• A wooden fire tower with stairs leading to the top
  • Three backpacking tents set up in the woods with women hikers leaning out of each tent
  • A sunset over the mountains viewed from the top of a wooden fire tower
  • A woman wearing a poncho and a backpacking standing in front of a wooden shelter on the Appalachian Trail
  • Three women with backpacks standing on a bridge over the French Broad River on the Appalachian Trail
  • Two woman with backpacks standing on a rocky outcropping overlooking the French Broad river below
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Women's Intermediate AT Section Hike- Hot Springs, NC : 6 Days / 5 Nights (2026)

Women's Intermediate AT Section Hike- Hot Springs, NC : 6 Days / 5 Nights (2026)

$1,650.00 USD
$1,650.00 USD
Sale Sold out

A minimum of 2 hikers is required for this trip. If the minimum is not met, you will be contacted 2 weeks before the trip to discuss options.

Guided trips are limited to 6 hikers per trip. If your group has 4 or more, please contact us to plan a private trip.

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This 6 day / 5 night guided backpacking trip covers approximately 50 miles on the historic Appalachian Trail, near Hot Springs, North Carolina, just a 45 minute drive from Asheville.  This is an intermediate level hike with daily mileage ranging from 6-12 miles per day with several challenging uphill climbs, recommended only for those who have previous backpacking experience and a very good level of fitness.

This "section hike" of the Appalachian Trail is ideal for women who are planning a future thru-hike or would like to test out their own gear with an experienced guide.  The extended itinerary includes a resupply stop in the trail town of Hot Springs, NC along with a stay in a hiker hostel.

Explore the beautiful rolling hills, wide-open mountain views, and winding woodland trails of the Appalachian Mountains, one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world.  On this trip, you’ll get to enjoy the gorgeous 360 degree views from the grassy, wildflower covered summit of Max Patch and a beautiful sunrise hike at the Rich Mountain fire tower!

Trip includes expert advice from an experienced backpacking guide and previous AT thru-hiker, shuttle service to and from meetup points and trailheads, 1 night stay in a hiker hostel, and video orientation before the trip to discuss women specific backpacking topics.  Gear rental is available for an additional fee upon request.

Click here to learn more about the Appalachian Trail Section Hike Backpacking trip.

 

Difficulty Level: Intermediate

This intermediate level backpacking trip is considered to be Strenuous.  A strenuous hike is considered to be challenging for most hikers.  It is suitable for those with previous backpacking experience on a mix of terrain and with significant elevation gain and loss.  This trip is great for backpackers looking for a more challenging trip or perhaps planning a future thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail.  You should be comfortable hiking up to 10 Miles with 3,000' of elevation gain with a fully weighted pack.

Daily mileage on this trip ranges from 5-10 miles, with up to 3,000' of elevation gain.  The terrain on this route is rocky and rooty, so you should be comfortable hiking on uneven terrain and have good traction on your shoes.  There are some steep inclines and a few large rock steps, as well as a few log bridge creek crossings. 

You will be expected to bring and carry your own backpacking gear for the duration of the trip.  Your fully loaded pack should be under 20% of your body weight, or around 25-30 pounds. You will receive a detailed packing list after booking, and your guide will discuss what to bring (and what not to bring) during your virtual orientation.  It's important to keep your pack weight low to reduce your risk of injury and to make your hike more enjoyable.


What's Included:

  • Virtual Orientation and Q&A session with your guide before the trip
  • Shuttle service from meeting location to trailhead
  • 1 night stay in a hiker hostel (bunkhouse style accommodations)
  • Expect advice, tips, and planning from an experienced backpacking guide

 

Not Included:

  • Guide gratuity (recommended 15-20% of trip cost)
  • Meals
  • Backpacking gear (rentals available for additional fee)
  • Lodging before/after trip
  • Transportation from airports or hotels

 

Travel Insurance:

  • We highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance with appropriate coverage.  Travel insurance may be used to reimburse the cost of an unexpected trip cancellation, for reasons such as illness, injury, a death in the family, or travel delays.  Wildwood Hiking Company does not offer travel insurance, but you can search online for a provider that fits your needs.

Our guides work hard to provide you with excellent service, professional guidance, and a safe and memorable backpacking trip.  If you feel your guide has done an exceptional job, please consider showing your appreciation with a tip.  The industry standard for tipping backpacking guides is 15-20% the total cost of the trip. 

At Wildwood, we want everyone to be able to enjoy the outdoors. Payment plans and scholarships are available for those in need. Please email us to request more information.

View full details
  • A wooden fire tower with stairs leading to the top
  • Three backpacking tents set up in the woods with women hikers leaning out of each tent
  • A sunset over the mountains viewed from the top of a wooden fire tower
  • A woman wearing a poncho and a backpacking standing in front of a wooden shelter on the Appalachian Trail
  • Three women with backpacks standing on a bridge over the French Broad River on the Appalachian Trail
  • Two woman with backpacks standing on a rocky outcropping overlooking the French Broad river below

  • Cancellation Policy

    • 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.

  • Trip Transfer Policy

    • 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.