2026-08-26T14:07:39.491Z

Had an amazing time on a hiking tour yesterday with Jennifer! I am a solo traveler but wanted to get a good hiking experience and see the Blue Ridge Parkway! I did the waterfalls and Blue Ridge Parkway tour and it was beautiful. Highly recommend.

2026-08-16T00:00:00.000Z

Holy cow! What a fun and informative experience. Jennifer was Uber professional and just a wonderful person to meet and to get to know during our experience. We had a very diverse group and she was able to accommodate all of us. We will definitely be doing this again. Bob J title

2026-08-16T00:00:00.000Z

Jennifer did an amazing job with our 9 person group. She is extremely knowledgeable,friendly and accessible. She answered all of our questions and supplied us with great information on plants and the geographical make up of the area. I can’t wait to bring my family next time.

2026-08-16T00:00:00.000Z

Jennifer was the absolute best tour guide. Her passion for the land and the ecosystem is so inspiring. She allowed for lots of breaks during the hike and we learned SO much along the way. It was easy for me to modify my hike to enjoy the scenery and waterfalls. The stop for lunch and the gift shop was a welcome detour that made the day more relaxed for everyone. We Highly recommend this tour.

2026-08-15T01:45:17.384Z

A great experience. Jennifer is very knowledgeable and fun to be around. A diversified exposure to a wide variety of the blue ridge history, fauna, ecology, geography and history of the area.

2026-08-14T00:00:00.000Z

Jennifer was extremely personable and knowledgeable. Excellent experience.

2026-08-14T00:00:00.000Z

Jennifer was our guide and did a fabulous job of showing us the falls and other natural phenomena in the area. She was friendly, knowledgeable and engaging. I highly recommend her.

2026-08-09T00:00:00.000Z

Wonderful experience for our family from MN! This was our first time visiting the region, and we were hoping for an informative and comprehensive tour with a guide who could share not only the history of the area, but also its biology and botany. We got all of that and more with Kim! Kim was incredibly knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly passionate about the area. She shared so much interesting information throughout the tour while also being very accommodating to our family’s needs. We came away feeling like we had truly experienced and learned about this beautiful region. The sequence of how we toured the waterfalls was meaningful too as we started with the primitive trails to the stone walkways:) Great way to end, and she even took more time with us (past 1 pm) in order to see all we could! We would highly recommend this tour—and Kim—to anyone wanting a meaningful and well-rounded introduction to the area!

2026-07-11T00:00:00.000Z

Tour guide was Jennifer was very friendly and knowledgable, about the area. Had the opportunity to experience some spectacular views if the mountain ranges and waterfalls in the Pisgah Mountain area.

2026-07-09T16:13:23.685Z

I was fortunate enough to secure a spot on the Firefly Tour last month in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with Asheville Hiking Tours, and it exceeded every expectation. From start to finish, the entire experience was incredible. Our guide, the company's owner, Jennifer, was absolutely wonderful—warm, deeply engaging, and a genuine delight to spend the evening with.Witnessing the synchronous fireflies alongside the blue ghost fireflies (as well as several other firefly species) in an intimate, small-group setting was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. While I would love to make this an annual tradition, tickets are understandably rare, and I am just incredibly grateful to have been there. I am already looking forward to my next trip to Asheville to book another excursion with Jennifer. Do not hesitate to book with Asheville Hiking Tours—it is worth every moment!

2026-06-27T00:00:00.000Z

My girlfriend and did the waterfall hiking tour with our guide Jennifer. It was an amazing experience. She was knowledgeable and so pleasant. We not only saw the "touristy" waterfall but she also took us deeper into the woods to see some gorgeous hidden gems. My girlfriend was actually moved to tears. After the waterfall hike, Jennifer took us to the top of the Blue Ridge Parkway to see the remaining parts of George Vanderbilt's old hunting cabin at the top of the mountain. Jennifer was so knowledgeable and we learned so many interesting things that day. Highlyrecommended!

