Wilderness Wildlife Week™

Come celebrate the natural features, creatures and cultures of the Great Smoky Mountains. Free and open to the public, Wilderness Wildlife Week features a wide range of programs and activities for children and adults.

Along with the classes, seminars, demonstrations, and guided hikes through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Wilderness Wildlife Week features exhibit booths where our guests can browse photography from the Smokies, local art, handmade goods and more.

Guided hikes range in difficulty from easy to challenging, and classes are geared towards beginners or advanced students in the different topics.

Submissions are now open for the 2026 photography contest! This contest aims to encourage participants to enjoy nature’s beauty and share their experiences through photography. The  deadline to enter is midnight, Sunday, December 7th, 2025.

Submitted images will be displayed during Wilderness Wildlife Week at The LeConte Event Center daily during event hours.

For categories and criteria, rules and regulations, and to submit your entry, please check out the link below.

Pink Jeep Tours will offer daily scenic and educational tours in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. An experienced guide will share many sights of beauty not found by the normal visitor to the area, including a short off-road experience!

Join fly-fishing experts Greg Ward and Dennis Ogle of Rocky Top Outfitters as they share tips and tricks on how to make the most of your fly-fishing experience in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. They may even share some of their secret spots!

Navigating the night sky can be challenging, Astronomer Michele Montgomery PhD can to help. At this workshop, she’ll share how to find Polaris (the North Star) and other constellations from your own backyard (or Great Smoky Mountains National Park).

Congratulations to our winners of the 2025 Smokies Through The Lens Photography Contest winners! You can view all entries that placed by category in the video below. Stay tuned for more information on the 2026 Wilderness Wildlife Week!