• Two women sitting around a campfire having a conversation
  • Two hikers crossing a log bridge
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Women's Intro to Backpacking- Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Women's Intro to Backpacking- Great Smoky Mountains National Park

$625.00 USD
$625.00 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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Join Wildwood Hiking Company for an empowering, women-only backpacking trip crafted just for beginners! This 2-day, 1-night adventure in the stunning Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers 5-10 miles of scenic trails, perfect for hikers that are ready to give backpacking a try. Designed to build confidence and skills, this trip teaches essentials like gear selection, camp setup, navigation, and Leave No Trace principles—all in a supportive, women-only environment. Immerse yourself in lush forests, vibrant wildflowers, and breathtaking views while connecting with nature and like-minded adventurers. No prior experience needed—just a sense of adventure!

On this Intro to Backpacking trip, you’ll learn how to pack your backpack, set up camp, filter water, cook meals, and practice safe backpacking skills with your guide. Trip includes all necessary backcountry camping permits and fees, full gear rental (a comfortable backpack, trekking poles, tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and cook kit), breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the trip, and a video orientation before the trip to discuss planning and preparation.

Note: Due to the limitations of the permit system in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, our exact route, itinerary, and campsite will not be determined until 25 days prior to the trip start date.  We will aim to keep our daily mileage short, hiking approximately 3-5 miles to camp with up to 700' of elevation gain.  Your guide will reach out with your finalized itinerary, including your meeting location, approximately 3 weeks before the start of your trip.  

Difficulty Level: Beginner

This Beginner backpacking trip is considered Easy to Moderate.  A moderate hike is considered to be generally suitable for novice hikers looking for a bit of a challenge. It is best that you have some hiking experience, but backpacking experience is not required. 

Daily mileage on this trip ranges from 3 miles to 5 miles, with up to 700' of elevation gain.  Depending on the route, the terrain may be rocky and rooty and could have some creek crossings in ankle deep water. 

You will be expected to carry your own backpacking gear for the duration of the trip (gear rental included).  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
  • Full backpacking gear rental: backpack, trekking poles, tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, cook kit, and water filtration
  • On-trail meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
  • Backcountry camping permits in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
  • Expert advice, tips, and planning from an experienced backpacking guide

 

Not Included:

 

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.

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  • Two women sitting around a campfire having a conversation
  • Two hikers crossing a log bridge

  • 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.