Smoky Mountains Jeep Tour: Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

The trail loops through almost 200 years of frontier history, with log lodges still standing from the 1830s and 1840s.

A guided jeep tour of Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail in the Smoky Mountains near Pigeon Forge, where you ride through dense forest, stop for views of the mountain vistas, and walk a short nature path to see a waterfall. The professional guide explains the woodland ecology—chestnut oak, white oak, magnolia, maple and tulip trees—and the history of the American Frontier settlement that once stood here. The tour runs 2.5 hours and includes all fees; children from age 2 are welcome, and the pace suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Scenic Jeep Tour and Nature Walk

• Drive Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
• Stop for mountain views
• Learn about local trees
• Explore historic log lodges
• Walk short nature path to waterfall

The Experience

If you have a free afternoon in Pigeon Forge and want to see the Smoky Mountains without driving yourself, this jeep tour handles the route and the commentary. You'll ride the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, a solitary loop through dense forest that climbs the mountain and then descends, with stops along the way to step out and take in the views. The drive itself is the main event—the scenery is what the operator built the tour around, and the guide points out what you're looking at as you go.

At the top of the mountain, the forest opens enough to show you the scope of the range. On the way down, you'll walk a short nature path to a waterfall, then the guide will show you what remains of the frontier cabins and structures from nearly 200 years ago—log lodges and old plants still rooted in the ground where settlers built them during the 1830s and 1840s. The guide covers the trees that make up the forest (chestnut oak, white oak, magnolia, maple and tulip), the wildlife that lives here, and the history of the settlement. The whole thing takes 2.5 hours from start to finish.

A professional guide and driver is included, so you don't navigate or worry about the road. All fees and taxes are built into the price. Children from age 2 can come along; if your child is 5 or younger, you'll need to bring a car seat. For groups of six or more, an 18% gratuity is added at check-in.

What’s included

• Professional guide and driver.
• all fees and taxes.
• short nature walk to a waterfall.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Smoky Mountains Jeep Tours

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want narrated history and ecology during the drive rather than reading signs yourself or stopping to research on your own.

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Top questions

What is the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail like?

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a solitary loop road through dense forest in the Smoky Mountains that climbs to the mountain's peak and then descends. You'll stop several times to view the scenery, and the guide explains the woodland ecology and the history of the American Frontier settlement that stood here in the 1830s and 1840s, with log lodges and old structures still visible.

How long does the tour take?

The tour runs 2.5 hours from start to finish, including the jeep ride, the stops for views, and the short walk to the waterfall.

Will I be able to see a waterfall on this tour?

Yes, you'll walk a short nature path to view a waterfall as part of the tour.

Can I bring my young children?

Children from age 2 are welcome on the tour. If your child is 5 years old or younger, you'll need to provide a car seat.

What does the guide talk about during the drive?

The guide covers the local history and wildlife, including the trees that make up the forest—chestnut oak, white oak, magnolia, maple and tulip—and explains the American Frontier settlement that existed here nearly 200 years ago.