Over the Top Tour in Oconaluftee

Overview

This tour travels over the crest of the Smokies from Tennessee into North Carolina. Along the way we'll experience one of the most scenic roads in the Southeast along with several panoramic mountain vistas. When we arrive in the Oconaluftee Valley we'll visit historic structures learning about the culture of the native Cherokee and European-descended mountaineers. While exploring this historic valley, we'll keep an eye out for elk. The largest animal in the Smokies, they were reintroduced by the park service in 2001.

City: Gatlinburg

Wed 05 Aug

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $150.00

Make a reservation

Wed 05 Aug

Starting at $150.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Bottled water

Snacks

Additional Info

Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Please provide your own infant/booster seat if needed

What To Expect

Oconaluftee Visitor Center

The visitor center located at the Cherokee, NC, entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to the Oconaluftee Mountain Farm Museum. Additionally, its fields are home to dozens of elk, the largest animal found in the Smokies. Guests have time to explore the exhibits and gift shop.

Mingus Mill

Built in 1886, this historic grist mill demonstrates how mountaineers ground corn and wheat.

Mountain Farm Museum

Adjacent to the Oconaluftee Visitor's Center, the Mountain Farm Museum is a unique collection of farm buildings assembled from locations throughout the national park. Visitors can explore a log farmhouse, barn, apple house, springhouse, and a working blacksmith shop to get a sense of how families may have lived 100 years ago. Most of the structures were built in the late 19th century and were moved here in the 1950s. The Davis House offers a rare chance to view a log house built from chestnut wood before the chestnut blight decimated the American Chestnut in our forests during the 1930s and early 1940s.

Oconaluftee River Trail

We'll be on the look out for elk at several locations around Oconaluftee and the Cherokee, NC, entrance to the park including the Oconaluftee River Trail and other fields and meadows.

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Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (15)

William_P

Mar 2025

Our Over the Top Tour got canceled due to wind and snow at the higher elevations. So our guide Wes proposed a substitute “mini tour” which lasted about 90 minutes. He cut the price and took us to the Elkmont settlement. During the drive he shared a lot of great information about wildlife, and park history. We truly enjoyed the tour and appreciated the substitution. He even volunteered to contact us the next morning and let us know which roads were open and he followed up on his promise. We highly recommend Wes!!

lauraz46074

Jan 2025

Thank you, Wes, for taking us to see the Smoky Mountains for the first time in our lives. It was an unforgettable experience, and we learned so much about the history of the mountains, the Elkmont Club, and the Cherokee communities. It was amazing to discover that elk can only be seen in the North Carolina part of the park, and we were lucky to see them during our visit! Wes went above and beyond to help us spot wildlife in the mountains, and we truly appreciate his effort and dedication. This trip was both educational and enjoyable, and we are so grateful for the experience. Highly recommend Wes to anyone looking to explore the Smoky Mountains!

Rich_R

Dec 2024

Guide was awesome. Took us to incredible vistas, explained the history around everywhere we went. Took us to see herd of elk. Entertaining, educational, and all around great guide.

Response from Host

Dec 2024

This is great to hear. Glad you enjoyed touring with SMG