Appalachian Trail Slackpacking
March 13-15, 2026 | August 21-23, 2026
November 13-15, 2026
Includes an overnight stay at the Appalachian Trail-er the night before your trip begins as well as both nights during the trip
If you've ever thought about joining one of our our AT Backpacking Trips but aren't sure about camping, this trip is for you! Hike some of our favorite sections of the AT as day hikes, then return to our Appalachian Trail-er bunkhouse each night to sleep. Each day, we'll hike approximately 6-8 miles over mostly rolling terrain with a couple of challenging uphill sections. Enjoy great views from Rich Mountain Firetower and Lovers Leap and get a taste for Appalachian hiking!
Weather in the mountains can be unpredictable, especially at higher elevations. Temperatures on trail can be 15-20 degrees cooler than in Hot Springs, NC. Afternoon thunderstorms in the summer are common.
"My friends and family couldn’t make the trip, so I went solo and made some amazing connections.
Our guide was terrific. She was fun, supportive, and as an accomplished thru-hiker, extremely
knowledgeable about the trail." - JG, Women's AT Extended Backpacking Trip, May 2024
Cost:
$780 per person
Payment Plans, Scholarships, and Sliding Scale Fees are available for this trip. Please email our office at trips@blueridgehikingco.com for more information.
This trip will run if there are a minimum of 2 participants signed up. If the minimum has not yet been met, we'll contact participants a month before the trip to discuss options. The maximum group size is 6 participants. If you are traveling in a party of 4 or more hikers, we encourage you to consider a private trip. You can find more information about our private trip offerings by sending us an email.
In addition to your guide, this price includes backpacking gear, all meals and snacks from lunch Day 1 - lunch Day 3, transportation between the meet-up location and the trailhead, and any necessary backcountry permits and fees. Price also includes access to a pre-trip Zoom call, where you can ask questions about your upcoming trip. It does not include personal items or gratuity for your guide.
Sign-Up Details:
In order to sign up for this trip, please go to our Trip Calendar and select the trip start date. You will find the trip listed there.
A few weeks before the start of the trip, we will be in contact via email with a pre-trip email that includes all information for you to prepare for your trip, a waiver packet for you to complete (waiver, health form, and gear request form), and a detailed packing list.
Itinerary:
This trip meets at 9am in Hot Springs, NC.
You will meet your guide at our basecamp and bunkhouse, the Appalachian Trail-er (200 Lance Ave, Hot Springs, NC 28743). Your guide will hand out your gear and food, go over necessary packing items, and discuss safety, weather, and logistics for the trip.
The first day, hike from Garenflo Gap north into Hot Springs, providing a good warmup for the weekend. Over the following two days, hike from Allen Gap to Hot Springs, enjoying the views from Rich Mountain Firetower and Lovers Leap along the way. Each evening, the group will have dinner in town together. Daily mileage ranges from 6 to 9 miles, with up to 2,100ft elevation change.
Participants should be able to complete a 9-mile day hike over hilly or mountainous terrain, or an 11-mile walk on flat ground.
Hike generally finishes around lunchtime the last day. Itinerary is subject to change based on a variety of factors, including weather, trail conditions, and participants needs and abilities. Please inform our admin team or your guide ahead of time if you have a time constraint the last day of your trip.
Elevation profile created with Gaia GPS.
Trip Difficulty Rating:
Participants on this trip should have a minimum fitness level of 4 out of 10, and this trip is ideally suited for hikers with a fitness level of 4-5 out of 10. This is a Novice trip, meaning hikers should have some previous hiking experience, but may or may not have backpacked or camped before. All participants in our group backpacking trips should be comfortable by themselves on trail for at least 30 minutes. For more information about our difficulty and experience level ratings, please see our Trip Difficulty Page.
Guide:
Your guide for this trip has not yet been determined. All of our guides have extensive backcountry knowledge and experience, and are certified in Wilderness First Aid (or higher) and CPR.
What we Provide:
Food: BRHC provides all on-trail food. You will have the ability to choose your own food from our wide selection, and you will carry your own food during the trip. We do our best to cater to requests, though it is important to keep to lightweight foods appropriate for hiking. If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions, please inform our team in your pre-trip paperwork.
Individual Use Gear: All hikers should have a day pack and trekking poles. BRHC can provide day packs, hiking umbrellas, and trekking poles upon request at no additional charge. If weather and trail conditions dictate, footwear traction devices such as microspikes will be provided.
Community Gear: BRHC provides all community gear for the trip, including water filters, toilet kit, first aid kit, and navigational tools.
What to Bring:
We will send all participants a detailed packing list a few weeks before the trip. You are expected to bring your own clothing/footwear, a headlamp, two 1L water bottles (Nalgene or disposable Smart Water bottles are good options), personal medications/toiletries, and approved optional items. Generally, comfortable trail shoes are better than heavy hiking boots. Please pack synthetic or wool athletic clothing rather than cotton; cotton does not dry quickly and will not keep you warm when wet. Bring a raincoat and a warm layer year round; a beanie and lightweight gloves are appropriate in most seasons as temperatures cool down in the mountains at night.
Cancellation Policy:
Trip cost includes a 15% non-refundable administrative fee. Hikes may be cancelled up to 1 month before the trip for a refund (minus the 15% admin fee). Within 1 month, a 50% refund will be offered. Within 1 week, no refunds will be offered. If Blue Ridge Hiking Company cancels the trip due to severe weather, we'll offer a refund less the 15% admin fee. We are unable to offer exceptions to this policy; we strongly recommend all hikers purchase travel insurance to cover their trip.
Hikers may reschedule their trip once (at least 1 month before their trip) free of charge. Additional changes to their reservation date may result in a rescheduling fee.
We hike rain or shine! While it is incredibly rewarding, hiking is an endurance sport, and it can be challenging and/or uncomfortable at times. Maintaining a positive mindset, even when it is uncomfortable, is key to enjoying your time in the wilderness. With our focus on lightweight gear, our goal is for your pack to weigh around 25lbs (or no more than 25% of your body weight).
If your guide does an exceptional job, please show your appreciation with a tip. Our team of highly trained professional guides never expects but always appreciates a tip. Industry standard gratuity for a guided backpacking trip is 20-25% of trip price.
If you have any questions regarding this trip, you can reach our office by phone at 828-713-5451 or by email at trips@blueridgehikingco.com.
