Transportation and Meeting place: Meet your guide at 1 River Arts Place, Asheville, NC 28801. Your guide will have local coffee and tea prepared as they give you the itinerary for the day as well as a map presentation. Transportation is included once meeting your guide. Guests may drive, park, or take a taxi/Uber/Lyft to the meeting location.
You will be riding in either a Ford Expedition or a Ford Econoline Passenger Van. We do our best to give you a comfortable riding experience so you can be hands-free and have the opportunity to take in all the sights while being somewhat limited in vehicle size permitted on the forest roads. Our clean, well-maintained vehicles have varying seat heights and leg room and are always climate-controlled!
Tour time: Meet your guide ten minutes before the start time available on the calendar or listed in your confirmation e-mail. Start times vary seasonally.
Difficulty: You can choose to join our “Easy 2-3 miles” or “Moderate 3-5 miles”. Expect some uneven terrain and slight trail inclines for both hiking groups.
Required footwear: Sturdy tennis shoes or hiking boots, rubber outsoles (recommended).
Recommended clothing: Rainwear (either rain jacket or poncho), multiple layers (for chilly mornings), a warm hat, and gloves during the winter/fall months.
Recommended personal items: Water and snacks. Your guide will have back-ups of both.
What’s provided: Hiking poles, a poncho in case of light rain, transportation, and multiple stunning waterfalls are guaranteed!
Winter tours note: The Blue Ridge Parkway is closed with inclement weather in winter months (usually late-Nov to early March). During these times, we may modify the tour to include alternate scenic sites (and often an additional waterfall!) in Pisgah National Forest.
This is a public group tour and you will be with other parties, for a maximum of 9 people. For an experience with just your party, check out our Private Tours.
Tips: Never required but always appreciated!
See below for FULL tour description, and more important information!
This intimate tour is a great way to see the BEST waterfalls and panoramic mountain views in only a half day! Your guide shows you a mix of the biggest waterfalls and also “off the beaten path” waterfalls in Pisgah National Forest. Home to 250+ waterfalls, this unique area is a must-see during your Asheville vacation.
You will begin your morning in Asheville’s River Arts District, where you will meet your guide and get to know your fellow hikers. Meet at the RAD HUB, which is our official headquarters, about ten minutes before your meeting time, where your guide will further learn about your group’s hiking preferences and provide an overview of your adventure to come! Then climb on into one of our clean and comfortable tour vehicles (seating 6-9 guests; more information on transportation above), and we’re off!
The excursion begins as you enter Pisgah National Forest, or the Blue Ridge Parkway, a National Park! You will spend 4 hours exploring our Wilderness, visiting multi-tiered waterfalls, hidden pools, rock overhangs, and more!
Your guide will integrate hikes (according to your interests) for a total distance of around 2 – 3 miles or 3 – 5 miles, walking at a leisurely pace and discussing the edible and medicinal properties of unique trees and wildflowers along the way! For inexperienced hikers, your guide will be sure to provide you with tips for navigating the roots, rocks, and mud that give our Southern Appalachian rainforest its character.
Your guide will discuss important scenic features for you to notice on the way, including historical sites as well as seasonal highlights— such as spring wildflowers, Rhododendrons in bloom, autumn leaves, or frozen springs. On the Blue Ridge Parkway, enjoy wide-open vistas— with endless views of mountain peaks and fertile valleys (including ones you visit!)
Since the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed with inclement weather often in winter months (usually late-Nov to early March), we may sometimes modify a tour to include alternate scenic sites (and often an additional waterfall!) in Pisgah National Forest.
Feel free to reach out to us with any questions you have about the waterfall tour, but please note that you will receive a text the day before the time to confirm meeting times and locations and answer any additional questions you may have.