Great Smoky Mountains Backpacking — Appalachian Trail

Great Smoky Mountains Backpack – Appalachian Trail Itinerary:

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• Day 1 Backpack to our first shelter along the famed Appalachian Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

  Your trip begins today between 9am - 12:00pm (specific time announced about 3 weeks prior to departure) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. After introductions, we'll go over gear, do an orientation and review medical information. Next, we'll be shuttled by van as a group to the Appalachian Trail to begin our hike. We'll backpack to our first shelter along the Appalachian Trail, where we'll settle in for a great backcountry dinner then rest for the second leg of our journey tomorrow. Hiking: Mileage and elevation gain/loss varies depending on specific route selected; Dinner included.

• Day 2 Ridge walk through open forest and grassy balds while watching for wildlife as we hike one of most remote section of the eastern US.

  After breakfast, the first three miles of your day are mostly moderate ridge walking through open hardwood forest and rocky balds. This is a good area to see deer, foxes and other wildlife as we are in some of the most remote sections of the eastern United States. Following the Appalachian Trail westward via Buckeye Gap and Cold Spring Knob. We will cover about 6 miles of ridgeline today before arriving at our next AT shelter at Derrick Knob (4890ft). Mileage: 5-7 miles; Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,000'. Meals Provided: Breakfast and Dinner, please bring trail mix and energy bars for on trail lunch.

• Day 3 Hike steeply up and down, along ridges and over rock outcroppings, enjoying panoramic views over the Smokies.

  After breakfast, we will hike a section of trail considered by some to be among the most challenging sections of the Appalachian Trail in the Park. A series of steep ups and downs will continue for about one mile until we drop into Sugartree Gap at 4,434 feet. From here we will climb up again, level out and descend. There are some wonderful views along this section, including the Thunderhead Prong, a tributary of Little River. Today will be our most challenging, backpacking approximately 6 miles today on strenuous terrain. Thunderhead Mountain, dominating the Western Smokies, is the highpoint of the day and a storied section of the Appalachian Trail. Thunderhead consists of three peaks, the lowest being the famed "Rocky Top" at 5440ft. The trail continues along the ridges and rock outcroppings before arriving at our destination, Spence Field shelter, located on the largest mountain meadow in the Park. Mileage: 6-7 miles; Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,500'. Meals Provided: Breakfast and Dinner, please bring trail mix and energy bars for on trail lunch.

• Day 4 Hike above valleys rich with Cherokee and Scots/Irish history. See a forest of Table Mountain Pine, found nowhere else but in the Southern Appalachians.

  Our day continues through the expansive mountain meadow before entering a towering stand of extremely rare and beautiful Beech trees. We alternate hiking through forests, across open ridges and over grassy balds with breathtaking views into valleys rich with Cherokee and Scots/Irish history.  As we begin our decent, we will see a forest of Table Mountain Pine, found nowhere else on earth but the Southern Appalachians. The Smokies are home to 90% of all of the Old Growth Forest left in the East. Today, we will see a 38" diameter Tulip Poplar, a 50" diameter Northern Red Oak and a Hemlock Tree that is 46" in diameter among some other gorgeous old growth trees. Our last 1.5 miles offers us a great opportunity to dip our feet in a cold mountain stream before we end our trip. A shuttle is provided back to our vehicles at the Sugarlands Visitor Center when we arrive at the end of our hike. Mileage: 6 miles; Elevation Gain/Loss: 3,000'. Meals Provided: Breakfast, please bring trail mix and energy bars for on trail lunch.

There are multiple routes that we may select from along the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains that will enable us to create a fantastic hut to hut hiking experience for guests, and we may utilize any of those options.  Our final route is determined by our guides and based on the availability of suitable shelter access and other factors which may be beyond our control.  Changes in the availability of shelters from one departure date to the next will necessitate changes to the shelters we use each night, changes to the route and to the number of miles that we hike each day.  Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.  This trip is operated rain or shine.

Contact REI Adventures prior to purchasing your airline tickets to confirm the trip has the minimum number of participants required to operate.

Single accommodations are not available for this trip.  Shelters are shared by all members of the group.

All accommodations; meals as noted in the daily itinerary; professional instruction and guiding; group cooking gear; group first aid kit, water filter.

Transportation from your hometown to group meeting point; park entrance fees where required, insurance of any kind; 2 lunches and snack items (see pack list for detailed guidance); alcoholic beverages; soft drinks; guide gratuities and items of a personal nature.

McGhee-Tyson Airport, Knoxville, TN; 79 miles; 1.5 hours
Asheville Airport, Asheville, NC; 75 miles; 1.5 hours
Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Charlotte, NC; 185 miles; 3.5 hours

There is no reliable transfer service from any airport to our group’s meeting point.  Plan on renting a car if you are flying in for this Weekend Getaway.

This trip is rated Vigorous (4) as we plan to hike for 6-10 hours per day most days on steep, rocky, sometimes exposed terrain, gaining and/or losing up to just over 3,000 feet in elevation some days.  We will carry packs weighing 30-35 lbs while we hike as well.  To maximize your enjoyment of the trip we suggest that you engage in a regular exercise regimen beginning at least three months prior to your departure.  Most important to your enjoyment of the trip is your overall fitness level.

Daytime temperatures usually range between 50-75 degrees F, with evening temperatures dropping into the 20s - 50s. You may encounter freezing temperatures at some of the higher elevations. Afternoon thunderstorms are a distinct possibility, so adequate raingear is important.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Weekend Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and detailed pre-trip information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. Try to bring only what is necessary—this will help you and the field staff.

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