What you get on this adventure : An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area 3-day Great Smoky Mountains waterfall backpacking trip Backpacking gear Backpacks (lightweight 60L packs) Tents (either a one-person tent or a two-person tent if you’re sharing with a partner or a friend) Sleeping bag (20-degree synthetic sleeping bag with sleeping bag liners) Sleeping pad (closed-cell foam pad—excellent combination of weight and durability) Trekking poles Bunkhouse lodging the night before the hike (Day 0) Community gear (water filters, camping stoves and fuel, bowls, utensils and cups; trowels, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer; first aid kit; navigational aids) Food while you’re on trail, from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 3 Transportation between the meetup location and the trailhead All necessary backcountry permits What’s not included : Transportation to/from Hot Springs, NC Personal items (clothing, shoes, headlamp, water bottles…) Dinner on Day 0 and breakfast on Day 1 Inflatable sleeping pads — available for an additional fee Guide gratuities — optional Travel and medical insurance — optional

How fit do I need to be?

If you’d like to join this Great Smoky Mountains waterfall backpacking trip, you should have previous hiking experience as well as good fitness . This means that you’re active 3-5 times a week (like walking for 30 minutes) or you’re someone who works an active job. It’s also useful if you’ve already backpacked or camped before, but it’s not required. Over 3 days, you’ll cover approximately 18 miles (29 km) , and you can find day-by-day distances in the itinerary. Keep in mind that you’ll be carrying a 25-30 lb backpack , including food and water. The itinerary is considered moderately difficult, with lower mileage and higher elevation gain (5,200 ft / 1,585 m). It’s a good first backpacking trip for people with hiking experience or a regular fitness routine. Hikers joining this trip should be confident enough on trail that they could spend some time separated from their guide if needed (for example, if the group separates because hiking paces are different).

What do I need to bring?

You will receive a detailed packing list for this Great Smoky Mountains waterfall backpacking trip a few weeks before the trip, but here’s a good overview of what you need to bring: Comfortable hiking clothing (synthetic or wool rather than cotton) Comfortable trail shoes (better than heavy hiking boots) Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity) Spare clothes for layering Waterproof rain jacket Beanie and lightweight gloves Personal medication Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, etc.) Headlamp or flashlight — available to purchase at a discounted rate Inflatable pillow — available to purchase at a discounted rate Stuff sacks — available to purchase at a discounted rate Sunglasses Camera — optional (but recommended) 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!

Group sizes and age requirements

Group sizes and pricing For this Great Smoky Mountains waterfall backpacking trip, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 6:1 (or up to 9 hikers per guide on a private trip). It takes a minimum of 2 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 6 participants for group tours or 9 participants for private tours. Private trips are offered year-round. The tour is confirmed at the latest 30 days prior to the departure date. The trip is bookable up to two weeks before the departure date. Great Smoky Mountains waterfall backpacking trips can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements. Min. age requirements If you are older than 18, you’re good to go. There is no minimum age for joining this Great Smoky Mountains waterfall backpacking trip, but families with kids younger than mid-teens are encouraged to book a private trip. If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

Getting there and meeting location

To get to your Great Smoky Mountains waterfall backpacking trip, you first have to get to Hot Springs, NC. To get there, most people fly into Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) , which is a 2-hour drive from Hot Springs. You’ll meet your guide a day prior to your hike (on Day 0), in the afternoon/evening. The exact point is Blue Ridge Hiking Company’s Appalachian Trail-er Bunkhouse (200 Lance Ave, Hot Springs, NC 28743), also your lodging for the night.

Safety measures and insurance

We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible , we partnered up with Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner ! Redpoint tailors their insurance packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered. Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s insurance. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!

