About The Day Hiker
Tucked inside Gatlinburg's charming Village Shops at 634 Parkway, The Day Hiker is a locally owned outfitter founded in 2000 by Joe Gunther, a retired Army veteran who noticed that visitors heading into Great Smoky Mountains National Park had no affordable, hiker-focused gear shop in the area. What started as a small storefront has grown into a two-floor destination stocked with trekking poles, hydration packs, day packs, trail maps, field guides, and a wide selection of Great Smoky Mountains apparel and gifts.
Every staff member at The Day Hiker is an active hiker who logs regular miles on Smokies trails, and that first-hand experience is the shop's real differentiator. Whether a customer is a first-time visitor wondering which waterfall hike to tackle or an experienced backpacker looking for beta on a lesser-known ridge route, the team offers personalised trail recommendations based on fitness level, available time, and current trail conditions. The store also carries an extensive selection of GSMNP-themed t-shirts and outdoor gift ideas across both floors, making it a popular stop for souvenirs as well as gear.
Open seven days a week — including extended Saturday hours until 10 PM — The Day Hiker sits in one of Gatlinburg's most walkable shopping districts, surrounded by restaurants, galleries, and other specialty shops in The Village. Prices are deliberately kept accessible so families on a vacation budget can pick up the essentials without breaking the bank. For over two decades, The Day Hiker has been sending hikers into the Smokies better prepared and more confident, one trekking pole and trail map at a time.
