Included:

• • An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area, certified in Wilderness First Aid & CPR
  • 4 days of hiking and backpacking
  • High quality, ultralight, cottage industry backpacking gear
  • Meals as described in the itinerary
  • All necessary backcountry permits

Not included:

• • Transportation to and from Asheville, NC
  • Accommodations before or after the tour
  • Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Guide gratuities — optional
  • Travel and medical insurance  — optional

To join this Art Loeb Trail backpacking trip, great fitness is required, along with some previous backpacking experience. This is a strenuous trip, expect full, rewarding days in mountainous terrain. You’ll hike approximately 31 miles (50 km) over 4 days, ranging from 6 to 10 miles (10–16 km) per day, with over 9,000 ft (2,745 m) of total elevation gain and 10,000 ft (3,050 m) of total elevation loss. The trail is notoriously rugged, with challenging navigation through the Shining Rock Wilderness, unrelenting climbs and descents, and rocky terrain throughout.

The first half of the trip runs along the Balsam Range, featuring three 6,000 ft (1,830 m) peaks and some of the most iconic views in western North Carolina—including Cold Mountain and Black Balsam Knob. After crossing the Blue Ridge Parkway, the trail descends into rolling forested terrain for the second half, finishing at Davidson River Campground.

To prepare, participants should be able to complete a 15-mile (24 km) day hike over hilly or mountainous terrain, or a 17-mile (27 km) walk on flat ground. Hikers who are already comfortable on trail or have a high level of physical fitness will find this an incredibly rewarding experience.

Your guide will send you a detailed list of everything you’ll need a few weeks before the trip.

Here’s a list of things your guide can provide at no additional cost:

• • Backpacks (lightweight 60L pack)
  • Tents (one-person or and two-person)
  • Sleeping bags (20 degree synthetic sleeping bag with sleeping bag liners)
  • Sleeping pads (closed-cell foam pad) 
  • Trekking poles

We will ask for your height and weight in order to fit the pack appropriately to you. Please let us know if you’d like to bring your own gear.

Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:

• • Backpack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 25-40L bag)
  • 2 1L water bottles (Nalgene or disposable Smart Water bottles are good options)
  • Lightweight hiking boots or shoes
  • Comfortable hiking clothes 
  • Warm spare clothes for layering
  • Waterproof rain jacket
  • Sunhat
  • Beanie
  • Lightweight gloves
  • Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
  • Headlamp or flashlight
  • Sunglasses
  • Camera — optional (but recommended)
  • Inflatable sleeping pads — available for an additional rental fee

Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. 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 and one outfit to sleep in.

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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Hikers are able to choose their meals and snacks from an assortment of trail-friendly options. That way, each hiker gets the types and amount of food that best suit their needs and preferences. Exact menu options vary throughout the season, but generally consist 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

Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated with advanced notice.

Group sizes and pricing

• • For the group tour, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 6:1. 
  • It takes a minimum of 3 people for the group tour to operate. 
  • Private tours can be arranged for 1-9 people.

Min. age requirements

• • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  • Minors above the age of 18 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

If your group has hikers under the age of 18,  It is recommended to book a private tour. Contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

You can technically hike the Art Loeb Trail year-round, if you have suitable camping gear. However, the best seasons are late spring and fall. In spring, the wildflower blooms are incredible above 5,000 ft/1,530 m, especially the pink rhododendrons, and you also get many daylight hours. Fall is a beautiful time to backpack this trail as the colors of leaves add to the spectacular views.

Western North Carolina has a mild climate and chilly nights are a bigger problem than hot days. Nights on trail will require good preparation, as temperatures can be up to 20 degrees cooler than in Asheville, NC.

You can expect afternoon rain any time of year. You might also witness fog rolling in from out of nowhere and obscuring the trail. Expect it to be windy and wet even if it’s not raining, so pack waterproof gear.

This hike will happen 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 focus on lightweight gear, the goal is for your pack to weigh around 25 lbs/11.5 kg (or no more than 25% of your body weight).

Your guide will meet you on Day 1 in Pisgah Forest, NC. To get there, most people fly into the Asheville Regional Airport, about 40 minutes away. You can rent a car or take a shuttle service to get to your meeting point. For those driving, parking is available at the Davidson River Trailhead. Your guides also offer shuttle service from Asheville to the meeting point for an additional fee. 

You will meet your guide in Pisgah National Forest. The guide will give you specific instructions and location a few weeks before the tour.

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.