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Blue Ridge Mountains Backpacking
Hike the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina's Appalachian wilderness
Adventure in the Blue Ridge Mountains on a backpacking trip that offers a true taste of the Appalachian wilderness. Starting right off the famous Blue Ridge Parkway, you’ll trek through rugged forests and across rocky summits in a beautiful section of the Appalachian chain. Pass Looking Glass Falls, climb panoramic knobs and watch the forest transform with every mile. Camp near the Shining Rock quartz outcroppings, hike to a nearby summit for lunch at the top and return along the trail with a new perspective. This journey is a hands-on exploration of wilderness, mountains and the thrill of high-country hiking.
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Start: Asheville, USA
End: Asheville, USA
- Duration
- 4 days
- Group size
- 2 to 7
- Minimum age
- 15 years old
- Style
- Original
- Theme
Our themes categorize trips based on a common interest or activity, while showcasing the highlights of a destination.
- Walking & trekking
- Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it.
From
USD $1,994
Members
From
Non-members
From
USD $2,345
Non-members
Why you'll love this trip
- Hike the legendary Blue Ridge Mountains through North Carolina's stunning Shining Rock Wilderness, where ancient forests transform before your eyes as you ascend through different elevations.
- Summit Cold Mountain, immortalized in literature by Charles Frazier's acclaimed novel, where you'll have lunch on a massive ledge with sweeping views of all the terrain you've conquered.
- Spend two nights near the extraordinary Shining Rock formation – a white-crusted peak that stands out for miles among the surrounding green mountains, creating an otherworldly landscape.
- Bond with your fellow hiking enthusiasts around the campfire each evening, swapping stories under the stars in one of the Blue Ridge's most spectacular settings.
- Let your knowledgeable hiking leader handle all safety, logistics and meal preparation while sharing deep insights and stories about this historic region, from the Cradle of Forestry to the hidden gems of Shining Rock Wilderness.
Itinerary
Welcome to North Carolina! Your adventure begins in Asheville with a meeting at 4 pm to meet your trip leader and fellow hikers. If you arrive early, maybe start diving into Asheville's quirky culture – explore local walking trails, wander the River Arts District galleries or sample craft beers at one of the many brewpubs. For a touch of local history, you could visit the Biltmore Estate, famous for being America’s largest home. After your meeting, join your group for dinner at a local restaurant, swapping stories and getting to know each other as anticipation builds for the backpacking trip ahead.
Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Meals
- Dinner
Included activities
- Highly qualified hiking guide(s) with medical certifications
- Emergency equipment including first-aid kit and satellite communication device
- All meals from dinner on day 1 to lunch on final day
- Bear cannisters for food storage
- Use of high quality tent, backcountry sleeping pad and multi-day backpack
- Use of trekking poles
- Use of high quality sleeping bag
Special information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and emergency contact details at this time. If you’re going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
It’s time to do what you came here to do – hike! Your multi-day Appalachian hiking trip to the Shining Rock Wilderness starts with a drive through Brevard and a stop at Looking Glass Falls, before reaching the trailhead along the legendary Blue Ridge Parkway. From there, tackle the Art Loeb Trail, a rugged route crossing multiple 6000-ft peaks. Summit Black Balsam Knob and Tennent Mountain, scramble over rocky ridgelines and navigate alpine balds with panoramic views stretching across the Appalachian Mountains. Along the way, cross streams, traverse meadows and pause for lunch atop a peak or in the grassy meadows of Ivestor Gap. You’ll then hike to your two-night basecamp near Shining Rock Gap, where a sunset dinner awaits atop the white quartzite outcroppings of Shining Rock. After a full day hiking, unwind under the stars and let the wilderness recharge you.
Accommodation
- Backcountry camping (1 night)
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Included activities
- Shining Rock Wilderness - 3D/2N Trek
- Looking Glass Falls visit
- Tennent Mountain climb & lunch
Special information
Your total travel time today will be approximately 1 hour. Your hiking distance will be approximately 5 mi with an elevation gain of 1000 ft.
Ascend into the high country today as you hike to the summit of Cold Mountain, rising 6030 ft and famously immortalized in Charles’ Frazier’s novel ‘Cold Mountain’. This challenging, trek takes you through rugged Appalachian terrain, across rocky ridges and thick forests. Pause at the summit for a picnic packed by your trip leader while letting the expansive mountain views sink in with your adventure crew. After taking in the high-country vistas, descend back toward Shining Rock Gap, navigating the same wild trails that make this area legendary. Return to your scenic basecamp for dinner with the group and time to relax after a day of hiking, exploring and immersing yourself fully in the wilderness.
