Smokies Fly Fishing and Backpacking

May 30 - June 1, 2026

One of the most fun ways to expand your fly fishing horizons is to try it backpacking. Hike into the backcountry of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and fish rivers and creeks that don't see many anglers. The mileage is kept low - less than 5 miles per day - to leave plenty of time for fishing. Your guide will teach you all the backpacking skills you need and will put you onto water where there are fish, but that aren't fished very frequently. Then you take it from there! Plus, you'll see 3 beautiful waterfalls, and will be hiking during peak wildflower season. This is a great trip for first time backpackers with hiking and fly fishing experience, or for hikers who want to spend the weekend with other anglers.

This trip does not include fly fishing gear or instruction. All participants are required to have a valid fishing license (either an NC or TN license is allowed within Great Smoky Mountains National Park). You can learn more about a short term NC Fishing License on the NC Wildlife Resources Commission Website. If you need to rent fly fishing gear, we recommend Rent This Rod.

"Our guide was both extremely knowledgeable as well as someone who loved to educate newcomers and build their confidence.
I would recommend BRHC to anyone looking to get into/back into backpacking." - BP, AT Backpacking Trip, October 2023

Cost:

$870 per person
Payment Plans, Scholarships, and Sliding Scale Fees are available for this trip.  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. 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 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, food while you're on trail, 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. All hikers joining this trip must have a valid NC or TN fishing license; price does not include fly fishing gear or instruction, fishing permits, 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 30, 2026). You will find the trip listed there. 

Before the start of the trip, we will be in contact via email with an information packet for you to fill out. This includes a waiver, health form, and gear request form. Please complete and return this form at your earliest convenience. We will also send a detailed packing list, and any specific information for your trip.
 

Itinerary:

This trip meets at 8am in Asheville, NC.

You will meet your guide at our retail location in downtown Asheville (70 College Street, Asheville, NC 28801). Your guide will hand out your gear and food, 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'll head to the Deep Creek trailhead near Bryson City, NC (just over an hour drive) and start your hike. The first day, you'll hike past Tom Branch Falls to the campsite. This gives a few opportunities to fish Deep Creek. The next day, you'll hike past Indian Creek Falls to your campsite, with a couple opportunities to fish both Deep Creek and Indian Creek. The last day, hike past Juney Whank Falls on the way back to the trailhead. Total hiking distance is around 14 miles with 1,500ft elevation gain over 3 days.

Participants should be able to complete a 7-mile day hike over hilly or mountainous terrain, or an 8-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. Campsite permits within the National Park are finalized 25 days before the trip starts. 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:

This is a Level 2 trip, a beginner level trip with some elevation change, ideal for building confidence on multi-day trips. Participants should have previous fly fishing experience and be comfortable walking in and around swift-moving creeks and rivers.

For more details on our Level 1–5 rating scale and how to choose the right trip for you, please see our Trip Difficulty Page.

Guide:

Your guide for this trip will be 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 15,000 trail miles on his legs, including thru-hikes of the Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Pacific Crest 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. 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 backpacking. If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions, please inform our team in your pre-trip paperwork.

Individual Use Gear: BRHC provides high quality, ultralight, cottage industry backpacking gear to make your experience as comfortable as possible.  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 provide a one-person tent, or and two-person tent if you are sharing with a partner or friend.
Sleeping Bags - We use a 20 degree synthetic sleeping bag with sleeping bag liners.
Sleeping Pads - We provide hikers with a closed-cell foam pad, for its excellent combination of weight and durability. Inflatable sleeping pads are available for an additional rental fee.
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, camping stoves and fuel, bowls, utensils and cups; trowels, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer; first aid kit; and navigational aids.

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. For most trips you will need only one outfit to hike in, one outfit to sleep in, a raincoat, and a warm layer. A beanie and lightweight gloves are appropriate in most seasons as temperatures cool down in the mountains at night. You will not need a new set of clean clothes for each day, make-up, hair products, scented products or deodorant. Just bring a toothbrush and toothpaste and enjoy going all natural for the trip!

Hikers are responsible for bringing their own fly fishing gear and valid fishing permit. No gear or instruction will be provided. If you plan to fish in pants, we recommend packing a spare pair of pants or shorts to wear when you're not fishing. We recommend packing a pair of camp shoes for this trip so your hiking/fishing shoes can dry. In order to protect it's delicate ecosystem, felt bottom boots are not recommended in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
 

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, 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. 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.