HOT SPRINGS | NORTH CAROLINA

Backpacking in the Great Smoky Mountains: Waterfalls & Mountain Views

5.00 ()

Season

April through October

Duration

3 days

Accommodation

Tents

Difficulty

Guides

Matt Dobson, Amy Hunsucker, Hannah Brock, Adam Kampouris, Heidi Nisbett, Blue Ridge Hiking Company

Questions, additional dates, private groups

Book a call

From $765 () / 3 days

Intro
Itinerary
Brochure
Guides
Accommodation & food
Reviews
Things to know

This is one of our favorite corners of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and we’d love it if you could join us! We will spend 3 days in the Big Creek area, taking time to stop and enjoy the waterfalls, scenic mountain views, and gorgeous wildflowers (if it’s the right season) along the way. As the night falls, we’ll retreat to our tents, spend the night under the stars, and then wake up to the calming sounds of nature. We’ve planned everything to ensure your Smoky Mountains adventure is as carefree as possible—food, tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, trailhead transfers, there’s not a thing to worry about. Lace up your hiking boots and let’s go!

Matt Dobson

Blue Ridge Hiking Company

Adventure highlights

Sweeping mountain views

A challenging hike to Mt. Sterling on Day 2 is a really rewarding one—gorgeous views of endless mountains in the distance await
All-inclusive adventure

Ideal for first-time backpackers, this trip includes tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, food, trailhead transfers, and more
Backpacking basics

Though good fitness and hiking experience is necessary, this adventure is perfect even for those who have never camped before

Itinerary

The Big Creek area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a treasure, and we’ll take 3 days exploring scenic mountains and rushing waterfalls. This backpacking trip features Midnight Hole Falls and Mouse Creek Falls on the first day, a strenuous hike up to Mt. Sterling the second day, and finishing down the Baxter Creek Trail on the last day. Food, tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, trailhead transfers, lodging the night before the trek, and an expert guide are included, making this adventure as carefree as it gets!

Make your way to Hot Springs, NC. Arrive somewhere in the afternoon/evening. Lodging for tonight is provided at our bunkhouse, so you have enough time to relax and rest from your trip, and be fresh for tomorrow.

Accommodation: Appalachian Trail Bunkhouse
Meet your guide and fellow hikers at 8ma to start your trip! Your trip begins with a pack shakedown. Your guide will pass out your gear and food, and will teach you how to pack your backpack and will go through what you’ve packed to make sure you don’t bring too many extra items. Around 11am, we’ll shuttle to the trailhead to start our hike (drive time is 1 hour). We will hike the Big Creek Trail along Big Creek, past Midnight Hole Falls and Mouse Creek Falls.

Meals: Lunch and dinner
Hiking: 5.5 miles / 8.9 km
Elevation gain: 1,350 ft / 410 m
Accommodation: Tent
Wake up and break down camp. Day 2 is a challenging climb up the Swallow Fork Trail to the Mt Sterling ridgeline. Finish the day at Mt Sterling. If hikers choose, they can climb the firetower to see sweeping 360-degree views.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 6 miles / 9.7 km
Elevation gain: +2,900 ft / +885 m
Elevation loss: -150 ft / -45 m
Accommodation: Tent
Wake up and break down camp. Hike down the Baxter Creek Trail to the Big Creek Trailhead. Shuttle back to our location in Hot Springs (about 1 hour drive, where we started our trip. Hike generally finishes early in the afternoon. Itinerary is subject to change based on a variety of factors, including weather, trail conditions, and participants needs and abilities. Please inform your guides ahead of time if you have a time constraint on the last day of your trip.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Hiking: 6 miles / 9.7 km
Elevation gain: +50 ft / +15 m
Elevation loss: -4,100 ft / -1,250 m

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Meet your guides

5.00

Matt Dobson

Blue Ridge Hiking Company

Having moved around the world pursuing other professional interests, Matt has decided Western North. He 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.

5.00

Amy Hunsucker

Blue Ridge Hiking Company

Born and raised in South Carolina, Amy grew up hiking in the Carolinas. Her love for backpacking started on the Appalachian Trail with her first overnight trip in 2012. Since then, she has thru hiked all of the triple crown trails - Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Pacific Crest Trail - along with other trails throughout the US, totaling over 8,000 miles of backpacking.

