This 3-day, 2-night trip covers a classic stretch of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail through Pisgah National Forest, starting and ending in Asheville. We’ll carry our own gear and food across rolling, forested terrain, past waterfalls and through high-elevation balds, camping creekside both nights. The pace suits all hikers who are fit but new to backpacking. Guides handle all logistics, gear, and meals on trail, leaving us free to focus on the walk itself.
We meet at 9 am in downtown Asheville, where our guide hands out gear and food and walks us through packing, safety, and trail logistics. By late morning we’re on the Blue Ridge Parkway and starting the hike, following the Mountains-to-Sea Trail past Skinny Dip Falls and through Graveyard Fields to our first camp for the night.
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Backcountry camping (tent)
We climb over Black Balsam Knob, Tennent Mountain, and Sam’s Knob, three of the most open, view-heavy stretches of the route, before dropping down to a second creekside camp for the night. Wildflowers line the trail in spring and summer, and the open summits give us some of the widest mountain views of the trip.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Backcountry camping (tent)
We rejoin the Mountains-to-Sea Trail for our final push back toward the trailhead, wrapping up the loop through Pisgah’s forests and ridgelines. The hike generally finishes around lunchtime, so plan accordingly if you have onward travel that day.
Meals: Breakfast
Included:
Not included:
Basic fitness is required for this Pisgah National Forest backpacking trip, along with a willingness to carry your own gear and food across 3 days on trail. No prior backpacking experience is necessary, but a baseline of hiking fitness and comfort being active multiple days in a row makes for a better trip.
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Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
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Group sizes and pricing
A Pisgah National Forest backpacking tour can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
A single occupancy room is not available on this Pisgah National Forest backpacking tour because we’ll be sleeping in tents.
The starting point of your Pisgah National Forest backpacking tour is Asheville, North Carolina. To get there, most people fly into Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) or Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). From there, you can take a shuttle service, public transport, or rent a car to reach Asheville.
You will meet your guide at 9 am at the shop in downtown Asheville on Day 1.
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.