All of our Beginner Backpacking trips include a full gear rental. You'll be provided with a comfortable 65L backpack, trekking poles, lightweight tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, cook kit, and water filtration system.

For our extended trips, most people bring their own gear, but you can also rent ours if you'd like. Check here for gear rental prices.

For our Beginner Backpacking trips, all the gear and meals are provided for you. You'll just need to bring your clothing and personal items like water bottles, bug spray, and a headlamp. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the trail are provided, but you'll want to bring a few snacks to eat while you're hiking. Your guide will provide you with a full packing list after booking your trip.

For extended trips, gear and meals are not included, but your guide will give you a detailed packing list and meal planning suggestions when you book your trip.

Our two most popular Beginner Backpacking Trips are at Max Patch, NC and Roan Highlands, TN. Both of these trips are great for first time backpackers, but have some differences:

Max Patch:

• 3 days / 2 nights
• 20 miles with 3,450' elevation gain and 6,330' elevation loss
• Wide open mountain views from Max Patch summit
• Hike over Max Patch, Walnut Mountain, and Bluff Mountain
• Great sunset views!
• Mostly under tree cover
• Lots of small streams and water sources
• 1.5 hour drive from Knoxville, TN or 45 minute drive from Asheville, NC

Roan Highlands:

• 3 days / 2 nights
• 15 miles with 2,420' elevation gain and 5100' elevation loss
• Gorgeous mountain views from 4 summits, Round Bald, Jane Bald, Little Hump, and Hump Mountain
• Lots of open meadows with sun exposure
• Can be windy
• Famous for rhododendrons and wildflowers in summer
• 2 hour drive from Knoxville, TN or 1.5 hour drive from Asheville, NC

The weather in the Appalachian Mountains can vary a lot! Temperatures are always about 10 degrees cooler in the mountains than surrounding towns, and we get a lot of rain in the mountains. Here is a snapshot of the weather by month (degrees in Fahrenheit):

April- June : Daytime highs in the 50s-60s and nighttime lows in the 30s - 40s. Springtime rain is common, which brings a lot of wildflowers.

August-September: Daytime highs in the 60s-80s and nighttime lows in the 40s - 50s. The air is generally humid and short afternoon thunderstorms are common.

October - Daytime highs in the 50s - 70s and nighttime lows in the 30s - 40s. This is the driest time of year, with cool crisp air and changing leaf colors.

In the cooler months, you'll want gloves, hats, and extra layers to keep warm. In the warmer months, it's a good idea to bring electrolyte mixes to stay hydrated. We'll hike rain or shine, and your guide will give you updated weather forecasts as you get closer to your hike.

This depends on the location of your hike:

Max Patch Hikes: Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is about a 45 minute drive from the meeting location in Hot Springs, NC

Roan Highlands Hikes: Tri-Cities Airport (TRI) in Blountville, TN is a 50 minute drive from the meeting location in Roan Mountain, TN

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Hikes: McGhee Tyson Regional Airport (TYS) is just outside of Knoxville, TN and is a 1 hour drive to Gatlinburg, TN.

Most of our backpacking trips begin in the morning, so we recommend flying or driving in the night before and getting some rest before starting your hike. While we don't have specific hotel recommendations, you will find many hotels and AirBnB options near your hike meeting location:

Max Patch Hikes: Meeting location in Hot Springs, NC. Lodging is available in Hot Springs and in Asheville, NC (45 minute drive).

Roan Highlands Hikes: Meeting location in Roan Mountain, TN. Lodging is available in Roan Mountain, TN and in Johnson City, TN (30 minute drive).

Smoky Mountains Hikes: Meeting location in Gatlinburg, TN. Lodging is available in Gatlingburg, Pigeon Forge, TN (15 minute drive), and Knoxville, TN (1 hour drive).

Yes! Let your guide know if you have any dietary restrictions during your Pre-Hike Virtual Orientation.

