloves are appropriate in most seasons as temperatures cool down in the mountains at night. You will not need a new set of clean clothes for each day, make-up, hair products, scented products or deodorant. Just bring a toothbrush and toothpaste and enjoy going all natural for the trip!

All hikers should bring a headlamp with a red light (white light will not be allowed after dark, as it disrupts the fireflies). We recommend packing a lightweight backpacking chair for this trip; we can provide a sit pad for this trip if you don't have a backpacking chair.

Cancellation Policy:

Trip cost includes a 15% non-refundable deposit. Hikes may be cancelled up to 1 month before the trip for a refund (minus the deposit). Within 1 month, a 50% refund will be offered. Within 1 week, no refunds will be offered. If Blue Ridge Hiking Company cancels the trip due to severe weather, we'll offer a refund less the 15% deposit. We are unable to offer exceptions to this policy; we strongly recommend all hikers purchase travel insurance to cover their trip.

Hikers may reschedule their trip once (at least 1 month before their trip) free of charge. Additional changes to their reservation date may result in a rescheduling fee.

We hike rain or shine!  While it is incredibly rewarding, backpacking is an endurance sport, and it can be challenging and/or uncomfortable at times.  Maintaining a positive mindset, even when it is uncomfortable, is key to enjoying your time in the wilderness.  With our focus on lightweight gear, our goal is for your pack to weigh around 25lbs (or no more than 25% of your body weight, whichever is less).

If your guide does an exceptional job, please show your appreciation with a tip.  Our team of highly trained professional guides never expects but always appreciates a tip.  Industry standard gratuity for a guided backpacking trip is 20-25% of trip price.

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.