Activities Offerings ADVENTURE ADVENTURE Situated on 4,200 acres with 5,000 additional acres of private wilderness, Blackberry Farm is its own unique piece of private wilderness, but surrounding the farm is close to a million acres of national park and forestland. Experience new ventures on the water like kayaking, canoeing or paddle-boarding. Meet Mother Nature while hiking or geocaching on one of our many trails or scenic paths. Channel your inner athlete and bike through some of the best lands in the country for cycling. Love being outdoors and riding, but cycling is not really an interest? Partake in one of our many equestrian adventures. Our dedicated professionals are available at any time to help you explore, learn and train. All rates subject to an additional 19% service charge and taxes and rates are subject to change without notice. Please contact our concierge team for more details. As a courtesy to other guests, we kindly ask that cancellations and appointment changes be made by 7:00pm the day prior to your scheduled service to avoid penalties. Any appointments made or cancelled after 7:00pm the day prior will incur a 50% cancellation fee. In cases of severe weather penalties for canceling or changing outdoor activities will not be imposed.
Adventure PADDLE SPORTS CANOEING Explore the beauty of our surrounding foothills by taking an amazing journey along a pristine lake in one of our canoes. Let your guide share stories about local flora, fish and wildlife you will see as you paddle into the wilderness. Four-hour guided canoe trip. KAYAKING Enjoy a great adventure in the pristine waters of our surrounding lakes by paddling in a kayak alongside of one of our guides. Kayaking is a more individual experience that also allows you to cover more water if you prefer to tour the lake. Four-hour guided kayak trip. PADDLE-BOARDING A traditional form of surfing, originating from the Hawaiian Islands, paddle-boarding is a sport that has grown far beyond the pacific shores. Join our instructors on a short drive to the nearby mountain lakes of Chilhowee or Tellico. Once there you will learn how to SUP and enjoy a refreshing day on the water. Instead of surfing, we will paddle board on calm waters around islands and creeks, and maybe even take a dip if it gets too hot. Four-hour guided paddle-board trip.
Adventure HIKING HIKING Blackberry Farm features more than three miles of paved paths on the estate, as well as miles of trails throughout the property s 9,200 acres of wooded mountains. Local wilderness guides are available for hire if you prefer the skill and guidance of their experience. You will enjoy hearing local history, tree and plant information as well as the companionship, and a watchful eye, ensuring your day on the trails is just as you envision. A dedicated 1,000 acres contain more than nine miles of complex trails ranging from moderate to very challenging in skill level. We recommend that you let our team at the Oak Cottage know your hiking plans. We have water, first aid kits and twoway radios available for your hike. Conditions on the trails can change without warning, and we want you to be prepared. Neighboring Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers a complex system of trails located within a two-mile hike from our trail head. If you decide to venture off property into the Smokies, let one of our guides take you to spectacular waterfalls, beautiful vistas or even sections of the Appalachian Trail. BIRD WATCHING A great year-round activity, even attractive in the winter months when less foliage can allow better views of birds in their habitats. Bird watching is a good way to get outside and enjoy nature. Blackberry Farm is naturally an incredible birding environment with its multiple habitats of forests, fields, fence row, ponds and creeks.
Adventure HIKING GEOCACHING Choose an adventurous way to discover the property with Geocaching, a contemporary treasure hunt which uses a Global Positioning System (GPS) to find specific locations of hidden objects. Our Letterboxing version has a romantic history dating from the 1850s in Dartmoor, England, and will direct you through a course by cart paths and familiar landmarks. Or if you prefer something a little more challenging and rugged, try our Geocaching Trails on Blackberry s beautiful hiking trails. ROCK CLIMBING For powerful adventure plus breathtaking mountain scenery, come with us to the high cliffs of Chilhowee Mountain and climb like an eagle. This rock climbing opportunity will teach rope safety, standard protocols of top-roping, climbing techniques and skills, and offer challenges for a variety of abilities and readiness in participants. Unparalleled views of mountains, valleys, flora and fauna complete this Smoky Mountain adventure. Available weekdays late August- April. Allow 4-6 hours, off property.
Adventure CYCLING ROAD CYCLING The surrounding area boasts some of the best cycling in the country from smooth, level roads along the river to climbs up the sides of mountains. Freewheeling through the scenic byways and rolling back road routes of East Tennessee is the ultimate in cycling. Bikes are outfitted with a basic flat touring pedal. Though we do have other pedal options available if desired, we encourage you to bring your own pedals with shoes for maximum compatibility. For the experienced cyclist looking for a higher performance bicycle, we have available for reservation 5 Series Trek Madones outfitted with an Ultegra 11 speed group. Or if you seek a more leisurely pace and comfortable sightseeing, try our Trek hybrid bikes. We will help you find your favorite distance 5, 20 or 60 miles and your favorite route. Winding through foothills, passing farms and breaking for lunch if you like, giving you an authentic and unique experience of luxury and adventure. Helmets, water bottles and maps are provided. MOUNTAIN BIKING The East Tennessee mountains have a lot to offer adventurous cyclists who prefer dirt to pavement and trails to roads! Allow the Blackberry Adventure team to customize a trip for you on one of several local trail networks, with options of single track and forest roads, beginner to advanced levels. All trips are off property within an hour s drive.
Adventure TEAMWORK PAINTBALL Tactics. Teamwork. Thrills. Our guides will customize your session for groups of 2 to 20. Games include a protective mask, gun, CO2 and paintballs. We offer uniforms that can be worn over your clothes to protect them. Recommended attire: loosefitting clothing (long pants, long sleeves, layers and gloves), tennis shoes, trail runners or hiking boots. Please no sandals. Group sessions available daily. Private by reservation. All shoots scheduled at 9:00am, 11:00am, and 1:00pm All rates subject to an additional 19% service charge and taxes and rates are subject to change without notice. Please contact our concierge team for more details. As a courtesy to other guests, we kindly ask that cancellations and appointment changes be made by 7:00pm the day prior to your scheduled service to avoid penalties. Any appointments made or cancelled after 7:00pm the day prior will incur a 50% cancellation fee. In cases of severe weather penalties for canceling or changing outdoor activities will not be imposed.