Known for great fog billowing off the mountaintops — paired with rolling hills, dipping valleys, fields of wildflowers, rushing waterfalls, an abundance of wildlife, and flowing streams — the Great Smoky Mountains boasts incredible scenery, drawing millions of visitors each year. And if you’ve ever been to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, then you’ve probably driven the bustling Parkway, sat on the side of the road to watch the Spring Rod Run, walked up and down the street to check out the shops, or hopped on the Pigeon Forge Trolley to tour the city and travel between attractions. You can see some great views from around downtown Pigeon Forge and on hikes, bike rides, drives, or horseback rides through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. However, if you want to check out unmatched views of the city and the Smokies — charter a ride with Scenic Helicopter Tours!
Experienced Pilots & Crew
Scenic Helicopter Tours in Pigeon Forge, TN, has been taking guests on breathtaking rides since 1972. Their professional staff — aka Helicopter Adventure Guides — is there to tell you all about the area while taking you on a ride to remember. They have the most FAA & National Park Service-approved flights over the Smokies and have been awarded TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence for outstanding customer service. Their talented pilots hail from across the country, including Georgia, Missouri, California, North Carolina, Maryland, Oregon, and Michigan. And they have decades of flight experience between them, ensuring safe and fun flights for everyone!
12 Scenic Helicopter Tours
Scenic Helicopter Tours offers a range of flights, so you can pick the tour that fits your price range and matches up with the time you have available. There are currently 12 tours, ranging from an under-10-mile trip to a 100-mile journey across the Great Smoky Mountains. Just pop on a headset, sit back, and relax while the pilot narrates your beautiful flight. And be sure to grab a souvenir photo when you land! Pro tip: wear darker clothes for better pictures on your helicopter ride.
Note: the prices listed are as of November 2020.
River Ride | $29 (per person)
Fly over the French Broad River and the hills of Sevier County on this 8-mile trip that takes you 1,000 feet above the Great Smoky Mountains. You’ll also get a glimpse from above of Smoky Mountain Knifeworks, the Adrenaline Park, and horseback riding stables.
Lake View Tour | $39 (per person)
On this 12-mile flight, check out the 33,000-acre Douglas Lake that features 450+ miles of shoreline across 3 counties. You’ll also see the French Broad River by Douglas Dam and the Mountain Cove Marina, along with English Mountain, fishing and camping areas, boat and Jet Ski rentals, and the Kyker Korn Maze during fall.
Extended Lake Tour | $55 (per person)
If you want to see a bit more of beautiful Douglas Lake, try the Extended Lake Tour across a 16-mile flight. Check out the 700-foot-long hydroelectric Douglas Dam, the lake’s islands, Bass Pro Tournaments, the Lighthouse Pointe Marina, and some wildlife refuges.
Foothills Tour | $55 (per person)
Head south over downtown Sevierville, Bluff Mountain, and the Great Smoky Mountains before enjoying views of Douglas Lake on the way back along this 16-mile journey. You’ll also get a glimpse of the Sevierville Courthouse, Sevierville Golf Club, the Sevierville Convention Center, and Wilderness at the Smokies.
Mountain Valley Tour | $79 (per person)
With views of Knoxville in the distance, the Mountain Valley Tour showcases incredible views of the rolling hills of the Great Smoky Mountains. The 24-mile tour is a great middle-of-the-road option that features close-ups of Bluff Mountain and Sugar Loaf Mountain, both formed by a glacier during the last ice age.
Ridge Runner | $109 (per person)
About 30 miles long, this flight will give you stunning views of Walden’s Creek, Bluff Mountain, Wears Valley, and the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. This tour also flies you over the Chilhowee Mountain range and features some low-level flying that shows off the helicopter’s speed.
Wears Valley | $129 (per person)
This helicopter ride covers 30-45 miles for the best views of Wears Valley. You’ll also fly over some favorite spots like Sevierville and Pigeon Forge, WonderWorks, the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, Pine Mountain, Hatcher Mountain, and the Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster.
Gatlinburg Tour | $129 (per person)
Want to see the city in a new light? Take the Gatlinburg Tour for unmatched views of Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and Gatlinburg before getting a bird’s-eye view of Mt. LeConte. Your pilot will point out top attractions in the area, giving you some ideas for when you get back to land after your helicopter ride across 30-45 miles.
National Park Tour | $179 (per person)
Love the Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Scenic Helicopter Tour’s most popular mountain flight is for you! Bring your camera and enjoy gorgeous scenery across 50 miles, from the bustling Parkway in Gatlinburg to the rolling hills of Wears Valley and the national park. Learn more about the park while getting some memories (and pictures) to last a lifetime.
