Sep 12, 2025

Smokies Life announces fall 2025 schedule of Branch Out events

 Smokies Life CEO Jacki Harp (right) and Smokies Supervisory Park Ranger Lisa Nagurny examine an aquatic creature found in a nearby stream during an Experience Your Smokies session last fall. Join Harp for a special meet-and-greet and leisurely hike along the Fighting Creek Nature Trail on Oct. 8. Photo courtesy of Experience Your Smokies–Tennessee.

Written by: Smokies Life

Smokies Life announces its fall schedule of Branch Out events, with 19 total activities and adventures being offered between mid-September and December. From moderate-to-robust naturalist hikes on park trails to engaging virtual events enjoyed from home, Branch Out programs offer activities for a wide range of interests.

“Fall is an ideal time for engaging with the natural and cultural treasures of the Smokies, and Branch Out events are a wonderful opportunity to deepen one’s connection to the park,” said André Brousseau, Smokies Life membership engagement specialist. “In addition to being a fun way to explore the park’s vast biodiversity and rich cultural history with like-minded folks, each Branch Out event is designed to be educational, as all sessions are led by knowledgeable naturalists and guides.”


Membership in Smokies Life, a nonprofit partner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is required to attend; annual Park Keeper memberships start at $40. Currently, 28,000 Park Keepers help Smokies Life support the perpetual preservation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park by funding efforts that promote greater public understanding and appreciation through education, interpretation and research.

Fall 2025 Branch Out schedule

On Sept. 27, join entomologists Jim and Leslie Costa, the 2025 Steve Kemp writer and illustrator in residence, to learn about the most commonly found insects in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Photo of pleasing fungus beetle courtesy of Michele Sons.



The late September lineup is perfect for lovers of living creatures, from birds to insects. During Look Rock Hawk Watch on Sept. 23, birders will work as a team to identify, count and report raptors and other species of birds that fly by on their way south for the winter. Search the skies once more during Birding: The Missing Link on Sept. 25, and spot birds migrating back to the tropics for the winter. Insects of the Smokies are in the spotlight on Sept. 27 during an event led by entomologists Jim and Leslie Costa — the 2025 Steve Kemp writer and illustrator in residence.

October brings a variety of activities that will appeal to Smokies lovers. On Oct. 1, join actress Anne Van Curen on Grandma Gatewood’s Walk to discover what it was like, in 1955, to be the first woman to solo hike the Appalachian Trail. Learn about the monarch butterflies, their life cycle, migration patterns and when they are expected to arrive in the Great Smoky Mountains during Monarch Butterfly Tagging on two separate dates: Oct. 4 and Oct. 7.

In celebration of World Migratory Bird Day —and to contribute to community science efforts — observe and count bird species at Kuwohi, Newfound Gap, Sugarlands Visitor Center, Metcalf Bottoms and Cades Cove on Oct. 11. Photo courtesy of Smokies Life.

On Oct. 8, join Smokies Life Chief Executive Officer Jacqueline Harp for a Stroll with the CEO, a meet-and-greet and leisurely hike along the Fighting Creek Nature Trail. In celebration of World Migratory Bird Day on Oct. 11, observe and count bird species at locations throughout the park. Then enjoy a ramble with a naturalist while looking for and learning about Elk in the Smokies! on Oct. 18.

On Oct. 31, participants will enjoy plant life, wildlife and scenery on a guided, 5.2-mile, medium-impact hike along Rich Mountain Trail to Cerulean Knob, the site of the old Rich Mountain fire tower. Photo courtesy of Smokies Life.

Take time for mindfulness during a Forest Bathing Guided Walk on Oct. 22, and experience the restorative benefits of the forest. Find another opportunity to learn about Mammal Tracks and Traces, this time in Townsend, Tennessee, on Oct. 25. Wrap up the month with a medium-impact hike during the Rich Mountain Naturalist Ramble on Oct. 31.

The November and December lineup is perfect for bird aficionados and those interested in events with little-to-moderate physical activity. During the Little Greenbrier Naturalist Ramble on Nov. 5, discover the natural and cultural history of the area. Explore the basics of nature journaling, practice observational drawing techniques, and use reflective prompts to deepen awareness in an online webinar, The Art of Nature Journaling, on Nov. 10.

In Sparrow Identification on Nov. 11, learn to identify the various sparrow species found in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and then apply your new skills in the field at Secret Life of Sparrows on Nov. 18. Spot and identify Regal Raptors and Owls on Nov. 30 in Cades Cove, and then enter the winter season with one last 2025 Branch Out opportunity — Quiet Time in the Smokies on Dec. 3 —to discover plant life, wildlife and tracks while hiking in Townsend Wye.

Cost for Branch Out events: For Park Keepers, $45; To join and attend, $85 (Park Keeper basic membership $40 + event registration $45). This pricing applies to all programming except the Oct. 8 Stroll with the CEO, which costs $15 with membership. Participation fees are essential in helping to cover the costs associated with planning and hosting. All additional revenue supports the projects and services of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. For more info, see SmokiesLife.org/branch-out-events/ or email [email protected].

Smokies Life is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the scientific, historical and interpretive activities of Great Smoky Mountains National Park by providing educational products and services to park visitors. Smokies Life depends on the generous support of its members to fulfill its mission, preserving the Smokies for generations to come. Proceeds from members’ dues and retail stores also support dozens of seasonal rangers and interns who protect and interpret the 800 miles of trails, 100 historic structures and 21,000 documented species of life preserved in the park. For more information about Smokies Life and to join, visit SmokiesLife.org.