Alum Cave At-Home Adventure

Alum Cave At-Home Adventure is a Virtual Fundraising Hike on one of Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s most iconic trails. Although the trail will look different for everyone, we're all going the distance together – 4.6 miles for a roundtrip hike to Alum Cave or 10 miles up to the top of Mount Le Conte and down via Alum Cave Trail. Find your own trail. It could be your yard, your neighborhood or a treadmill in your basement. If a hike isn't your thing, just choose the Park Bench option! Anyone can join us in solidarity to raise funds for Great Smoky Mountains National Park from the comfort and safety of your own home.

Why should I participate?
Over the last few weeks, we've become pros at staying home and practicing social distancing. As we take care of ourselves and each other, we hope you'll also help us take care of the Smokies. The park is closed for the safety of visitors and staff, but critical conservation projects still need funding. It's up to us to preserve the park for generations to come so we hope you'll join us.

Here’s how it works:
1. Register to virtually hike 4.6 miles or 10 miles, or choose the Park Bench option, and personalize your fundraising page.
2. Ask your family, friends, and coworkers to support you by making a tax-deductible donation to Friends of the Smokies through your personal fundraising page.
3. You have until June 6, 2020 to fundraise and complete your virtual hike, then you will receive your hike swag, including a t-shirt and finishers medal, in the mail!**

**Must fundraise at least $200 by May 10, 2020 in order to receive hike swag in the mail by June 6, 2020. Participants who meet fundraising requirements after May 10th will receive hike swag in the mail after June 6th.

Where does the money go?
Friends of the Smokies assists the National Park Service in its mission to preserve and protect Great Smoky Mountains National Park by raising funds and public awareness and providing volunteers for needed projects. In 2019, Great Smoky Mountains National was visited by more than 12.5 million people, a visitation record across the National Park Service. Our park is the most-visited national park in the country, yet there is no entrance fee. Since 1993, Friends of the Smokies has raised more than $70 million to fund historic preservation, wildlife management, environmental education, and more within the park to help preserve it for generations of visitors to come. 

Special thanks to Kristi Parsons for banner image photography.