Looking for new ways to explore and connect with Great Smoky Mountains National Park this fall? Smokies Life has announced its August–November 2026 schedule of Branch Out events, featuring 12 unique opportunities to learn about the park’s wildlife, natural resources, history and culture.
From guided hikes and hands-on workshops to wildlife encounters and engaging storytelling programs, Branch Out events offer participants the opportunity to experience the Smokies alongside experienced naturalists, artists and historians.
“These programs are a prime opportunity to cultivate one’s connection to the park,” said Smokies Life CEO Jacqueline Harp. “Led by experienced naturalists and guides, including a newly added event led by our current writer and illustrator in residence, Laurie McDowell, these fun and educational events highlight the Smokies’ ecological diversity and cultural legacy.”
Fall 2026 Branch Out Events
Sensational Salamanders
August 18, 2026
Discover one of the Smokies’ most fascinating residents during Sensational Salamanders. Participants will search for and identify amphibians at various locations throughout Great Smoky Mountains National Park while learning about their habitats, diets and important role in the park’s ecosystem.
Wildlife Tracking Webinar
August 24, 2026
Prefer to learn from home? The Wildlife Tracking Webinar offers an online opportunity to discover how to identify animal tracks and uncover the stories they can tell about the wildlife living in the Smokies.
Look Rock Hawk Watch
September 17, 2026
Experience the spectacular fall migration of birds of prey during Look Rock Hawk Watch. Birdwatchers of all experience levels can observe migrating hawks and learn more about these remarkable birds.
Ecological Illustration Workshop
September 19, 2026
Artists of all skill levels can sharpen their observation and illustration skills during this workshop along the Fighting Creek Nature Trail in the Sugarlands area near Gatlinburg.
The workshop will be hosted by Laurie McDowell, Smokies Life’s 2026 Steve Kemp writer and illustrator in residence.
Monarch Butterfly Tagging & Education
October 3 & 7, 2026
Join local conservation efforts during Monarch Butterfly Tagging & Education in Cades Cove. Offered twice this fall, these programs provide participants with an opportunity to learn about monarch butterflies and help researchers track their populations during the species’ annual migration.
Elk in the Smokies
October 9 & 17, 2026
Explore the Oconaluftee Visitor Center area near Cherokee during the height of the elk rut. Led by a naturalist, these rambles offer an opportunity to learn more about the park’s iconic elk while observing them during one of the most active times of the year.
Forest Bathing Guided Walk
October 30, 2026
Slow down and reconnect with nature during a Forest Bathing Guided Walk along the Kephart Prong Trail on the North Carolina side of the park near Bryson City and Cherokee.
This immersive experience highlights the restorative benefits of spending time in the forest while encouraging participants to experience the natural surroundings at a slower pace.
Grandma Gatewood’s Walk
November 4, 2026
History comes alive at the Great Smokies Welcome Center in Townsend during Grandma Gatewood’s Walk. The program explores the inspiring story of Emma “Grandma” Gatewood, who became the first woman to solo hike the Appalachian Trail in 1955.
Aunt Liddy Monologue
November 12, 2026
Meet Lydia Kear Whaley, a midwife, healer and Civil War widow who lived in Sugarlands from 1840 to 1926. This engaging monologue at the Great Smokies Welcome Center in Townsend brings her story and the history of the Smokies to life.
Regal Raptors & Short-eared Owls
November 30, 2026
Learn more about some of the Smokies’ remarkable birds of prey during an evening program in Cades Cove. Participants will explore the world of raptors and short-eared owls while learning about their behavior and role in the park’s ecosystem.
Who Can Attend Branch Out Events?
Membership in Smokies Life is required to participate in Branch Out events. Annual Park Keeper memberships start at $40.
Park Keepers help Smokies Life support the continued preservation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park by funding programs that promote greater public understanding and appreciation of the park through education, interpretation and research. Today, more than 29,000 Park Keepers support this mission.
For those who are not currently members, the cost to join Smokies Life and attend a Branch Out event is $85, which includes a $40 basic Park Keeper membership and a $45 event registration fee. For current Park Keepers, event registration is $45.
Participation fees help cover the costs of planning and hosting Branch Out programs, while additional revenue supports projects and services benefiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Learn More About Branch Out
Ready to explore the Smokies in a new way this fall? Visit SmokiesLife.org/branch-out-events to learn more about upcoming programs and registration.
For additional information, email membership@smokieslife.org.
Smokies Life is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the scientific, historical and interpretive activities of Great Smoky Mountains National Park through educational products and services for park visitors. Support from members and retail stores helps fund seasonal rangers and interns who protect and interpret the park’s 800 miles of trails, 100 historic structures and more than 21,000 documented species of life.
Learn more about Smokies Life and its work to preserve the Smokies for generations to come at SmokiesLife.org.