2026-06-22T23:35:18.626Z

An excellent experience! The guides are knowledgeable, funny, and accommodate a wide range of audience backgrounds and abilities. They’re very passionate about their work and care a lot about group experiences. Can’t recommend them enough.

2026-06-14T19:51:50.501Z

My siblings and I did the Firefly tour at the start of June, and it was genuinely one of the coolest experiences I've ever had. We saw at least 5 different species of fireflies deep in the Smoky Mountains. It took our breath away! We loved learning about fireflies and the local ecosytem from Jennifer. Kim was also a great guide. I can't recommend this experience enough!

2026-06-08T00:00:00.000Z

We did the firefly viewing tour on June 2 . It was an amazing experience. We learned about the different varieties of fireflies and went to a remote location to view them in action. We had never been that close to the fireflies before. Everyone was friendly and solicitous of our needs. Highly recommend.

2026-06-06T22:07:32.690Z

We had an amazing experience with this tour- learned a lot, saw a TON of fireflies- 3 different kinds!!! This was a way better way to get to see them vs waiting years for the lottery!

2026-06-05T03:12:38.542Z

2026-06-03T21:44:38.305Z

We attended the trip on May 2 and thoroughly enjoyed Jennifer’s lecture, easy and fun banter, and her obvious expertise. Even though the temperatures were a bit low for the fireflies’ romantic entanglements, we still got a great show and a wonderful educational experience. Jennifer is also a great driver, negotiating the curvy, dark, narrow roads in the “bone shaker.”

2026-06-02T22:08:07.776Z

We did the night hike to see the fireflies. We saw the blue ghost fireflies and the synchronous fireflies. It was a magical experience! Jennifer and Kim were excellent hosts. We stayed overnight at the lodge and it worked out perfectly for us.

2026-06-02T21:08:52.003Z

We took the amazing Firefly Tour where you have the opportunity to witness some of nature's most bewitching creatures, the Synchronous and Blue Ghost fireflies weave their magic in the Smokies. Before the tour, Jennifer, the owner of the company, lets you know via email, the schedule which includes gathering at a lodge to learn about fireflies before you head out. The tour is several hours long, and at one point, you are blindfolded for an extremely short period of time to keep the magical woods a well hidden secret. Our group was about 11 people as a few had cancelled at the last minute, so this is an intimate tour with an extremely knowledgeable guide, Jennifer. You drive to the sites in a van or an Expedition, your choice of vehicles, and while the forest roads can be jolty, it wasn't too bad. This is not a pull-up-a-chair and stare tour. You get to walk along a forest road, which is interesting to do in the dark, although you are provided with a flashlight with a red light. No one used theirs on our tour. You must be able to keep your cellphone off or in your pocket for this tour. If that is something you can't do, then don't go, as the residual light will be disruptive to those on the tour and the fireflies. Therefore, there are no pictures to post here. Pictures wouldn't do the experience justice though. The tour ends just before midnight, but it's worth every minute.

2026-06-02T17:21:57.206Z

My mother and I did the Firefly tour with Jennifer as the tour guide. It was phenomenal, you will not regret booking this tour. Jennifer did a wonderful job educating us and answering any questions we had along the way. If you truly want to experience a unique and memorable tour, this is the one to go with!

2026-06-02T12:19:20.625Z

We did the firefly tour and it was magical. Jennifer (PhD in biology) first gave us a short class on fireflies and then we headed out to the Smokey Mountains. The drive is a little rough and on winding roads, but we are in the Mountains. We witnessed at least three different species of fireflies. They were each different in the way they flashed their lights. I would highly recommend this trip. It was a wonderful experience.