Backpacking is a challenging sport! You'll need to carry a backpack that weighs 25-30 pounds over mountainous terrain for most of the day.  Some parts of the trail include long uphill and downhill sections.  To be able to hike comfortably and lower your risk of injury, you should be able to walk around your neighborhood for several miles without taking breaks and climb several flights of stairs.  However, we welcome all fitness levels, and will adjust mileage and break times to fit the needs of each hiker.  If you're new to backpacking, check out one of our Beginner Backpacking Trips to get started.

We hike rain or shine! The weather can change quickly in the mountains, especially at higher elevations.  You'll want to be prepared with rain gear and dry layers to put on at camp.  Your guide will give you a packing list and recommendations during your Pre-Hike Virtual Orientation. 

In the case of severe weather, such as heavy thunderstorms, your guide may need to adjust your trip itinerary or reschedule a trip.  More details about this are in our cancellation policy. 

Yes, we do! Private trips are a great option for friend groups, family outings, and corporate retreats. With a private trip, we can design an itinerary that is perfect for your group's experience level and hiking style.

Private trips are also great for aspiring Appalachian Trail thru-hikers seeking specific guidance and mentoring as they prepare for their big adventure.

If you're interested in a private trip, contact us to get more information.

Absolutely! We love the Appalachian Trail and we love thru-hikers! We have a lot of resources available for aspiring thru-hikers, including an online Thru-Hiker Prep class, private online coaching, shakedown hikes, and resupply services. Check out our Thru-Hiker Resource page for more info.

Spotting a black bear during your hike can be an exciting experience! While we do have a large population of black bears in the Appalachian Mountains, they are generally pretty shy and try to stay away from people. However, bears are wild animals and you should take precautions to stay safe in bear country. Your guide will discuss bear safety during your Pre-Hike Virtual Orientation, and teach you proper food storage techniques on your hike. Bear spray is not required on our trips, but you are welcome to carry approved bear spray if it makes you feel more comfortable.

Safety is a top priority at Wildwood Hiking Company, and we will take every necessary precaution to make sure your trip is safe and memorable. However, backpacking is an active outdoor sport, and there are some inherent risks. In the event of an emergency, our guides are trained and certified in Wilderness First Aid and/or Wilderness First Response and have CPR training. All guides carry first aid kits and an emergency GPS beacon in case they need to call for help.

Tipping is not required, but is much appreciated by our guides!  If you feel that your guide did an excellent job, you may offer a tip at the end of your trip.  The industry standard for tipping backpacking guides is 15-20% of the cost of the trip.

• Your trip cost includes a 15% non-refundable booking fee.  
• Participants may cancel a trip up to 60 days before the start date of the trip for a refund, minus the 15% booking fee.  
• If a participant cancels a trip between 59-30 days before the start of the trip, a 50% refund will be offered.
• If a participant cancels a trip between 0-29 days from the start of the trip, no refund or trip credit will be offered.
• We hike rain or shine! Backpacking is a challenging endurance sport, and it can be uncomfortable during inclement weather.  We do our best to make sure hikers are adequately prepared for adverse weather.  However, safety is our biggest priority.  In the case of severe weather that could affect the safety of our hikers, our guides have the discretion to cancel a trip.  In this case, a full refund or transfer credit will be offered.

• A participant may request 1 transfer from one trip to another according to the Transfer Policy.  A second transfer request will be treated as a cancellation according to the cancellation policy.
• A participant may make a transfer request more than 60 days from the start of the trip with no additional fee.
• A transfer request made from 30-59 days before the start of the trip will incur a $100 per person transfer fee.
• No transfer requests can be made from 0-29 days prior to the start of the trip.  This will be treated as a cancellation, with no refund or transfer credit offered, according to the cancellation policy.

Yes!  We offer 15% teacher discounts and 15% military discounts for our backpacking trips.  If you are interested in receiving a discount, contact us for a discount code.