Accommodation
- Backcountry camping (1 night)
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Included activities
- Cold Mountain climb & lunch
Special information
Your hiking distance today will be approximately 9 mi with an elevation loss/gain of 1795 ft.
Break down camp this morning then follow the trail back to where your trek began, taking in the views of craggy ridge lines, forested valleys and untamed wilderness along the way. Pause at multiple lookout points that sweep across Pisgah National Forest, giving you a last chance to take in the region’s rugged scenery. Lunch is served at a scenic viewpoint along the famous Blue Ridge Parkway, where you can refuel, reflect and share stories about the highlights of your Appalachian adventure. After lunch, continue your journey back to Asheville, arriving around 5 pm and carrying memories of challenging hikes, alpine peaks and nights under the stars. If you’d like to extend your stay in this area, chat with your booking agent beforehand.
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Special information
Your total travel time today will be approximately 1 hour. Your hiking distance will be approximately 4 mi with an elevation loss of 2550 ft.
Inclusions and activities
Destinations
USAMeals
3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, On foot
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night), Backcountry camping (2 nights)
Included activities
- Highly qualified hiking guide(s) with medical certifications
- Emergency equipment including first-aid kit and satellite communication device
- All meals from dinner on day 1 to lunch on final day
- Bear cannisters for food storage
- Use of high quality tent, backcountry sleeping pad and multi-day backpack
- Use of trekking poles
- Use of high quality sleeping bag
- Shining Rock Wilderness - 3D/2N Trek
- Looking Glass Falls visit
- Tennent Mountain climb & lunch
- Cold Mountain climb & lunch
Why choose us
We’ve led travellers around the world to share in the real, rare and remarkable, since 1989.
Over 35 years of adventure
We’re adventure travel experts with decades of experience and proud to run trips in over 100 countries.
Small groups
We keep our group sizes small and our experiences big, so you can get more out of your travels.
Locally based leaders
Leaders don’t just show off a destination, they’re the heart and soul of our trips.
Travel that gives back
The Intrepid Foundation gives back globally and our B Corp status is proof that we're dedicated to creating a positive impact.
Before you book you should know
- This is a multi-day backpacking trip, so a good level of fitness is required. We recommend you start training 12 weeks before departure to build cardiovascular endurance and leg strength. Practice hiking with a backpack, beginning with a light load and gradually increasing weight each week until you can comfortably carry the full pack weight listed below.
- This trip involves hiking from 4 to 9 mi per day with a total trip distance of 22 mi. The maximum daily elevation gain/loss is 2500 ft. Please check the Itinerary for more details.
- On this trip you will be required to carry a daypack weighing approximately 30 to 40 lb.
- On our backcountry hiking trips, bathroom facilities vary by location. Some trails and campsites have simple pit toilets, while others do not have built structures. In these cases, your trip leader will guide you through safe and responsible practices for going in the wilderness, following Leave No Trace principles.
1. This trip requires a minimum of two booked customers to guarantee the departure. Your booking agent will advise at time of booking if the departure has met minimum numbers. If minimum numbers are not met, you will be advised no later than 60 days out from departure. We recommend arranging flights and related travel services once your departure is guaranteed. If your departure is cancelled due to minimum numbers not being met, a full refund will be provided.
2. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 4 pm on Day 1 in Asheville, NC. Please make your way to the Joining Point listed in the Essential Trip Information.
3. This trip finishes at approximately 5 pm in Asheville, NC. No accommodation is booked for this evening. If you would like to spend more time in Asheville, please speak to your booking agent about additional accommodation.
4. A single tent is provided to all solo travelers at no extra cost. A single supplement is available at an additional cost, if you’d prefer not to share a room on Day 1 in Asheville and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
5. A completed Traveler Profile form is required to join these trips. We may ask for a medical release signed by your physician for medical conditions or circumstances which could possibly compromise your safety or the safety of others on this trip – please speak to your agent for further details.
6. To help ensure this trip is right for you, this trip is subject to additional ‘Essential Eligibility Requirements’ – see the ‘Itinerary Disclaimer’ section of the Essential Trip Information for further details.
5. Your trip is operated by Wildland Trekking, an Intrepid Travel company.
Hotel (1 night), Backcountry camping (2 nights)
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
You’ll camp in beautiful, well-located campgrounds or backcountry campsites, and spend the night in premier 1-person, 2-person or 4-person backcountry tents with self-inflating sleeping pads and synthetic-fill sleeping bags which are professionally laundered after every trip.
Bathroom facilities vary by location. Some trails and campsites have simple pit toilets, while others do not have built structures. In these cases, your trip leader will guide you through safe and responsible practices for going in the wilderness, following Leave No Trace principles.
DoubleTree by Hilton Asheville Downtown
199 Haywood Street, North Carolina.
Asheville
28801
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Dates and prices
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