5.00

Hannah Brock

Blue Ridge Hiking Company

Born and raised in Georgia, Hannah’s love of the outdoors began while digging for worms in the mud and playing in the red clay. Her passion for being in nature has grown since then and she has backpacked over 3,500 miles including a southbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2013, sections of the Pacific Crest Trail, and many smaller backcountry trails in between!

5.00

Adam Kampouris

Blue Ridge Hiking Company

Born in the Catskills of NY and raised in the Blue Ridge of NC, Adam has always called the mountains of Appalachia home. Having survived a childhood of blissful, unsupervised galavanting through the local woods, he derives great joy in sharing his love of the natural world with others, and has yet to meet an outdoor activity he doesn’t like!

5.00

Heidi Nisbett

Blue Ridge Hiking Company

Heidi grew up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and 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 A.T. 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.

5.00

Blue Ridge Hiking Company's mission is to make the wilderness accessible and enjoyable for everyone. They strive to provide a safe experience with knowledgeable, engaging, and trained guides. All of Blue Ridge Hiking Company guides are certified in Wilderness First Aid (or higher) and CPR. They have permits to guide in Pisgah National Forest, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Mount Mitchell State Park, Dupont State Forest, all along the Blue Ridge Parkway, 120 miles of the famed Appalachian Trail and more.

Accommodation & food

Accommodation

Lodging for one night before the hiking starts is included in the price (optional, for those arriving a day prior to the tour). This will be a bunkhouse on the Appalachian Trail, with a live-in caretaker. It can accommodate up to 10 hikers in 2 bunkrooms (one sleeps 4, the other 6). There are 2 full bathrooms, and guests also have access to common areas—a living room, kitchen, dining room, and large front porch. Wi-Fi access, linens, and morning coffee/tea are provided.

The following three days and two nights of this Great Smoky Mountains waterfall backpacking trip will be spent in nature, in one-person or two-person tents! This is something your guides provide (along with a sleeping bag and pad), so all you need to bring for the overnights is an inflatable pillow.

Food

Your guides provide all on-trail food, from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 3 (including dinner in town on Day 4). You will have the ability to choose your own food from your guides’ wide selection, and you will carry your own food during the trip. Your guides do their 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 us upon booking.

Exact menu varies throughout the season, but generally consists of the following:

- Breakfast — oats or grits, coffee or tea
- Lunch — chicken packets, tuna packets, meat sticks, hummus/guac, etc.
- Snacks — chips, trail mix, dried and fresh fruit, cheese, bars, etc.
- Dinner — dehydrated backpacking dinners (Good to Go brand) in a variety of flavors

5.00 (3 reviews)

Darrell Smith (source: Google Reviews)

5 stars all the way. Registered for my first overnight. I was beyond excited to experience the feeling of carrying a packed backpack and spending the night in the forest! Bev was our guide. What a wonderful experience she made this. Kind, caring and friendly! Equipment was well kept and up to date. I highly recommend this company and Bev. One of the greatest experiences of my life! Thank you! My heart is full! Kim Smith

Linda Canepa (source: Google Reviews)

Mel set up a great hike for my husband and myself. We had never been to the area so great to have a local lead the way. Beside reaching out to us a couple days before she also gave us some great tips to the area. Would definitely use BRHC again and certainly reach out to Mel.

Elana Richardson (source: Google Reviews)

If you want to start hiking but not sure where to start, I recommend Blue Ridge Hiking Company. Special shout out to Amy our host at the bunkhouse and Jenn Gift our guide. We had the proper equipment and necessities for our trip thanks to these two ladies. We had a great time hiking, enjoyed spectacular views, made new friends while creating great memories. Jenn guided our group and was attentive and informative to each hiker. It was a lot of fun and I hope to enjoy another hike soon!

