Included:

• • An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  • 2-day Smoky Mountains 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
  • 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 2
  • Transportation between the meetup location and the trailhead
  • All necessary backcountry permits

Not included:

• • Transportation to/from Asheville, NC
  • Personal items (clothing, shoes, headlamp, water bottles…)
  • Inflatable sleeping pads — available for an additional fee
  • Guide gratuities — optional
  • Travel and medical insurance — optional

This Smoky Mountains backpacking trip is ideal for beginners, perfect for learning the fundamentals in a relaxed setting—short mileage, gentle terrain, and a strong educational focus create a supportive environment for first-time backpackers who want to gain confidence without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.

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. No prior hiking or backpacking experience is needed—this trip is designed for beginners.

Over 1 night and 2 days, you’ll hike between 4 and 9 miles total (up to 4 miles per day with a full backpack), on gently rolling terrain with under 1,000 ft of elevation gain per day (up to 1,400 ft cumulative over the trip).

You will receive a detailed packing list for this Smoky Mountains 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 — MUST have a red light function to use after dark so as not to disturb the fireflies
  • Inflatable pillow — available to purchase at a discounted rate
  • Stuff sacks — available to purchase at a discounted rate
  • Backpacking chair or sit pad — optional, to use while watching the fireflies
  • 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!

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Group sizes and pricing

• • For this Smoky Mountains backpacking trip, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 6:1.
  • It takes a minimum of 2 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 5 participants for group tours.
  • Private trips are offered year-round.
  • The tour is confirmed at the latest 25 days prior to the departure date (this is when backcountry permits are sorted). The trip is bookable up to two weeks before the departure date.

Smoky Mountains 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.
  • Minors older than 10 may be permitted to join the Smoky Mountains backpacking trip on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.
  • 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 Smoky Mountains backpacking trip, you first have to get to Asheville, NC. To get there, most people fly into Asheville Airport (AVL).

You’ll meet your guides at 9am at their shop (Blue Ridge Hiking Company (70 College Street, Asheville, NC 28801). If you’re flying in, make sure to do so at least a day earlier, since you’ll be starting your trip at 9am 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.