Gatlinburg Appalachian Trail Hike to Charlies Bunion 6 hr - Image 1
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Gatlinburg Appalachian Trail Hike to Charlies Bunion 6 hr

TourTruth score 7.5 out of 10

GoodTop 38% in Gatlinburg

7 reviews · Rated on 1 provider · How we score

  • Gatlinburg
  • 6 hrs
  • Updated October 31, 2026

Hike the Appalachian Trail to Charlies Bunion for sweeping Smoky Mountain views, local history, and insights into Southern Appalachian nature.

About this tour

Follow the famous Appalachian Trail into the Great Smoky Mountains on a guided hike to Charlies Bunion, where expansive mountain views reward the climb. This six-hour outing pairs a memorable trail experience with stories and insights from a knowledgeable guide.

Along the route, learn about the early settlers who made their homes in the mountains, discover the flora and fauna of the Southern Appalachians, and hear about the founding of the country’s most visited national park. Bottled water and snacks are provided. Bring a lunch to enjoy outdoors, or order a wrap through SMG for $10.

Meet your guide at the Gatlinburg Welcome Center, just north of town, then follow them to the trailhead. A GSMNP parking pass is required and is available through the park starting at $5. This hike calls for a high level of physical fitness and is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health. Choose this Gatlinburg Appalachian Trail hike for a rewarding day of scenery, nature, and local history.

Highlights

  • Hike the famous Appalachian Trail to Charlies Bunion
  • Take in sweeping views across Great Smoky Mountains National Park
  • Learn about mountain settlers, local wildlife, and Southern Appalachian plants

What's included

Included

  • Bottled water
  • Snacks

Not included

  • GSMNP parking pass, available through the park starting at $5
  • Lunch; bring your own or order a wrap through SMG for $10

Ratings on each provider

The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.

Important information

  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • A high level of physical fitness is required
  • A GSMNP parking pass is required
  • Meet at the Gatlinburg Welcome Center off Highway 441/321, just north of Gatlinburg; follow your guide to the trailhead

How this score is calculated

This score is based on one provider. Viator rates it 5.00 from 7 reviews. We place that rating among all Viator ratings and weight it by its review count. If the tour is found on another provider later, both ratings are combined.

How the score works and rating distribution in Gatlinburg
  • Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
  • Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
  • Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
  • The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 7.5. Top 38% in Gatlinburg means it ranks in the top 38% of tours in Gatlinburg by this score.

Provider rating distribution in Gatlinburg

How many tours in Gatlinburg have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.

  • GetYourGuide
  • Viator

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