Pisgah's Mountain Views Fall Backpacking Trip

September 19-22, 2026

Head to one of our favorite areas of Pisgah National Forest to spend 3 days hiking amongst summer wildflowers, early fall foliage, and epic mountain views. This bucket list worthy itinerary includes Sam's Knob, Black Balsam Knob, and Devil's Courthouse - some of the locations that are frequently on "must see" lists about Western NC! Plus you'll spend time hiking on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, North Carolina's state trail. This trip is easier than our Max Patch AT Backpacking Trip, and a great introduction to backpacking for fit hikers.

This trip is the first being offered with a new trip format we're introducing. The first day of your trip will be a half day of education and instruction before enjoying dinner together as a group and spending the night at our bunkhouse. The hike starts on day 2. If you wish to add lodging on September 18 - the night before the trip begins - please reach out to our office; lodging is available to trip participants at a discounted rate.

Weather in the mountains can be unpredictable. Hikers should be prepared for cold temperatures overnight, especially at higher elevations. Temperatures on trail can be 15 degrees cooler than in nearby Brevard, NC. Overnight temps near freezing are not uncommon, even in the summer.

"This was an amazing trip. Our guide was the best... friendly, funny, encouraging, knowledgeable about hiking, plants,
and flowers. We backpacked for three days. It was tough but so proud I did it." - SR, Best of Pisgah, May 2026

Cost:

$925 per person
Payment Plans, Scholarships, and discounts for teachers, nurses, veterans, and first responders are available for all Blue Ridge Hiking Co trips. For more information about scholarships, please see our scholarships page. For information on payment plans and discount programs, reach out to our office at trips@blueridgehikingco.com.

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, meals and snacks from dinner Day 1 through lunch Day 4, transportation between the meet-up location and the trailhead, and any necessary backcountry permits and fees. Price also includes access to a pre-trip video 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 1pm in Hot Springs, NC.

You will meet your guide at our Appalachian Trail-er bunkhouse (200 Lance Ave, Hot Springs, NC 28743). You'll spend the first half day reviewing weather, safety, and logistics for the trip, learning Leave No Trace ethics and other necessary backpacking skills, and discussing necessary packing items. The guide will hand out your gear and food, and will walk you through how to properly pack your pack. They may look in detail at the items you've packed to make sure you're not carrying too many extra items. The group will eat dinner together in Hot Springs, and lodging at our bunkhouse is provided at the end of the first day.

The following morning, you'll head to the Blue Ridge Parkway, where you will start your hike! Drive time is just under 2 hours. You'll hike along Flat Laurel Creek to your first campsite, then hike to the summit of Sam's Knob without the weight of your packs. The second day, hike over Black Balsam Knob and Tennent Mountain before arriving back at your creekside campsite. On the last day, you'll return to the MST and hike to Devil's Courthouse before finishing your trip and returning to Hot Springs. 

Daily mileage ranges from 5 to 7 miles per day. Participants on this trip should be able to complete a day hike of 9 miles over hilly or mountainous terrain, or a 10-mile walk on flat ground.

Hike generally finishes around mid-afternoon 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:

This is a Level 2 Trip, a beginner level trip with some elevation change, ideal for building confidence on multi-day trips. 

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

Guide:

Your guide for this trip is Melissa "SassyFrass" Gibson. Mel has spent the last 5 guide seasons in WNC leading folks to find their own “happy home” in the mountains.  Her hiking philosophy is rooted in sylvan therapy and the belief that the woods heal us, especially when we stop to savor the moment.  This trail tested grandma of three brings a steady pace and a wealth of experience adventuring in the US and 23 countries around the world. Her knack for making trailside snacking a moveable feast is renowned!

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!

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).

Tips are greatly appreciated by our team of highly trained professional guides. 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.