Charlies Bunion Private Hike

Asheville, NC
5.0 (6 reviews)

Trip Highlights

  • Spectacular Views
  • Unique Geology
  • Hike on the Appalachian Trail
  • Top-shelf Backpack & Trekking Poles
  • Opportunities to See Wildlife
  • Tasty Trail Snacks & Picnic Lunch

Description

This exciting Smoky Mountains day hike offers stunning hiking on the Appalachian Trail, amazing views from an exposed ridge, and a unique rock outcropping. You’ll meet your Wildland Trekking hiking guide at the Newfound Gap parking lot and embark on your hike from there. Our route climbs for the first couple miles while we’re rewarded with a dense beautiful spruce-fir forest and then incredible views of distant Blue Ridge mountains. Much of our hike follows a narrow ridge traversing the spine of the Appalachian Mountains, with breathtaking 360-degree views at Charlies Bunion. We’ll soak up the stunning views of the surrounding mountains, which include Mount Kephart and Mount Guyot. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch, and eventually make our way back to our starting point to complete our Appalachian Trail hike. 

(Important: We run hikes in almost all weather conditions and very rarely cancel. See our terms and conditions for information on cancellations and refunds.)

Read more …
From USD
$190-$550 Per Person
Season: Year Round

Season: Year Round

Trip Type: Day Hike Tour
Difficulty Level:
Solitude Level:
Group Size: 1-7 Guests
Trip Length: 5-7 Hours
Distance: 9MI / 14KM

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 3

Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult

SUMMARY OF DIFFICULTY
This day hike travels along the Appalachian Trail. There are some steep, rocky parts but it is a well maintained trail.

Hiking Distances:

9 mi

Backpack Weight:

8-12 lbs

Terrain:

Moderately Rugged

Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:

1890 ft

Heights Exposure:

Moderate

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP

  • Hiking uphill or downhill with a 8-12 lb backpack for 5-7 hours
  • Maintaining balance and footing on moderately rugged terrain
  • Hiking with short sections with moderate heights exposure
* For an official and complete list of physical requirements, please see our Essential Eligibility Criteria.

SOLITUDE LEVEL 2

  • Level 1: around other hikers the entire time
  • Level 2: around other hikers most of the time
  • Level 3: around other hikers some of the time
  • Level 4: see a couple other groups during the hike
  • Level 5: most likely to have the trail to ourselves
We’re here to help. If you have any questions, call 800-715-HIKE or contact us online.
PDF Trip Itinerary Packet Book online
Or fill out a Reservation Request
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Rates

Rates

  • 1 person: $550
  • 2 people: $290 per person
  • 3 people: $260 per person
  • 4-5 people: $215 per person
  • 6-7 people: $190 per person
  • 10 and younger: $135 per person

Private day hike tours are only open to your party.

*Prices do not include gratuity for your guide

Trip Dates & Booking

TRIP DATES & BOOKING

This tour is booked on a custom basis for private groups so does not have set dates (requested dates are almost always available). Give us a call at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to schedule your hike!

Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.

800-715-HIKE (4453)

Trip Details

Trip Details

What's Included

  • Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
  • Transportation for the duration of the tour (pickup and drop off in Asheville, NC)
  • A commitment to make the tour as exciting, challenging, informative, and full as you’d like, and as is possible in a day
  • Trail snacks and a picnic lunch
  • Use of a top of the line, technical day pack
  • Use of trekking poles
  • Mandatory 5% national park fee that passes through directly to Great Smoky Mountains NP

What's Not Included

  • Clothing and personal items
  • Water (2 liters capacity)
  • Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)

Food: What to Expect

Day hike tours include energizing trail snacks and a delicious picnic lunch. Your guide will customize the food for your hike, but a typical lunch consists of gourmet sandwiches or wraps, fruit, veggies, chips, drinks and a dessert. On wintery or cold days you may be treated to soup or a hot, freshly cooked lunch (if you’d prefer a hot meal, please let us know!)

We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.

Trip Logistics

Trip Logistics

How Do I Register?

Ready to hike? Day hike reservations are made through our Adventure Consultant team. You can click here to get the ball rolling. Our adventure consultants will confirm availability, and if you’re ready to register we’ll email you a link to a registration profile. You’ll have 72 hours to complete your profile (and that of any dependents) and make your payment.

Feel free to call us for more info – we’re here 7 days a week!

Where Do We Meet?

If you are staying in Asheville, NC will pick you up at your hotel in Asheville. If you are staying elsewhere and/or would prefer to meet at the trailhead, that is also an option.  Your guide will be in contact approximately 7 days prior to your hike to coordinate the exact time and location of your rendezvous. This is a full day tour if we start from Asheville – the pickup time will be around 6:30 AM, and ending times can vary but are often after 6:00 PM.

Safety Precautions

Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.

If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.

Age Restrictions

Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:

  • 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval on a case by case basis

Weather in the Great Smoky Mountains

The weather in the Great Smoky Mountains varies greatly by time of year. To be fully prepared, please follow the recommended clothing list closely (this list comes as part of your trip packet when you register). Read below for average high and low temperatures in for low elevations in the Great Smoky Mountains:

Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit)
Month
Low Elev
High Elev
hi
low
hi
low
January
51°
28°
35°
19°
February
54°
29°
35°
18°
March
61°
34°
39°
24°
April
71°
42°
49°
34°
May
79°
50°
57°
43°
June
86°
58°
63°
49°
July
88°
59°
65°
53°
August
87°
60°
64°
52°
September
83°
55°
60°
47°
October
73°
43°
53°
38°
November
61°
33°
42°
28°
December
52°
28°
37°
21°

Trip Reviews

Trip Reviews

  • Average Customer Ratings:

  • 5.0 (6 reviews)
Lichym W
5.0

Wonderful

1 year ago

Wonderful to hike with Kyle , he is so knowledgeable. Would like to hike with him again

Franklin B
5.0

Outstanding

2 years ago

Kyle was an outstanding tour guide. We really learned alot while hiking in the Smokey Mountains.

Gerry P
5.0

Great Hikes

3 years ago

Just completed 2 great day hikes in the Smokies: Ramsey Cascade and Charles Bunion. Both great hikes made even better with our guide Tommy Smith. We have been on several guided hikes and Tommy ranks among the top tier.

See All Guest Reviews!

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