Mountains-to-Sea Trail Section Hike

May 19-22, 2023

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) is North Carolina’s state hiking trail. It stretches 1175 miles from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks, stopping at many of our state’s most beautiful places along the way.

You'll be completing the Segment 1 of the MST from Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome) to Waterrock Knob, on this 4-day, 3-night guided backpacking trip. This 47-mile section beginning at the trail's western terminus boasts mountain views, challenging creek crossings, historic sites, and road walking along the famed Blue Ridge Parkway. Because this trail is rugged and challenging at times, it is ideal for folks who have some previous backpacking experience. Hikers who are already comfortable on trail or have a high level of physical fitness will find this to be an incredibly rewarding first backpacking trip! 
 

"I can't say enough wonderful things about our experience with Blue Ridge Hiking Company." -KD, Private Backpacking Trip, March 2022
 

Cost:

$1025 per person
Payment Plans, Scholarships, and Sliding Scale Fees are available for all trips.  Please reach out to us at trips@blueridgehikingco.com for more information.

This trip will run if there are a minimum of 2 participants signed up.  The maximum group size is 6 participants.  If the trip minimum has not yet been met, we'll reach out to participants two weeks before the trip start date to discuss options.  If you are traveling in a party of 4 or more hikers, we encourage you to consider a private backpacking 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 for the trip, all on-trail food, transportation between the meet-up location and the trailhead, and any necessary backcountry permits and fees.  Price also includes an insulated mug for each hiker.  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 (May 18th).  You will find the trip listed there. 

Before the start of the trip, we will be in contact via email with an information packet and a form for you to fill out.  This form includes a waiver, health form, and information about gear needs and dietary restrictions.  Please complete and return this form at your earliest convenience.  The information packet also includes an itinerary of your trip and a packing list.
 

Itinerary:

Trip meets at 8am on May 19th in Great Smoky Mountains National Park; exact location TBD. We recommend you arrange lodging in Cherokee, North Carolina the night before your trip. Reach out to our office if you would like recommendations on campgrounds or hotels in the area.

You will begin your day with a pack shakedown.  Your guide will hand out your gear, go over necessary packing items, and discuss safety, weather, and logistics for the trip. They will walk you through how to properly pack your pack, and may look in detail at the items you've packed to make sure you're not carrying too many extra items.  Around 10am, you will head to Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome) to begin your hike.

You'll hike approximately 47 miles over 4 days, ranging from 8 to 16 miles per day. The first two days will be in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, hiking from Kuwohi to Oconoluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, NC.  The group will camp in Cherokee (and enjoy a town meal!) before continuing east along the Blue Ridge Parkway.  This trip gives participants a true taste of thru-hiking the MST, featuring a combination of hiking on trails and road walking on paved and gravel roads; backcountry and front country campsites; and heading off-trail to find camping. 

Once hikers reach Waterrock Knob, a shuttle will pick them up and drive them back to where the group parked in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Please see the Mountains to Sea Trail website for additional information on this section of trail.

Hike will finish mid- to late-afternoon on 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 the admin team or your guide ahead of time if you have a time constraint the last day of your trip.

Elevation Profile from mountainstoseatrail.org
 

Trip Difficulty Rating:

Participants on this trip should have a minimum fitness level of 6 out of 10, and this trip is ideally suited for hikers with a fitness level of 7-8.  This is an intermediate trip, meaning hikers should have some previous backpacking experience, and are very comfortable on trail.  For more information about our difficulty and experience level ratings, please see our Trip Difficulty page.
 

Guide:

Your Guide for this trip will Matt "Gnome" Dobson.  Having moved around the world pursuing other professional interests, Matt has decided Western North Carolina is the place for him and helping to expose others to our natural world is the perfect way to spend his time. Matt has over 12,000 trail miles on his legs, including thru-hikes of the Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail, John Muir Trail, and Long Trail. He has a Plant Sciences degree from the University of Tennessee and has spent many of his hours in nature studying its science and history.
 

What we Provide:

Food: BRHC provides all on-trail food. Your guides will pass out the food for your trip on the first morning. You will be expected to carry your own individually packaged food (such as oatmeal packets) and some shared community items (such as a jar of peanut butter or a block of cheese). We try to cater to dietary requests, but options are limited because it is important to keep food lightweight. If you have food allergies or sensitivities, please notify us ahead of time. 

Individual Use Gear: BRHC provides high quality, ultralight, cottage industry backpacking gear to make your experience as comfortable as possible.  You are welcome to bring your own gear, however we strongly recommend using ours!  We offer the following five pieces of gear at no additional cost:
Backpacks - We use a lightweight 60L pack. We will ask for your height and weight in order to fit the pack appropriately to you.
Tents - We have one-person tents and two-person tents available. Please let us know if you would like to share with a friend or if you are willing to share with another hiker, and we will do our best to accommodate these requests.
Sleeping Bags - We use a 20 degree synthetic sleeping bag. We also have liners available.
Sleeping Pads - These will insulate you from the ground and provide some cushion and comfort.  We use closed cell foam sleeping pads because of their durability.
Trekking Poles - These will provide you with some added stability while hiking, and may be used to set up your tent.

Community Gear: BRHC provides all community gear for the trip, including water filters and back-up chemical treatment; camping stoves and fuel; bowls, spoons, and cups; trowels, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer; first aid kit; and map and compass.

Because of the unique nature of this itinerary, this trip also includes reservations at the two front country campgrounds as well as a town meal on the second night of the trip.  Town meal does not include alcoholic beverages, although hikers are welcome to purchase their own.
 

What to Bring:

We will send all participants a detailed packing list before the trip. You are expected to bring your own clothing, personal gear (such as headlamps and water bottles), medications, and approved optional items. We will send a detailed packing list with your trip information packet after you book. Generally, comfortable walking shoes are better than heavy hiking boots. Please do not pack any cotton - if it gets wet, it does not dry quickly and will not keep you warm. Athletic clothes are a good option. You will need only one outfit to hike in and one outfit to sleep in, plus a raincoat, and a warm layer. Overnight temperatures can be cool at higher elevations; we recommend packing a set of baselayers, a warm hat, and a pair of lightweight gloves. You will not need a new set of clean clothes each day. You will not need any make-up, hair products, scented products or deodorant. Just bring a toothbrush and toothpaste and enjoy going all natural for the trip!
 

Cancellation Policy:

Payment in full is required to register. Trip cost includes a 15% non-refundable administrative fee. Hike may be cancelled up to 2 weeks before the trip for a refund (minus the 15% fee). Within 2 weeks, a 50% refund will be offered. Within 48 hours, a refund will only be offered if Blue Ridge Hiking Company cancels the trip due to severe weather.

We hike rain or shine!  While it is incredibly rewarding, backpacking 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.  During your pack shakedown, we'll ensure you have the necessities packed, and will encourage you to edit extra items.  With our focus on lightweight gear, our goal is for your pack to weigh around 25-30lbs (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 15-20% of trip price.

If you have any questions regarding this trip, you can reach us by phone at 828-713-5451 or by email at trips@blueridgehikingco.com.