Adventures

At Three Little Bears Retreat, we want to be your guide to a complete mountain experience. The Retreat operates on a monthly schedule, and regularly offers or rotates through the many offerings below and allows all staying at the Retreat to do as much or as little as they wish. If there is something that interests you, please check our calendar to see when different activities are planned. Private guided trips can be arranged for a fee.

Join us this Summer for our on-going/included great adventure Summer Camp where our daily itinerary on the Retreat will be focused around hiking, wilderness skills, playing in the creeks and rivers, seeking out wildlife, and unique day trips. The Retreat itinerary is available to all guests to participate, and third party adventures are booked separately providing both easy and planned activities with flexibility of choices for additional adventures or down time. We highly encourage guests to book an all-inclusive dining rate to gain timing flexibility, ease, and immersion in our camp fire dining and cooking classes. All rates include breakfast and sundowners at a minimum

Included with our all-inclusive dining room rates, join one of our intimate cooking classes led by our award-winning chef, where the flavors of the Smoky Mountains come to life. Rooted in Appalachian and Native American traditions and inspired by the writings of Horace Kephart, these hands-on experiences explore seasonal ingredients, open-fire techniques, and time-honored recipes drawn from the early days of the national park.

Available on most weekdays, begin the day in quiet harmony with sunrise yoga or tai chi, offered in serene outdoor settings. As morning light filters through the trees, these guided sessions focus on gentle movement, breath, and balance—awakening the body while calming the mind. Private sessions available with reservations

Venture into Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most biodiverse temperate forest on Earth and the most biologically rich national park in the United States. Our guided animal safari expeditions invite you to follow our guide vehicle to seek out the Smokies’ legendary **Big Five—black bear, elk, wild boar, coyote, and bobcat—**connected to the lead guide with long range radios, enjoy the vintage safari-style experience while learning subtle signs of a thriving wilderness shaped by ancient rhythms.

The entrance to the legendary “Road to Nowhere” is located just around the corner from Three Little Bears Retreat and serves as one of the quietest and most beautifully serene gateways into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Our guided e-bike tours depart directly from the Retreat and provide one of the most thrilling and scenic rides in the Smokies, winding through mountain forests and along the lake before culminating at the historic tunnel itself.

The area features multiple trail systems branching from both primary access points:

• Noland Creek Trailhead
• The Tunnel Trailhead

From these trail systems, guests may access a wide range of backcountry routes leading deeper into the national park, including challenging wilderness trails that eventually connect all the way to Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome) for experienced hikers seeking a true Smoky Mountain expedition.

For those attempting the full route, guides recommend beginning from Kuwohi and descending toward the Road to Nowhere, as the elevation profile is considerably easier in that direction.

Note: Adult riders only for guided e-bike experiences.

Slip quietly onto the waters of Fontana Lake for a day of exploration few ever experience. Our guided kayak trips lead you to secluded islands and hidden coves, accessible only by water, where the Smokies reveal a rare sense of stillness. Paddle through glassy channels and land on a private shoreline for a wilderness lunch, thoughtfully prepared and enjoyed far from crowds, with nothing but water, forest, and sky as your company.

As evening approaches, our sunset kayak tours offer a different kind of magic. The lake glows with reflected color as the mountains soften into silhouette, wildlife stirs along the shoreline, and the day closes in quiet rhythm. Whether by sunlit afternoon or golden dusk, these Fontana Lake kayak experiences blend solitude, nature, and simple luxury—an unhurried way to experience the wild heart of the Smokies from the water.

Or just sit back in a tube, relax and take it all in for the afternoon!

Join in on one of these day trip safaris for scenic drives while visiting unique regional places. Knowing the mountain roads is important as maps and cell service do not work in many areas, and you definitely do not want to drive right past the most epic view points, unique stops, and points of interest. Let our guides lead you to some of the most legendary driving roads in North America:

• Tail of the Dragon
• Cheoah Skyway
• Blue Ridge Parkway
• National Park 441 to Cades Cove or Gatlinburg

Seasonal offerings include spring wildflower rides, fall color tours, mountain town visits, and brewery itineraries—guided, paced, and supported for maximum enjoyment.

The Nuwati Trail at the Retreat offers nearly everything you want from a Smoky Mountain trail following a mountain stream from bottom to top. It has little cascade falls, a stream-fed pond, places to relax in a hammock, reflection benches by the falls, and a playground hidden in the woods! It's a great morning or afternoon to either relax and reset or explore panning for gold or gems in the streams while looking out for wildlife.

Put away the screens and create those core memories spending the afternoon laughing, competing, and reconnecting over classic lawn games set against sweeping mountain views.

Corn Hole

Horse Shoes

Bad Minton

Croquet

Ping Pong

and more

Learn something new and build confidence with a unique skill. With our focus on Cherokee and Appalachian Heritage, we provide opportunities to learn and try old ways and develop new skills such as:

Slow down and wander along the clear mountain streams and Lands Creek, where cool water, smooth stones, and ancient rhythms invite discovery. Guests are welcome to explore the creek banks, wade into quiet pools, and try their hand at panning for gems or flakes of gold—a nod to the Smokies’ deep geologic history.

As dusk settles into the mountains, gather around the fire for simple pleasures—toasting s’mores, or follow us out to some of our favorite sunset spots to toast the end of a great day sharing stories, and listening to the wilderness or quiet crackle of wood and flame. On select evenings, guests are invited to enjoy local entertainment, cultural storytelling, or other scheduled event