3 HR Self-Drive Guided UTV Tour: Cataloochee Dirt Roads & Elk

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Meet Your Guide & Get Ready! Your adventure begins at Scenic Tours & Adventures in Maggie Valley, North Carolina! Meet your experienced local guide, complete your required waivers, and get familiar with your assigned side-by-side UTV. Your guide will explain the vehicle's controls, safety procedures, and what to expect along the mountain roads. Get ready to take the wheel and experience the Smokies in a whole new way! Drivers must be at least 21 with a valid driver's license and proof of insurance.

   15 min

2. Journey to Cataloochee Valley! Your guided adventure begins as you leave Maggie Valley and travel toward beautiful Cataloochee Valley. Follow your guide along scenic mountain roads while learning about the area's early settlers, Appalachian traditions, and fascinating local history. Hear the legendary tale of Boojum, one of Western North Carolina's most mysterious mountain characters, as you enjoy the surrounding forests, countryside, and peaceful mountain scenery.

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3. Winding Dirt Roads & Mountain Views! Here's where the backcountry adventure really begins! Leave the pavement behind and take the wheel of your own UTV as you follow your guide along winding dirt and gravel country roads. Navigate scenic mountain curves surrounded by towering hardwood forests, peaceful countryside, and beautiful Smoky Mountain views. Feel the excitement of exploring the mountains from behind the wheel while discovering a quieter side of Western North Carolina. This is a scenic guided driving experience on designated roads, not an extreme off-road obstacle course.

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4. Exploring Historic Cataloochee Valley! Step back in time as you discover historic Cataloochee Valley, once home to a thriving Appalachian mountain community. Learn about the families who lived, farmed, and raised their children in this secluded valley before the establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Your guide shares stories of historic churches, old homesteads, and mountain traditions while you enjoy beautiful meadows and peaceful surroundings. View accessible historic landmarks and enjoy opportunities for photographs as permitted by current road and park conditions.

   1 h

5. Elk Viewing & Wildlife Watching! Keep your eyes open as we explore the beautiful mountain meadows of Cataloochee Valley, one of the Smokies' best-known destinations for wild elk viewing! Watch for these magnificent animals grazing in open fields, resting near forest edges, or moving through the surrounding countryside. Your experienced guide will help you look for elk, deer, wild turkeys, and other native wildlife while sharing information about the valley's natural surroundings. Enjoy opportunities for photographs from safe viewing areas. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, and guests must maintain a safe distance from all animals.

   30 min

6. Scenic Return to Maggie Valley! Your adventure continues as you follow your guide back through the winding mountain roads toward Maggie Valley. Enjoy a different perspective of the beautiful countryside, peaceful forests, and mountain scenery you explored earlier. Take in the fresh mountain air and enjoy the final stretches of your self-drive UTV adventure as your guide leads the way back to Scenic Tours & Adventures. Your experience concludes at our office in Maggie Valley, leaving you with unforgettable memories of the Smoky Mountain backroads, historic Cataloochee Valley, and perhaps a wild elk encounter!

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Cancellation

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Reviews

Ratings come from 25 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Asheville

• Its from-price is 124% above the median of the 149 experiences we list in Asheville.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 41 of 149.

About Asheville

Asheville, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, is an arts-minded mountain city of Art Deco buildings, craft breweries and a famous estate.

Asheville sits in a basin of the Blue Ridge Mountains in western North Carolina, where the French Broad River meets the Swannanoa. Its downtown is full of Art Deco buildings from the 1920s, including the City Building, and the Basilica of St Lawrence, with its elliptical dome, and the streets have bookshops, galleries and street musicians.

Top-ranked sights in Asheville: Grove Arcade, Thomas Wolfe Memorial, Blue Ridge Parkway.

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