Guided Backpacking and Multisport
Avoid the growing pains of learning backpacking skills through the school of hard knocks. On our guided backpacking trips, our groups are small enough to allow us to get to know each other and to travel as a team while gaining confidence and trust in the process. Wilderness backpacking is the most rewarding way to experience a bit of real America. Because you do it on your own two feet, you’ll take home a dramatic sense of accomplishment that flows into your daily life. You’ll learn how to identify plants useful for food and medicine and what to do if lost in the woods.
Learn valuable knowledge to take into your own backpacking trip.
Additionally, learn how to avoid getting struck by lightening during a thunderstorm, how to cure a headache naturally and everything you need to make your trips through the wilderness safer and more enjoyable. These hands on experiences are like learning about the brush strokes in a painting. When you emerge from your guided backpacking trip, you will truly see the forest for the trees, the plants, the mushrooms, the animals and so much more.
Smokies Classic Women's Backpacking
Smokies Classic Backpacking
Train for the Appalachian Trail: Guided Winter Shakedown
Women in Wilderness
Intro to Backpacking | Smokies Basecamp
Smokies Lake Paddle and Basecamp | Multisport
Peaks to Pools | Backpacking and Paddling Multisport
Synchronous Firefly Backpacking
Duration / Diffuculty: Up to you
We will design a personalized adventure based on your abilities, experience and expectations. The process starts with a questionnaire about yourself, what you want to experience and what you want to take away with you. From this we will build an excursion tailored just for you and your group.
Custom Backpacking Trips
- All guided backpacking trips include a professional naturalist guide and all necessary gear. We can provide you with a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad and backpack. Your guide will carry a water filter, stove, fuel and first aid kit for the group.
- Breakfasts and dinners are provided in the form of dehydrated and freeze-dried options. We can accommodate a wide variety of dietary needs. Lunches are snacks on trail. We will have some bars to choose from, but suggest bringing your own comfort foods.
- Route are determined 25 days in advance of the trip. For a 2 night trip, you can expect 5-8 miles each day. For a 3 night trip, you can expect 5-12 miles with the shorter days typically flanking each end of the trip.
- Elevation change varies from route to route.
- Routes can change last minute due to shelter and campsite closures or road closures.
The GSMNP requires parking tags for any vehicle parked longer than 15 minutes inside the Park. You can get your daily or weekly parking tag through us (a $1 fee will be applied if we purchase and print your tag) or here.
Contact Us
Looking for something a little less rugged and a bit more relaxing?
Our Cascades and Canopies trip is a Lodge-based trip. You’ll hike with us during the day and relax in your cabin at night with a grand finale on an awesome zipline course!
Our Smoky Mountains Wilderness Basecamp trip options are perfect for those wanting full emersion in the Smokies, with maybe a little less physical effort and more comfort.
For additional questions, please check out our FAQ page.