Things to know

What you get on this adventure:
- - An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  - 3-day Great Smoky Mountains waterfall backpacking trip
  - Backpacking gear
    
    Backpacks (lightweight 60L packs)
    
    Tents (either a one-person tent or a two-person tent if you’re sharing with a partner or a friend)
    
    Sleeping bag (20-degree synthetic sleeping bag with sleeping bag liners)
    
    Sleeping pad (closed-cell foam pad—excellent combination of weight and durability)
    
    Trekking poles
  - Bunkhouse lodging the night before the hike (Day 0)
  - Community gear (water filters, camping stoves and fuel, bowls, utensils and cups; trowels, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer; first aid kit; navigational aids)
  - Food while you’re on trail, from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 3
  - Transportation between the meetup location and the trailhead
  - All necessary backcountry permits
What’s not included:
- - Transportation to/from Hot Springs, NC
  - Personal items (clothing, shoes, headlamp, water bottles…)
  - Dinner on Day 0 and breakfast on Day 1
  - Inflatable sleeping pads — available for an additional fee
  - Guide gratuities — optional
  - Travel and medical insurance — optional
If you’d like to join this Great Smoky Mountains waterfall backpacking trip, you should have previous hiking experience as well as good fitness. This means that you’re active 3-5 times a week (like walking for 30 minutes) or you’re someone who works an active job. It’s also useful if you’ve already backpacked or camped before, but it’s not required.

Over 3 days, you’ll cover approximately 18 miles (29 km), and you can find day-by-day distances in the itinerary. Keep in mind that you’ll be carrying a 25-30 lb backpack, including food and water. The itinerary is considered moderately difficult, with lower mileage and higher elevation gain (5,200 ft / 1,585 m). It’s a good first backpacking trip for people with hiking experience or a regular fitness routine.

Hikers joining this trip should be confident enough on trail that they could spend some time separated from their guide if needed (for example, if the group separates because hiking paces are different).
You will receive a detailed packing list for this Great Smoky Mountains waterfall backpacking trip a few weeks before the trip, but here’s a good overview of what you need to bring:
- - Comfortable hiking clothing (synthetic or wool rather than cotton)
  - Comfortable trail shoes (better than heavy hiking boots)
  - Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
  - Spare clothes for layering
  - Waterproof rain jacket
  - Beanie and lightweight gloves
  - Personal medication
  - Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, etc.)
  - Headlamp or flashlight — available to purchase at a discounted rate
  - Inflatable pillow — available to purchase at a discounted rate
  - Stuff sacks — available to purchase at a discounted rate
  - Sunglasses
  - Camera — optional (but recommended)
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!
Group sizes and pricing
- - For this Great Smoky Mountains waterfall backpacking trip, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 6:1 (or up to 9 hikers per guide on a private trip).
  - It takes a minimum of 2 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 6 participants for group tours or 9 participants for private tours.
  - Private trips are offered year-round.
  - The tour is confirmed at the latest 30 days prior to the departure date. The trip is bookable up to two weeks before the departure date.
Great Smoky Mountains waterfall backpacking trips can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements
- - If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  - There is no minimum age for joining this Great Smoky Mountains waterfall backpacking trip, but families with kids younger than mid-teens are encouraged to book a private trip.
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to your Great Smoky Mountains waterfall backpacking trip, you first have to get to Hot Springs, NC. To get there, most people fly into Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP), which is a 2-hour drive from Hot Springs.

You’ll meet your guide a day prior to your hike (on Day 0), in the afternoon/evening. The exact point is Blue Ridge Hiking Company’s Appalachian Trail-er Bunkhouse (200 Lance Ave, Hot Springs, NC 28743), also your lodging for the night.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, we partnered up with Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!

Redpoint tailors their insurance packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s insurance. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
Deposits

You can secure one of the set dates with a 30% deposit upon booking. The remaining 70% of the trip price is to be paid 90 days prior to departure, at the latest.

Cancellations

Booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:

Basic
- - In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
  - For cancellations 60 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a 70% refund of the trip price.
  - For cancellations 0-59 days before the trip, there is no refund.
Flexible
- - In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
  - For cancellations 60 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a full refund of the trip price.
  - For cancellations 30-59 days before the trip, you are eligible for a 50% refund of the trip price.
  - For cancellations 0-29 days before the trip, there is no refund.
Super Flexible
- - In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
  - For cancellations 30 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a full refund of the trip price.
  - For cancellations 0-29 days before the trip, you are eligible for a 50% refund of the trip price.