The 24th Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge and Guided Hikes for January 2014

There have been some big changes to this year's Wilderness Wildlife Week in the Great Smoky Mountains which takes place each year in Pigeon Forge during January. Not only are there many new and exciting programs and guided hikes that will take place during Wilderness Wildlife Week, the schedule has been moved later by 2 weeks and will be taking place in a brand new location.

The past few years', seasonally rough weather has interrupted guided hikes and closed roads during Wilderness Wildlife Week to the great disappointment to many that have attended and if Wilderness Wildlife Week took place when it has historically, attendees would have dealt with roads closed by snow and biter cold making guided hikes far less fun.

Today kicked off another winter storm with snow causing roads in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to close shutting off access to some of the best areas to take a guided hike or bus tour such as in Cades Cove.

The good news is that by the time Wilderness Wildlife Week kicks off this year from January 25th through February 1st, 2014 the long term forecast right now show far more temperate weather and the potential for just a dusting of snow here and there mostly in the upper elevations.

Besides the new dates for 2014 when Wilderness Wildlife Week runs, it was time to change the location that this extremely popular yearly event takes place. The show will be taking place practically walking distance where it has in the past at the brand new LeConte Center on Teaster Lane in Pigeon Forge.

Clearly the best place to host the Wilderness Wildlife Week event had to be in Pigeon Forge based upon all of the great lodging and dining choices as well as the extremely close proximity of the Great Smoky Mountains national park where the majority of the guided hikes will take place.

The previous location where the event was held just did not have enough room for all the attendees who flock to the Smokies for the great family friendly demonstrations and classes, musical performances and storytelling. After all, everything other than food at Wilderness Wildlife Week is free and who can beat that?

The new LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge is not just beautiful and spacious; this state of the art convention facility will be comfortable if you come for just a few presentations, or stay from opening to close all week long.

You don't have to be a huge wildlife, history, musical or photography expert to have a good time at Wilderness Wildlife Week and I can assure you that by the time Wilderness Wildlife Week is over, you will not only know far more than you did a week ago, you will be inspired to learn more, have more great memories, you will be chomping at the bit to come back in 2015!

One of the most popular parts of Wilderness Wildlife Week is the guided hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains national park. It doesn't matter if you are a hard core long distance extreme hiker or just a beginner, there are hike for everyone but because they are so popular you have to register early in order to have a spot.

Any of the guided hikes listed below are subject to change or cancellation based upon weather or other unforeseen circumstances:

Hikes and Field Trips on Sunday, January 26, 2014
Sign-up for these hikes and field trips at 11:30am
on January 25, 2014, in Greenbrier Hall Section A

• 7am – 2 pm, Cades Cove Photo Trek, Guided by Iceland, Rated Easy
• 8am– 2:30pm, Rock House, Guided by Holt, 6 miles, Rated Easy Moderate
• 8am – 3:00pm, Hiking Tour of Wear Cove, Guided by Owen, 7.6 miles, Rated Easy Strenuous
• 8:30am – 4:30pm, Laurel Falls / Little Greenbrier, Guided by Domingue, 7.4 miles, Rated Easy Moderate
• 10am – 4:30pm, Ramsey Cascades, Guided by Hedgepath, 8 miles, Rated Moderate/Strenuous
• 10:30am – 2pm, Townsend Railroad Museum, Guided by Eastin, Rated Easy
• 6pm – 9pm, Owl Prowl, Guided by Garr, Rated Easy

Hikes and Field Trips on Monday, January 27, 2014
Sign-up for these hikes and field trips at 6 pm
on January 25, 2014, in Greenbrier Hall Section A

• 8am – 2pm, Cades Cove Bus Tour, Guided by Snyder, Rated Easy
• 8am – 3:30pm, Walker Sisters via Laurel Falls, Guided by Zachry, 7.5 miles, Rated Moderate/Strenuous
• 8am – 3:30pm, White Oak Sinks, Guided by Domingue, 5 miles, Rated Moderate
• 8am – 5pm, Mount Cammerer, Guided by Maynard, 11 miles, Rated Moderate/Strenuous
• 8am – 4pm, Rhododendron / Injun Creek, Guided by Duncan, 7, Rated Moderate/Strenuous
• 11am – 4pm, Cucumber Gap / Little River, Guided by Luckett, 5.5 miles, Rated Easy/Moderate
• 11am – 5pm, Abrams Falls, Guided by Owen, 5 miles, Rated Easy/Moderate

Hikes and Field Trips on Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Sign-up for these hikes and field trips at 6 pm
on January 26, 2014, in Greenbrier Hall Section A