2026-06-02T00:00:00.000Z

We booked with Ashville Hiking Tours for the Firefly Tour, where you have the opportunity (weather and insects willing) to see Synchronous, Blue Ghost, and a few other types of fireflies. We selected Jennifer's company because we wanted a more intimate experience, rather than the herd that gathers at Great Smoky National Park, if you are lucky enough to win a lottery ticket. We had planned to do this tour a few years ago, but unfortunately, Hurricane Helene blew in and changed plans, so we were thrilled to learn this year, the tour was back! This is an exceptional tour where you are treated like old friends, and the people with you really love fireflies and nature. We had about 11 people, although three didn't make the tour, so it would have been a little more. You start at a lodge where you relax on the porch, then spend about 45 minutes learning about fireflies. Jennifer is funny and friendly, and eager to share her knowledge. Accompanying us was Kim, a local who was driving one of the vehicles. She was also great to meet. Jennifer provides a clear calendar of the evening and important information about what you can and can't do on a hike to the fireflies. Read it. After the lecture, hold on to your seat as you drive through the woods. There is even a short period of time where you wear a sleep mask to protect the location, which is great. Once we reached the location, and after taking photos of the sunset from an overlook, we were bewitched by the glowing forest. Absolutely amazing. It is such a privilege (yes, I paid for it, but still...) to be able to see a forest glow with Synchronized Fireflies, and the darling little Blue Ghosts illuminating the grasses. At a final stop, we saw fireflies in trees, like fairy lights, plus our friends the Synchronous Fireflies. The tour ends close to midnight, but it is worth it. If you have the opportunity to take this tour, do so. We were lucky to have perfect conditions, but even if conditions hadn't been, we still would have enjoyed Jennifer's company and what we learned about these magical creatures.

2026-06-01T05:48:44.254Z

This tour was a great balance between scientific information, conservation, and awe inspiring wildlife. Jennifer and Kim were fun guides who thought of everything which made this an easy and enjoyable tour.

2026-06-01T00:00:00.000Z

This tour was a great balance between scientific information, conservation, and awe inspiring wildlife. Jennifer and Kim were fun guides who thought of everything which made this an easy and enjoyable tour.

2026-05-31T00:00:00.000Z

We were able to join Jennifer for her firefly tour. Bucket list evening that was fun & educational! Blue ghosts are cool!

2026-05-30T00:00:00.000Z

We did the firefly tour with Jennifer. After 4 years of trying to get a ticket via the NPS lottery, we decided to book with Asheville Hiking tours. We are so glad we did! Learned so much before the hike, and the actions taken to protect the environment of the fireflies we thoroughly and appropriate. The tour exceeded and all expectations! Saw 5 different types of fireflies, including synchronous and blue ghost. Bonus was multiple Elk sightings. Beyond magical, this was one of the best experiences of my life

2026-05-08T14:08:14.319Z

Jenny is an absolute treasure, and a true wealth of knowledge! I have worked with Jenny for several years to coordinate guided hikes for group itineraries. She is super reliable and easy to work with, and does an amazing job bringing the flora, fauna, natural and human history of the WNC region to life for our groups. I highly recommend Jenny and Asheville Hiking Tours to anyone looking to explore and learn more about this incredibly biodiverse region.

2026-04-11T00:00:00.000Z

I had an awesome experience with Asheville Hiking Tours! Went with a group of friends and the whole trip was a blast. We did about 2.5 miles of hiking and the hike itself was beautiful, and we got to see two amazing waterfalls that made it even more worth it. What really made it stand out was our friendly guide. She taught us so much about the local history, plants, and wildlife. It wasn’t just a hike, it felt like a full learning experience. We even got to taste some of the leaves and learned about edible mushrooms in the area, which was really cool and something I’ve never done before. I highly recommend this hike!

2024-10-23T15:59:43.337Z

It was a fantastic experience, with a professional guide who was attentive to the needs of the entire group. Highly recommended.

2024-10-04T00:00:00.000Z

Great trip. Guide ensured it was workable for guests of all capabilities. Commentary was knowledgeable and informative. MK was an excellent, kind and capable guide. She has a great sense of humor and ensures all guests enjoy the trip. She provided walking poles, snacks and water. She was an excellent driver as we navigated the Blue Ridge Parkway and off road paths to reach beautiful waterfalls. She gave us insights into Appalachian flora and fauna along with history. Everyone had a lovely time. We're sending prayers and positive thoughts to the company, MK and her fellow employees and all of Western NC after Helene. We can't wait to come back when we are able to.