Leave the road far behind and come on a guided backpacking trip with A Walk in the Woods for a true wilderness experience.

 

Just starting out? Avoid the trials and pain of learning the skills of backpacking through the school of hard knocks. Before your trip, we will talk to you about your experience and expectations. We'll tell you what you can expect, what to bring, what not to bring, even how to pack it. And that's just the beginning. Your guide will help to make this wilderness experience as safe and fulfilling as possible. On your trip, you will learn wilderness and backpacking skills and all about the natural world. These trips are dedicated to building self reliance in each backpacker. Our groups are small enough to allow us to get to know each other, and to travel as a team, with confidence, trust, and humor while creating a feeling of ease in nature. Wilderness backpacking is the most rewarding way to experience a bit of real America. And because you do it on your own two feet, you'll feel a dramatic sense of accomplishment that you bring back and implement in your daily life.

 

Backpacking is suited to anybody who is healthy, reasonably fit, and open to the hands on experience of learning a new hobby.

 

Been backpacking for years? How about traveling with your own naturalist while learning more about the forest you love. You'll learn how to identify plants useful for food and medicine, how to cure a headache, what to do if lost in the woods, how to avoid getting struck by lightening during a thunderstorm, 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 trip, you will truly see the forest for the trees, the plants, the mushrooms, the animals ....

 
Let A Walk in the Woods Customize a Backpacking Trip just for you, or join one of our Pre-Scheduled backpacking trips.
Customized Backpacking Trips
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.

 

Pricing for Customized Backpacking Trips start at: $250. Discounts available for parties of 2 or more.

Family Rate Special : A family (up to 5) for $500. $50 for each additional person.

 

Pre-Scheduled Backpacking Trips
2008 Schedule

 
Rather join a group of others with common interests? Sign up for one of our Pre-Scheduled Backpacking Trips for 2008 below:
Title of Trip Backpacking 101: Everything you ever wanted to learn about backpacking, but were afraid to ask
Length/Price
Two Days One Night
$210 total/includes all backpacking gear, meals and guide.
$180 total if you provide your own backpacking gear.
Outing size restricted to 8 people total including guide.
Rating Moderate. For beginner and intermediate backpackers.
Upcoming Dates
April 26th - 27th, (Saturday through Sunday)
May 10th - 11th (Saturday through Sunday) * Women Only
May 17th - 18th (Saturday through Sunday)
August 1st - 2nd (Friday through Saturday)
August 30th-31st (Saturday through Sunday)
Description Turn that curiosity into knowledge with a one night trip into the woods. Learn everything about the exciting and challenging sport of backpacking while meeting other people. On this trip, you will learn all the steps needed to become a proficient backpacker, find out what to pack and not to pack, how to pack and how to wear your pack for the most comfort. You'll learn how to use the best gear and what to do in the event that things don't go as planned, if the weather changes or your gear doesn't work well. You'll learn how to identify wild plants, which ones are edible and poisonous, how to cure headaches and poison ivy, and how to survive in case of emergency. We'll start with a brief class on backpacking and apply it in real life.
Title of Trip Woman's Mid-life Renewal Getaway
Length/Price
Three Days Two Nights
$390 total/includes all backpacking gear, meals and guide.
$340 total if you provide your own backpacking gear.
Outing size restricted to 8 people total including guide.
Rating Moderate. For beginner and intermediate backpackers.
Upcoming Dates
May 23rd - May 24th (Friday through Sunday) FULL
October 17th - 19th (Friday through Sunday)
Description

Turn the page on that mid-life crisis and greet a new chapter in your life. Challenge yourself to an adventure while experiencing the sport of backpacking. You'll meet other women while you learn about nature, the best way to backpack and yourself. This is a time to celebrate our bodies, to push our limits just a little to discover our hidden strengths. But don't worry, we'll ease into the trip, taking plenty of time for photos and rest, and help you to rediscover your youth through games, journaling, laughter and camaraderie. Come to this prepared to make friends, learn about yourself and reconnect with nature.

Title of Trip Great Smoky Mountains Backpack – Appalachian Trail through REI Adventures
Length/Price
Four Days Three Nights
$625 REI Member
$670 Non-member
Outing size restricted to 6 clients and 2 guides.
Rating

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.
Upcoming Dates
July 24-27 (w), Aug 7-10, Aug 21-24, Sept 4-7, Sept 18-21
Oct 7-10, Oct 19-22
Description The Appalachian Trail through the Great Smoky Mountains offers fantastic hiking and expansive mountain views.  We backpack from one primitive shelter to the next on this short section of a classic route, where hikers can expect an authentic taste of the Appalachian Trail thru-hiker life. Our experienced guides will offer instruction for those looking to hone their skills in survival techniques, backpacking basics and learn about native plants and their uses. This is a REI Adventures trip with ground operations provided by A Walk in the Woods.

Please see REI Adventures for more details and to book.
We also offer Pre-Scheduled Trips exclusively for Women. Please visit our Women in the Wilderness page for more information.

Spaces are limited. Please call: 865-436-8283 or e-mail for more information.

A Walk in the Woods is now celebrating our 10th year of business. In that time we have helped over 27,000 people enjoy the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We are permitted through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and insured. We are certified as Wilderness First Responders, professional level CPR and trained in Non-Lethal Aversive Bear Conditioning.

 

 

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