Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
Discover Western NC's diverse firefly species, including the elusive Blue Ghost, on our intimate night hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains. For $185 per person, this 3-hour experience includes transportation from downtown Asheville, guided interpretation, snacks, and red-light headlamps (required for firefly viewing). The easy to moderate 2-mile hike accommodates most fitness levels and is perfect for ages 14+. With a maximum of 6 participants, your expert guide will lead you through well-maintained trails while sharing insights about local ecology and history. Tours depart at 7pm and return around 10pm, running daily from May 22 - June 1 and June 26 - July 1. Please note that while this area is known for firefly activity, sightings cannot be guaranteed, particularly following Hurricane Helene. Closed-toe shoes are required, and photography is prohibited to protect the habitat. Book through our trip calendar - minimum 2 participants required.
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Service animals allowed
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
Pisgah National Forest
Your guide will help you select a hike from over 1,000 miles of trails within Pisgah National Forest, Dupont State Forest, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, or the Blue Ridge Parkway! Travel time depends on the hike chosed; drive time is typically 20-60 minutes.
Options
Nighttime Forest Firefly Hike
What‘s Included
Headlamp with red light
Please notify us in advance of any dietary restrictions
Air-conditioned vehicle
Gratuity for our team of well-trained professional guides is not included in the trip price. Industry standard gratuity for a guided hike is 15-25%.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
7 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
**⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Five Stars - Unforgettable Experience!**
Jodi T,Jun 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I cannot say enough about how incredible our experience was with Blue Ridge Hiking Company! We were arriving into Asheville for a quick one-night stay and decided on Sunday morning to try and book a last-minute sunset hike. Lindsey answered and advised me that they don’t typically book hikes on Sundays, but she offered to message her guides to see if anyone was free. Lucky for us, she called back shortly after to say Traci was available! From the start, Traci was amazing. She was extremely communicative via text regarding our meeting instructions. We met up at 7 PM for a 4-hour hike, and Traci brought absolutely all the equipment we needed, including headlamps for the trek back. Just five minutes after getting out of the car, we encountered a female black bear! Traci was the definition of professional—she stayed completely calm and gave us clear, quiet instructions on what to do. We slowly walked back to the vehicle, safely observed the bear from a distance, and made a new plan. Once the bear retreated, we decided to use a different trail entrance. The hike itself was challenging but totally manageable. Along the way, Traci pointed out the local flora and fauna and told the absolute best stories. After just enough of a hike, we reached a stunning rock outcropping where Traci spread out drinks and snacks for us to enjoy while watching a beautiful sunset. We hiked back in the dark using the headlamps, which my husband absolutely loved. I cannot say enough about how great Traci Mohl was. We will definitely be booking with her again!
Great experience
X1485UPkathyv,Jun 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience. Amy was well prepared and knowledgeable.
Magical Moments!!!
54jeannej,May 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amy Hunsucker and Blue Ridge Hiking Co were fantastic!!! No pictures to show - which makes it even more special to experience. it’s an easy hike” walk”. amy was just the right amount of knowledgeable, taking care of us, helping us be good stewards - staying in the trail, NO lights (except the red light head lamps provided), and just waiting for nature to do its splendid thing!!!
Firefly Smokies
davidgregoryo,Jun 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Top notch, everything provided for the trip. Staff very knowledgeable and well prepared. Truly a bucket list experience!
A very special hike
Fatatino,Jun 13, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Finally we decided to do this private 1/2 day hike in June. It was the perfect weather. Our guide Adam, got in touch with us a couple of days prior to the hike date to check our hiking level, what are we looking to see or experience in this hike, if we have any issues medical or otherwise that he needs to know about , any specific snacks we want and so on, so that he can curate the hiking route to fit our expectations. I have to say, the hike and the guide more than met our expectations, the route was amazing, close to 5 miles in the blue ridge at 6000 elevation. Adam was so considerate to the fact that I have issues driving on the parkway and also considerate to our hiking level. He was super knowledgeable about the history of the area as well as the diverse plants and trees that we encountered. I highly recommend the company and Adam in particular.
Birthday Hike
R8510LEkimb,Mar 5, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00As a 56th birthday present from a dear friend, I was gifted a 1/2 day private guided group hike. Bev MacDowell was our perfect guide. She communicated clearly with our group prior to our hike about where and when to meet and what to bring. She listened to our requests for the day and planned the perfect outing for us complete with lunch, snacks, extra water, and even birthday cake! My friends and I loved everything about our day together in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Book a hike or backpacking trip for yourself with this professional company, you won’t regret it!
Best hike ever.
Joseph M,Feb 25, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jenna was an awesome guide for our scenic mountain hike. She was amazing with fantastic stories and tasty local snacks. It could not have been better.
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Operated by Blue Ridge Hiking Company