Scenic Special | $600-1,250 (per flight)
A longer flight, this helicopter ride covers 60-70 miles and is the “Pilot’s Choice.” Get comfy as your pilot takes you over some of the less-traveled areas, along with Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Mt. LeConte, Clingmans Dome, Little River, Elkmont, and Tremont, to name a few.
The Grand Tour | $800-1,550 (per flight)
About 80-90 miles long, The Grand Tour will start over Sevierville and Pigeon Forge, taking you into Gatlinburg and over into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You’ll keep going onto Cades Cove and get some incredible views of Elkmont, Blanket Mountain, Tremont, and Thunderhead — all while your talented pilot tells you about the area.
Smoky Mountain Spectacular | $1,000-1,880 (per flight)
If you’re looking for the ultimate helicopter tour, hop aboard the 100-mile Smoky Mountain Spectacular. You’ll get the best views of Greenbriar Valley, Newfound Gap, Clingmans Dome, Cades Cove, Townsend, Wears Valley, and almost the entire Tennessee portion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
BONUS — Winterfest Night Flight | $139 (per person)
Bump traffic on the Parkway and opt for a scenic helicopter ride during Winterfest! This limited-time tour pops up around Thanksgiving and extends into February. It flies you over millions of twinkling light displays throughout Sevierville and Pigeon Forge, including holiday setups at Dollywood and The Island.
See what the height’s all about — with Scenic Helicopter Tours!
Special Moments & Unique Services
With stunning scenery all around, weddings and proposals are extremely popular in the Great Smoky Mountains. If you wish to pop the question or take your “I dos” to another level, Scenic Helicopter Tours can help! Along with their scenic tours, they offer services for weddings and proposals, adding that extra-special touch to your special day. Just imagine how incredible those special moments could be while flying over the gorgeous Smoky Mountains!
Here on business or live and work in the area? Scenic Helicopter Tours has unique services (listed below) that you may find useful for your next project. Need to get from A to B in a flash? Ask about their charter service that focuses on safety, service, and speed (within a 200 nautical mile radius of Knoxville, TN) to help you accomplish your travel goals quickly.
- Aerial photography & videography
- Power line patrol
- Livestock search
- Search and rescue
- Real estate & ranch surveys
- Wildlife surveys
- Flight instruction
- Golf ball drops
- And MORE!
Reservations & Restrictions
You can make reservations with Scenic Helicopter Tours by phone, in person at the ticket office in Pigeon Forge, or online; reservations are recommended but not required. Helicopters hold 3-4 guests, depending on weight at 300 pounds per seat (unless you ask for the Jet Ranger). There are no age restrictions — young or old — and children under 24 months old are FREE. Pets are not allowed for safety reasons. And all flights are handicap-friendly, meaning those who might not be able to hike through the Smokies won’t miss out on incredible views!
Ticket Office
1965 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
865.453.6342
Heliport
1949 Winfield Dunn Parkway
Sevierville, TN 37876
Smoky Mountain Cabin Experience
Tons of Smoky Mountain cabins in the Pigeon Forge area means you’ll probably spot a few (if not a ton) on your helicopter ride. After checking out cabins and mountain scenes from the sky, check in to your cabin rental with a mountain view on land. At Pigeon Forge TN Cabins, we have 450+ vacation rental options and counting!
Our rentals range from 1-16 bedrooms and can sleep 1-60+ guests. Pets are welcome at our pet-friendly properties. And we have budget-friendly and luxury cabins available. Whether you’re bringing family, a few friends, or a large group, we have comfortable and entertaining accommodations for you — with amenities for all ages!
Cabin Amenities
- Stunning views of the mountains, woods, a river, or the city
- Year-round swimming in a private indoor pool
- Steamy soaks in an outdoor hot tub
- Spa baths in indoor jetted tubs
- Movie nights in a home theater
- Game tournaments in a rec room
- Wine sips by the wood burning, gas, or electric fireplaces
- Relaxing time in rocking chairs
- Marshmallows & chats around an outdoor firepit
- Cookouts with a gas or charcoal grill
- Homemade meals from a fully equipped kitchen
- Entertainment on big screen TVs
- Sweet dreams in king, queen, twin, or full beds
- Clean laundry with a washer/dryer
- Online shopping with FREE Wi-Fi
On your next Pigeon Forge vacation, enjoy the best Smoky Mountain views from the sky with Scenic Helicopter Tours and from your cozy cabin with Pigeon Forge TN Cabins. Book your stay online or reach out at 1.866.513.7885 if you have any questions or need help planning your memorable vacation.