Private 3-Day Backpacking Trip

Dates available throughout the year!

Join us for a Private Backpacking Trip in beautiful Western NC!  We offer trips on trips on the Appalachian Trail, Art Loeb Trail, and Mountains to Sea Trail, as well as within Pisgah National Forest and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  This reservation secures your trip dates and guide.  Our Admin team will work with you to plan an itinerary that suits your desired daily distance and difficulty, as well as anything special you'd like to see along the way.

We are happy to plan a fully custom trip for you!  If you'd like a Private Backpacking Trip that's shorter (2 days) or longer (up to 6 days), or if you don't see the dates you want available, please reach out to our office by email.  You can also call us (828-713-5451) to talk through your ideas and questions.  Our Private Trip Consultant is in the office on Wednesday, but any of our Admin team members can help you get started planning.  

Cost:

$1340 - $4950, depending on the number of hikers
For more information about our Family Pricing or discounts for Teachers, Nurses, First Responders, and Military/Veterans, please contact our office.

Private Backpacking Trips are available for 1-9 hikers for trips on the AT or within Pisgah National Forest, or 1-7 hikers for trips within Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  

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, any necessary backcountry permits, and lodging the night before the trip.  Price also includes an insulated mug for each hiker to keep.  It does not include personal items (clothing/shoes, toiletries, etc) or gratuity for your guide.  Add-ons such as lodging at the Appalachian Trail-er bunkhouse the night before your trip may incur additional fees.
 

Sign-Up Details:

In order to sign up for this trip, please go to our trip calendar and select the trip start date.  If a private trip can be booked online on that date, you will find it listed there.  When you book, please use the Trip Preferences box to give us a bit of information about the hikers in your party and the goals of this trip, so we can start the planning process.

A few weeks 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.  At that time we will also send a detailed packing list, and any trip-specific information.
 

Itinerary:

The BRHC Admin team will work with you to plan an itinerary that best suits your needs!  Our trips all begin with a pack shakedown, where your guide will pass out your gear and food, and will talk through how to pack your gear.  After the shakedown, we'll head to the trailhead to begin your hike.  Most of our trips are a 1-2 hour drive from the meetup location.  Most trips finish around early afternoon on the last day.

Hikes generally finish lunchtime to mid-afternoon on the last day.  Planned 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.
 

Some of our Favorite Itineraries:

Appalachian Trail from Max Patch to Hot Springs
20 miles with 5,200ft of elevation gain, moderate
This 20-mile point-to-point hike is a great sampling of what the Appalachian Trail has to offer in the Southern Appalachians!  You start your trip with mountaintop views from Max Patch before descending into tree cover for the remainder of your trip.  Daily mileage ranges from 3-10 miles.  This trip is a good first backpacking trip for hikers with a high level of fitness, or a great step up for folks who have some overnight experience.  Hikers should be able to complete a day hike of 12-13 miles, and should be able to climb 10 flights of stairs without taking a long break.

Deep Creek Loop
15 miles with 3,700ft of elevation gain, easy-moderate
This 15-mile loop in the Deep Creek region of Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a fantastic family- or beginner-friendly loop filled with waterfalls and seasonal wildflowers!  It features lots of water - Deep Creek, Indian Creek, Juney Whank Falls, Tom's Branch Falls, and Indian Creek Falls.  This low elevation hike gets hot in the summer, so we recommend it for April - June or September - November.  Daily mileage ranges from 4-7 miles.  This is a fantastic first backpacking trip, with the elevation trending upward the first half of the trip and downward the second half of the trip.

Sam's Knob Loop
14 miles with 3,000ft of elevation gain, beginner friendly
Explore 6,000ft peaks and high wetlands in Pisgah National Forest.  This hike shows of three 6,000ft peaks with 360-degree views - Sam's Knob, Black Balsam Knob, and Tennent Mountain.  You'll spend time walking along Flat Laurel Creek and checking out the unique flora and fauna that inhabit this high wetland.  Total mileage is around 14 miles (with a couple opportunities to add or take away miles), with daily mileage ranging from 3-7 miles, making it beginner friendly.  Because of the high elevation, temps are much cooler than in Asheville.  This is a great trip to escape the summer heat, or a beautiful spring/fall loop for folks who are prepared for the colder temperatures.

