THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Combine a moderate Smokies hike with a beginner-friendly acrylic painting lesson led by local guides. Learn Cherokee plant uses and regional history, then set up an easel at a waterfall or vista to capture the view.
Combine a moderate Smokies hike with a beginner-friendly acrylic painting lesson led by local guides. Learn Cherokee plant uses and regional history, then set up an easel at a waterfall or vista to capture the view.
Morning mist clings to rhododendron as a small group follows a guide up a soft, leaf-strewn trail. The forest breathes around them—streams dare you to step closer, mossy boulders hold the heat of yesterday’s sun, and distant ridgelines cut the sky. This is a Paint & Hike: a beginner-friendly trek through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that ends with an acrylic painting session overlooking a waterfall, historic cabin, or sunset vista.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Mountain Mama’s Art & Adventure · Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Morning mist clings to rhododendron as a small group follows a guide up a soft, leaf-strewn trail. The forest breathes around them—streams dare you to step closer, mossy boulders hold the heat of yesterday’s sun, and distant ridgelines cut the sky. This is a Paint & Hike: a beginner-friendly trek through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that ends with an acrylic painting session overlooking a waterfall, historic cabin, or sunset vista.
The park straddles the Tennessee–North Carolina border and preserves ancient Appalachian geology—folded, weathered sandstone and shale carved by millennia of water. Visitors learn local Cherokee plant lore and the park’s early-20th-century conservation history while moving at an easy to moderate pace. In season, guides look for North Carolina elk in Cataloochee or the rare synchronous lightning bugs in select hollows.
After the hike, participants set up portable art chairs and follow step-by-step acrylic lessons suited to first-timers and practiced painters alike; all painting supplies are provided. Expect uneven footpaths, short elevation gains, and several scenic stops for instruction and composition choices.
Practical notes: arrive with layered clothing, sturdy shoes, and enough water for a 3–4 hour outing; the guide provides seating and art gear. Trails can be wet and buggy in warm months; sunrise and evening sessions are best for wildlife and softer light. The company asks those with cardiovascular concerns to consult a physician beforehand, and service animals are allowed. Leave no trace during painting—use provided aprons, pack out waste, and avoid disturbing plant life.
moderate.
3–4 hours.
Requires a moderate level of fitness—able to hike uneven terrain and stand during a painting session.
Yes—chairs with tilting tables, aprons, and acrylic painting supplies are included in the tour.
Hikes are beginner-friendly to moderate with short elevation gains; participants should have a basic level of fitness.
Guides may seek elk in North Carolina’s Cataloochee area and synchronous lightning bugs in season, but wildlife sightings aren’t guaranteed.
All sales are final; tours may be canceled for bad weather per the operator’s policy.
The park preserves lands long used by Cherokee communities and later protected during the early conservation movement; many trails pass historic cabins and farming remnants.
Keep paints contained and pack out all waste; synchronous firefly populations and meadow habitats are sensitive, so follow guide instructions to minimize impact.
Mountain Mama’s Art & Adventure operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
Morning mist clings to rhododendron as a small group follows a guide up a soft, leaf-strewn trail. The forest breathes around them—streams dare you to step closer, mossy boulders hold the heat of yesterday’s sun, and distant ridgelines cut the sky. This is a Paint & Hike: a beginner-friendly trek through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that ends with an acrylic painting session overlooking a waterfall, historic cabin, or sunset vista.
Morning mist clings to rhododendron as a small group follows a guide up a soft, leaf-strewn trail. The forest breathes around them—streams dare you to step closer, mossy boulders hold the heat of yesterday’s sun, and distant ridgelines cut the sky. This is a Paint & Hike: a beginner-friendly trek through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that ends with an acrylic painting session overlooking a waterfall, historic cabin, or sunset vista.
The park straddles the Tennessee–North Carolina border and preserves ancient Appalachian geology—folded, weathered sandstone and shale carved by millennia of water. Visitors learn local Cherokee plant lore and the park’s early-20th-century conservation history while moving at an easy to moderate pace. In season, guides look for North Carolina elk in Cataloochee or the rare synchronous lightning bugs in select hollows.
After the hike, participants set up portable art chairs and follow step-by-step acrylic lessons suited to first-timers and practiced painters alike; all painting supplies are provided. Expect uneven footpaths, short elevation gains, and several scenic stops for instruction and composition choices.
Practical notes: arrive with layered clothing, sturdy shoes, and enough water for a 3–4 hour outing; the guide provides seating and art gear. Trails can be wet and buggy in warm months; sunrise and evening sessions are best for wildlife and softer light. The company asks those with cardiovascular concerns to consult a physician beforehand, and service animals are allowed. Leave no trace during painting—use provided aprons, pack out waste, and avoid disturbing plant life.