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.

NEW FOR 2025!!

Peaks to Pools | Backpacking and Paddling Multisport

NEW FOR 2025!!

Smokies Lake Paddle and Basecamp | Multisport

NEW FOR 2025!!

Smokies Classic Backpacking

NEW FOR 2025!!

Smokies 7 Day Thru Hike

Guided Backpacking 101

Women in Wilderness 101

Synchronous Firefly Backpacking

Smoky Mountain Backpacking Adventure

Women in Wilderness 2 Night

Duration: Up to you

Cost: Trips start at $794. Additional charges apply for trips requiring transportation. Discounts available for parties of 2 or more and for additional nights.

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.

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.

Guided Backpacking Trip Cancellation Policy:

The entire price of the backpacking trip is charged on the day you book. $100 per person of this amount is a non-refundable deposit. Due to the planning involved in backpacking trips, we require a 45 day cancellation. A refund will be provided for cancellations up to 45 days prior to arrival, less the $100 deposit. Cancellations between 44 and 30 days of your trip will be refunded half of the full trip charge. No refunds for cancellations with less than a 30 day notice, however, we will extend a 25% discount on a future trip to be taken within a one year period.

If the guide cancels your backpacking trip due to hazardous weather conditions prior to starting the trip, you will be refunded the full trip price excluding the deposit. Additionally, if the guide or a member of another group on the trip ends the trip early, you will be refunded a prorated portion of the cost. Lastly, if we begin the trip and you or anyone in your group decides to end the trip early for any reason, there will be no refund.

Check Out Backpacking Trip Insurance

There are NO EXCEPTIONS to our cancellation policy. We are not responsible for medical or family emergencies. Further, we encourage you to research travel insurance services to best meet your needs if you must cancel or interrupt your backpacking trip due to unforeseen circumstances . Trip Assure offers insurance for our overnight trips. Trip Assure provides plans with benefits to protect the cost of your travel arrangements; your belongings; and most importantly, you, in case your trip gets disrupted. Please click here for more information.