• 7am – 5pm, Rocky Top, Guided by Silver, 14 miles, Rated Strenuous
• 7:30 am – 3:30pm Meigs Mountain / Lumber Ridge, Guided by Owen, 10.6 miles, Rated Moderate/Strenuous
• 8 am – 2:30pm, Mystery Hike, 6 miles, Rated Moderate/Strenuous
• 8 am – 2:30pm, Off-Trail to Walker Sisters, Guided by Snyder, 5 miles, Rated Moderate
• 9 am – 5 pm, Old Sugarlands / Skyuka, Guided by McCarter, 6 miles, Rated Easy/Moderate
• 11 am – Noon, Pigeon Forge Greenway Litter Pickup, Guided by Howard, 1 mile, Rated Easy
• 1 pm – 3pm, Sevier County Compost Facility Tour, Guided by Howard, 1 mile, Rated Easy/Moderate
• 6 pm – 9pm, Owl Prowl by Bus, Guided by Garr, Rated Easy

Hikes and Field Trips on Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Sign-up for these hikes and field trips at 6 pm on
January 27, 2014, in Greenbrier Hall Section A

• 7am – Noon, Cades Cove Photo Trek by Bus, McLemore, Rated Easy
• 8am – 2pm, Finley Cane / Bote Mtn. / Lead Cove, Guided by Owen, 7.1 miles, Rated Strenuous
• 8am – 3:30pm, A.T. / Road Prong / The Chimneys, Guided by Lloyd, 7.2 miles, Rated Moderate/Strenuous
• 10am – 3:30pm, Moore Cemetery, Guided by Snyder, 4.5 miles, Rated Moderate/Strenuous
• 10:30am – 4:30pm, Alum Cave Bluffs, Guided by Virden, 5 miles, Rated Moderate/Strenuous
• 10:30am – 5pm, Mystery Hike, 6 miles, Rated Moderate
• 1pm – 3pm, History of Pigeon Forge Tour by Bus, Guided by Scott, Rated Easy

Hikes and Field Trips on Thursday, January 30, 2014
Sign-up for these hikes and field trips at 6 pm
on January 28, 2014, in Greenbrier Hall Section A

• 7am – 2pm, Finley Cane / West Prong, Guided by Luckett, 6 miles, Rated Easy/Moderate
• 7:30am – 3:30pm, Ramsey Cascades, Guided by Virden, 8 miles, Rated Moderate/Strenuous
• 8am – 4pm, Meigs Mountain: Off-Trail, Guided by Snyder, 7.5 miles, Rated Moderate/Strenuous
• 8:30am – 4:30pm, Llama Trek, Guided by Garrett, 4 miles, Rated Easy/Moderate
• 11am – 5pm, Old Sugarlands, Guided by Deitzer, 3.5 miles, Rated Easy/Moderate
• 6pm – 9pm, Owl Prowl by Bus, Guided by Garr, Rated Easy

Hikes and Field Trips on Friday, January 31, 2014
Sign-up for these hikes and field trips at 6 pm
on January 29, 2014, in Greenbrier Hall Section A

• 7am – 3:30pm, Mystery Hike, 6.5 miles, Rated Moderate/Strenuous
• 8am – 4pm, Little River / Huskey Gap, Guided by Zachry, 6.8 miles, Rated Moderate/Strenuous
• 9am – 4pm, Barnes Sisters, Guided by Duncan, 5 miles, Rated Moderate/Strenuous
• 11:30am – 5:30pm, Cades Cove Bus Tour, Guided by Harrington, Rated Easy
• 6pm – 9pm, Owl Prowl by Bus, Guided by Garr, Rated Easy

Hikes and Field Trips on Saturday, February 1, 2014
Sign-up for these hikes and field trips at 6 pm
on January 30, 2014 in Greenbrier Hall Section A

• 7:30am – 4:30pm Birding Cades Cove, Guided by Alsop, 2, Rated Easy/Moderate
• 8am – 2pm, Baskins Creek, Guided by Maynard, 6 miles, Rated Moderate
• 9:30 am – 2pm, Cosby Bus Tour, Guided by Cardwell, Rated Easy
• 10am – 4pm, Jakes Creek / Avent Cabin, Guided by Jenkins, 3 miles, Rated Easy/Moderate
• 10am – 4pm, Old Elkmont Town, Guided by McMahan, 3 miles, Rated Easy
• 1pm – 3pm, History of Pigeon Forge Tour by Bus, Guided by Scott, Rated Easy

Wilderness wildlife week takes place from Saturday, January 25th until Saturday, February 1st, 2014 at the LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge, 2986 Teaster Lane Pigeon Forge, TN 37868. You can call (800) 251-9100 or (865)453-8574.

2014 Wilderness Wildlife Week Guided Hikes

2014 Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule for Day 1

2014 Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule for Day 2

2014 Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule for Day 3

2014 Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule for Day 4

2014 Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule for Day 5

2014 Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule for Day 6

2014 Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule for Day 7