Art Loeb Trail
32 miles with 9,100ft of elevation change, challenging
If you're really looking for a challenge, tackle the 32-mile Art Loeb Trail in 3 days!  This rugged and remote trail travels through Pisgah National Forest and Shining Rock Wilderness, traversing 6,000ft ridgelines for the first half of the trip before dropping into a lush forest for the second half.  Daily mileage ranges from 8-14 miles per day.  This trip is ideal for hikers with a high level of fitness and some hiking/backpacking experience.  Hikers should be able to complete a 17 mile day hike and climb 10-15 flights of stairs without taking a break.  This is a great 4-day trip for folks looking for something a little less intense!
 

Guides:

Most of our fantastic guides are available for Private Backpacking Trips!  Currently, several are bookable online.  For trips with our other guides, please reach out to our office.

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, 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. Matt likes to hike fast and light, so if you're looking to put in big miles or learn more about ultralight backpacking, he's your guy!
Matt's favorite itinerary is the AT or the Art Loeb Trail.

Heidi "Sketch" Nisbett 
Heidi grew up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is proud to call North Carolina home.  After graduating from Winthrop University with a BFA in Painting and Printmaking, she found herself falling in love with hiking and the outdoors.  She thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2018 and kept a detailed sketchbook of watercolor paintings to document her travels.  She has since hiked a number of shorter trails and enjoys finding new ways to incorporate her creative practice into hiking.  You can view her artwork online at Sketching Summits.
Heidi's favorite itinerary is the Sam's Knob Loop.

Kacie "Foxy" Ross
Kacie grew up playing in the Eno River along what is now a stretch of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail in Durham, NC. Over the past decade, she has enjoyed teaching and guiding in the outdoors all over the country. Kacie has thru-hiked over 7,000 miles, including the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Te Araroa. Following her passion for wilderness medicine, she has worked as a Wilderness EMT is on the Buncombe County Search and Rescue Squad, and will soon be graduating from Western Carolina University as a Registered Nurse. Kacie loves fun conversation while hiking and finding all the little critters along the way!
Kacie's favorite itinerary is the Art Loeb Trail.
 

What we Provide:

Food: BRHC provides all on-trail food. Your guide 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 do our best to cater to requests, but options are limited because it is important to keep food lightweight and fresh foods can be heavy and bulky. If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions, please notify your guide or our admin team ahead of time. 

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 have one-person tents and two-person tents available. Please let us know if you would like to share with a friend.
Sleeping Bags - We use a 20 degree synthetic sleeping bag. We also have sleeping bag liners available.
Sleeping Pads - These will insulate you from the ground and provide some cushion and comfort. 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 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 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.
 

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, personal gear (such as headlamps and water bottles), medications, and approved optional items. Generally, comfortable trail 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, one outfit to sleep in, a raincoat, and a warm layer. You will not need a new set of clean clothes each day. Because temperatures in the spring can be cool, you should also pack a set of baselayers, a hat, and a pair of gloves. We recommend bringing at least 1 hard-sided plastic water bottle (ex: Nalgene) to use as a hot water bottle in your tent/sleeping bag if overnight temperatures are cold. 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!
 

COVID Safety Information:

We follow all local, state, and federal COVID safety guidelines.  As those guidelines change, our policies may change.  Currently, there is no testing or mask requirement in place.  If you have questions about our procedures or would like specific precautions to be taken, please contact our office at 828-713-5451 or trips@blueridgehikingco.com.
 

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.  With our focus on lightweight gear, our goal is for your pack to weigh around 25-30 lbs or no more than 25% of your body weight, whichever is less.

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 our office by phone at 828-713-5451 or by email at trips@blueridgehikingco.com.