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Itinerary
Smoky Mountains Wilderness Basecamp: Women-Only Hike
Date and group size

Add-ons

Sleeping bag rental

A sleeping bag rental is available at an additional fee. Price is per person and for the whole trip.

Water bottle rental

A water bottle rental is available at an additional fee. Price is per person and for the whole trip.

Day pack 25L rental

A Day Pack 25L rental is available at an additional fee. Price is per person and for the whole trip.

Day pack 40L rental

A Day Pack 40L rental is available at an additional fee. Price is per person and for the whole trip.

Headlamp rental

A headlamp rental is available at an additional fee. Price is per person and for the whole trip.

Add more flexibility to your trip

Things come up, and sometimes plans need to be changed. Check out our flexible cancellation options. Booking fees are non-refundable after 48hours in all cases.
57hours flexibility options
Deposits

When booking a trip, you can either pay for it in full or reserve your spot with a 30% deposit. The remaining 70% of the trip price is to be paid 90 days prior to departure, at the latest.

Cancellations

After 48 hours, booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. You can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:

Basic
  • If canceled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
  • If canceled 60 or more days before departure, a 70% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
  • If canceled within 59 days of departure, no refund will be issued.
  • Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48 hours grace period.
Flexible
  • If canceled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
  • If canceled 60 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
  • If canceled 30-59 days before departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
  • If canceled within 29 days of departure, no refund will be issued.
  • Booking fees are non-refundable after 48 hours grace period.
Super Flexible
  • If canceled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
  • If canceled 30 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
  • If canceled within 29 days of departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
  • Booking fees are non-refundable after 48 hours grace period.
Summary
Smoky Mountains Wilderness Basecamp: Women-Only Hike
Itinerary
Smoky Mountains Wilderness Basecamp: Women-Only Hike
Date(s)
--
People
1 Person
  • Smoky Mountains Wilderness Basecamp: Women-Only Hike - 1
    -
    Subtotal
    Booking fees
    Group discount
    People
    Cancellation policy
Cancel in the first 48h for free
Reserve your spot with a minimum deposit
Travel and medical insurance available
PRO camping app free for 1 year

  • Rather than relocating camp each night, this 4-day Smoky Mountains trip anchors everything to one wilderness basecamp on a private mountain property, so mornings start with a real breakfast and packs stay light on trail. The itinerary threads together old logging railroads, a demanding climb to a historic fire tower on the Appalachian Trail, and a final day of zip-lining and Class II-III rafting on the Nantahala River. It's a women-only group, guided throughout, with all meals and transport built into the price.

    • You’ll meet the guides and fellow travelers this morning in Gatlinburg for introductions and a trip orientation before a short shuttle to the first trailhead. The Cucumber Gap Loop follows an old logging railroad past small waterfalls and former homesteads, with a handful of stream crossings along the way, a gentle introduction to the biodiversity and history the Smokies are known for. We reach our wilderness basecamp by evening, where a barbecue dinner and a roaring campfire await.

      Meals: Lunch, dinner
      Accommodation: Wilderness basecamp
      Hiking: 8.7 km (5.4 mi)
      Elevation: +244 m (+800 ft) / -244 m (-800 ft)

      Waterfalls in Smokies

    • After a backcountry breakfast, we transfer to the Low Gap Trailhead for an out-and-back climb to Mount Cammerer. A series of switchbacks gains 610 m (2,000 ft) through hardwood forest before joining the Appalachian Trail, where our guides share stories of thru-hikers tackling the trail’s full 3,500+ km (2,190+ mi) run from Georgia to Maine. The reward is the summit’s restored 1930s fire tower, with 360-degree views across the Smokies. We close the day back at basecamp with another hearty dinner.

      Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
      Accommodation: Wilderness basecamp
      Hiking: 17.7 km (11 mi)
      Elevation: +914 m (+3,000 ft) / -914 m (-3,000 ft)

      Women with snail in Smokies

    • Today’s trails hold the largest collection of human artifacts in the National Park system. We follow a mountain stream through old-growth forest before climbing to a picturesque vista overlooking dramatic rock formations. It’s our last evening at basecamp, so we mark it the way we’ve marked every night here: a good meal, a fire, and plenty of stories from the last few days on trail.

      Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
      Accommodation: Wilderness basecamp
      Hiking: 7.2-9.7 km (4.5-6 mi)
      Elevation: +305 m to +457 m (+1,000 ft to +1,500 ft) / -305 m to -457 m (-1,000 ft to -1,500 ft)

      Lookout point in the Smokies

    • About two hours by road brings us to the Nantahala Outdoor Center, sitting right where the Appalachian Trail crosses the Nantahala River. After three days on foot, we take to the air on 3.2 km (2 mi) of zipline strung mountaintop to mountaintop, then trade our harnesses for a raft and ride 12.9 km (8 mi) of Class II-III whitewater down the Nantahala. We wrap up our time in the Smokies by land, sky, and water with a return transfer to Gatlinburg, arriving early evening.

      Note: Inclement weather may require substituting the zipline for an adventure ropes course; all aerial activities close in the event of lightning.

      Meals: Breakfast, lunch

      Alum creek

    • Included:

        • An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
        • 4-day all-women Smoky Mountains hiking trip
        • Accommodation for 3 nights in a wilderness basecamp
        • All meals: 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners
        • Snacks, water, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate
        • Transportation throughout the trip
        • Permits and trip logistics
        • Trekking pole rental

      Add-ons (pricing shown at checkout):

        • Sleeping bag
        • Water bottle
        • Day pack 25L
        • Day pack 40L
        • Headlamp

      Not included:

        • Flights
        • Airport transfers
        • Alcohol and specialty drinks
        • Personal items and toiletries
        • Anything not mentioned in the “Included” section above
        • Insurance — recommended, available to add at checkout
        • Guide gratuities — optional

    • Good fitness is required for this Smoky Mountains hiking trip. Participants should be comfortable hiking 5 to 8 hours a day, covering up to 17.7 km (11 mi) with as much as 823 m (2,700 ft) of elevation gain and loss.

      Zip-lining is beginner-friendly, with a weight range of 27 to 113 kg (60 to 250 lb). Rafting is also suitable for beginners, though comfort in and around water is recommended. Whitewater is rated Class II-III.

      A solid baseline is being able to do cardio such as brisk uphill walking, jogging, or stair workouts for 30-45 minutes, 3-4 times a week before the trip.

      Want to see what else is there in the area? Discover more Appalachian trail tours here!

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

        • 1-2 pairs comfortable, synthetic hiking pants (zip-offs work well)
        • 2-3 moisture-wicking T-shirts or short-sleeve shirts
        • 1 lightweight long-sleeve shirt for sun protection
        • 1 fleece or midweight layer
        • 1 rain jacket and rain pants
        • Swimsuit (for zip-lining and rafting day)
        • Comfortable camp clothes for evenings
        • Hat or cap, and a warm hat for cool evenings
        • 1 pair broken-in hiking boots or trail shoes
        • 1 pair comfortable camp shoes or sandals
        • 2-3 pairs hiking socks (wool or synthetic)
        • Daypack (25-30L) with rain cover
        • Water bottle or hydration bladder (2-3L)
        • Headlamp with extra batteries
        • Sunglasses and sunscreen
        • Personal first aid items (blister care, personal medications)
        • Toiletries and personal items

      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.

      Got everything you need? Grab your gear through Active Junky and earn cash back on top outdoor brands — plus a $10 bonus on your first $25+ purchase. Shop now at Active Junky!

    • Group sizes and pricing

        • For this all-women Smoky Mountains hiking trip, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 11:1. 
        • It takes a minimum of 4 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 12 participants.

      A Smoky Mountains hiking trip 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 16 may be permitted to join the all-women Smoky Mountains hiking trip on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

      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 all-women Smoky Mountains hiking trip.

    • The starting point of your all-women Smoky Mountains hiking trip is Gatlinburg. To get there, most people fly into McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS). From there, you can take a shuttle service, a taxi, or rent a car to reach Gatlinburg.

      You will meet your guide at The Appy Lodge in Gatlinburg 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.

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