Smoky Mountains Synchronous Firefly Backpacking Trip

June 10-11, 2023

Head into the backcountry for a chance to see one of Great Smoky Mountains National Park's most well-known natural phenomena - Synchronous Fireflies!  This easy loop takes place in the Elkmont area of the park, featuring waterfalls, wildflowers, and riverside hiking.  Elkmont was once a bustling logging community and the adjacent Daisy Town was a popular tourist destination for wealthy families.  This trip is perfect for beginners and families, with a total of 9 miles of hiking along easy terrain over 2 days.  This is also a fun trip for more experienced backpackers to kick back and relax while enjoying a truly special natural phenomenon! 

While we have planned this trip during the season where synchronous fireflies and blue ghost fireflies are most active and in an area they're known to inhabit, we cannot guarantee firefly sightings.

"We had a wonderful guide - she was a very experienced hiker and had amazing knowledge of the GSMNP
ecosystem. Highly recommend BRHC." - V.B., Smokies 1-Night Backpacking Trip, October 2023

Cost:

$505 per person
Payment Plans, 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 maximum group size of 5 hikers.

In addition to your guide, this price includes backpacking gear for the trip, all on-trail food, transportation between the meet-up location and the trailhead, and any necessary backcountry permits.  Price also includes an insulated mug for each hiker.  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 (June 10th).  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 10am on June 10 at the Townsend Visitor Center. A shuttle from Asheville, NC will be offered, so you may choose to stay in Asheville or in the Townsend, TN or Gatlinburg area.

Please note, Great Smoky Mountains National Park now requires payment for parking longer than 15 minutes anywhere in the park. If you are bringing a vehicle, you will be leaving your car at the Townsend Visitor Center and are responsible for the parking fee of $5 per day ($10 total).

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 12pm, you'll head to Elkmont for your hike!  This hike is a loop, so it begins and ends at the same location.  You'll hike approximately 4.5 miles each day, with approximately 1400ft of total elevation gain during the trip.  Hikers should be able to complete a 6 mile day hike with a regular daypack.  Because fireflies are active after dark, hikers should also be comfortable with a small amount of night hiking!  We have planned this trip for a region and timeframe when synchronous and blue ghost fireflies are most active, but we cannot guarantee firefly sightings.

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.

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 will be Melissa Watkins.  Melissa grew up in Florida where she spent many hours watching wildlife and guiding kayak tours.  She has also guided many backpacking, canoeing, and rafting trips in western North Carolina and loves nothing more than sharing the outdoors with new friends.  A former college professor, she is an educator at heart.  When not at work, she loves to paddle, bake, teach her young son about the outdoors, and bask in the sunshine.

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 have one-person tents and two-person tents available. Please let us know if you would like to share with a friend.
Sleeping Bags - We use a 20 degree synthetic sleeping bag. We also have sleeping bag liners available.
Sleeping Pads - These will insulate you from the ground and provide some cushion and comfort. We provide hikers with a closed-cell foam pad, for its excellent combination of weight and durability.
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, personal gear (such as headlamps and water bottles), medications, and approved optional items. Generally, comfortable trail shoes are better than heavy hiking boots. Please do not pack any cotton - if it gets wet, it does not dry quickly and will not keep you warm. Athletic clothes are a good option. You will need only one outfit to hike in, one outfit to sleep in, a raincoat, and a warm layer. You will not need a new set of clean clothes each day. You will not need any make-up, hair products, scented products or deodorant. Just bring a toothbrush and toothpaste and enjoy going all natural for the trip!
 

Cancellation Policy:

Payment in full is required to register. Trip cost includes a 15% non-refundable administrative fee. Hike may be cancelled up to 2 weeks before the trip for a refund (minus the 15% fee). Within 2 weeks, 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. 

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 15-20% 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.