This 5-day backpacking trip along North Carolina's portion of the Appalachian Trail covers approximately 43 miles from Allen Gap to Spivey Gap. It's a challenging route, so come ready to take on bigger daily mileages and elevation gains with some backpacking experience or a high level of fitness. All meals, trailhead transfers, and backpacking equipment (tent, sleeping bag, pad, backpack, trekking poles) are included—a great trip to connect with other hikers who love the trail.
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 10 am to start your trip! The adventure begins with a pack shakedown. Your guide will pass out your gear and food, and will teach you how to pack your backpack. They will go through what you’ve packed to make sure you don’t bring too many extra items. Around noon, you’ll shuttle to the trailhead to start your hike (drive time is 30 minutes). You’ll hike from Allen Gap mostly uphill to your campsite at Little Laurel.
Meals: Lunch and dinner
Hiking: 5 miles / 8 km
Elevation gain: +1,600 ft / +490 m
Elevation loss: -200 ft / -60 m
Accommodation: One or two-person tents
Wake up and break down camp. Day 2 begins with a challenging climb to Jones Meadow and the rocky ridgeline of Big Firescald Knob. Camp at Flint Mountain.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Hiking: 13 miles / 20.1 km
Elevation gain: +2,000 ft / +610 m
Elevation loss: -2,100 ft / -640 m
Accommodation: One or two-person tents
Continue hiking over rolling terrain past Devil Fork Gap, then begin a steady climb to your campsite at Hogback Ridge.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Hiking: 10 miles / 16 km
Elevation gain: +2,100 ft / +640 m
Elevation loss: -1,400 ft / -425 m
Accommodation: One or two-person tents
Cross Sam’s Gap and climb to the sweeping 360-degree views from Big Bald before camping at Bald Mountain.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Hiking: 10 miles / 16 km
Elevation gain: +2,200 ft / +670 m
Elevation loss: -1,400 ft / -425 m
Accommodation: One or two-person tents
Descend to Spivey Gap, where you’ll catch a shuttle back to our bunkhouse in Hot Springs (about a one-hour drive). The hike generally finishes mid-afternoon on the last day. If you’re flying, we recommend booking lodging in Asheville or Hot Springs and flying out the following day. You can also choose to add an extra night at the bunkhouse.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Hiking: 6 miles / 9.7 km
Elevation gain: +600 ft / +180 m
Elevation loss: -2,400 ft / -730 m
Itinerary is subject to change based on a variety of factors, including weather, trail conditions, and participants’ needs and abilities. Please inform us ahead of time if you have a time constraint on the last day of your trip.
Included:
Not included:
If you’d like to join this Appalachian Trail backpacking trip, you should have excellent fitness. Expect full, rewarding days in mountainous terrain. This trip is well-suited for hikers who are physically prepared for longer distances and sustained elevation gain and who have prior hiking or backpacking experience. Expect to gain up to 2,200 ft (670 m) of elevation per day.
Participants should be able to complete a 16-mile day hike over hilly or mountainous terrain, or a 19-mile walk on flat ground.
This means that you work out 3-5 times a week and regularly participate in active forms of recreation, such as hiking on the weekends. You should be comfortable sleeping in a tent, familiar with camp chores, etc.
Over 5 days, you’ll cover approximately 43 miles (70 km), and you can find day-by-day distances in the itinerary. This trip has a higher daily mileage, requiring hikers to set up or pack up camp relatively quickly. Also keep in mind that you’ll be carrying a 25-30 lb backpack, including food and water.
You will receive a detailed packing list for this Appalachian Trail backpacking trip a few weeks before the trip, but here’s a good overview of what you need to bring:
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!
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Group sizes and pricing
Appalachian Trail backpacking trips can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to your Appalachian Trail backpacking trip, you first have to get to Hot Springs, NC. To get there, most people fly into Asheville Airport (AVL)
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 insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection 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.