Portered Shining Rock
Packstock or Porter Supported
3 Days, 2 Nights 18MI / 29KM
Trip Highlights
When it comes to trails, views and summits this trip is amazing in that it quite literally has it all despite technically being outside the Smokies. The difference between this trip and the backpacking version is that porters carry our group gear and supplies in on Day 1 (guests carry their clothing and personal items), set up camp, and hike back in on the final day to break camp and transport our supplies out. This is a wonderful way to see experience the Appalachian backcountry while hiking with light daypacks.
We pick you up in Asheville and shuttle in from Brevard through the Cradle of Forestry area (where American forest conservation began). We’ll stop at Looking Glass Falls, a stunning roadside waterfall, on our way to our trailhead. The first day of hiking is along the East Fork of the Pigeon River with amazing creek side trekking. After Lunch we start a steeper climb to a ridge where we’ll enjoy BIG views of the surrounding Appalachian Mountains. Day 1 ends at Shining Rock Gap, where we camp for two nights. Shining Rock itself (a stunning and unlikely quartz outcropping) is extremely unique and tends to “floor” even people who have been there before. Your guide will give you the “inside” tour of this area before we settle down for dinner. The second day we will hike to the top of Cold Mountain, which is relatively challenging, but only with light day packs. If we reach the summit we will eat lunch on a massive ledge with views of all the areas we have been hiking. Our final day we follow beautiful Shining Rock Creek through it’s amazing valley back down hill to our starting point.
Please Note: Porters transport all camping gear (tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads…etc.) as well as food. They also set up and break down camp. Guests are responsible for carrying their clothing and personal items.
Wildland Trekking is a permitee of the USFS, Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests
-
Lighter Backpack
-
BIG Appalachian Views
-
Shining Rock Sunset Dinner
-
Diverse Blue Ridge Forests
-
Stunning Waterfalls
-
Famous Cold Mountain
-
White Quartzite Viewpoints
Book This Trip
View Dates
Trip Details
-
Trip Type
Packstock or Porter Supported -
Trip Length
3 Days, 2 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
4-9 mi -
Group Size
4-8 Guests
- day by day itinerary
- logistical and travel information
- gear and clothing lists and more
"*" indicates required fields
Is This Trip Right For me?
This trip travels over some rocks and a few washed out areas on trail but then moves to a moderately flat trail to camp. Day 2 will be the toughest gaining steep elevation over rocks and roots to the summit of Cold Mountain and returning to camp the way we came. The old saying “Up hill both ways” will describe this day perfectly. Day 3 is an easy day back to the trailhead.
Difficulty Level
Learn More
Solitude Level
Learn More
Trip Itinerary
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes.
Day 1
Shuttle to the trailhead: 1-hour drive from Asheville
Hiking Mileage: ~ 5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1000 feet
This multi-day Appalachian hiking trip to the Shining Rock Wilderness starts with a drive through the city of Brevard and a stop at an amazing roadside attraction, Looking Glass Falls. From here it is a short drive to our trailhead along the famed Blue Ridge Parkway. Our hike (with just light day packs) is along the scenic Art Loeb Trail over multiple 6000’ peaks. As we cross over Black Balsam Knob and Tennent Mountain we’ll enjoy huge views of the surrounding Appalachian Mountain Range. Lunch today is either on the summit of one of these two peaks or in the grassy meadows of Ivestor Gap. Eventually we’ll hike on to our two night basecamp near Shining Rock Gap, which will be set up and waiting for us. After settling in we’ll enjoy a sunset dinner, prepared fresh by your guide, on the unique and other worldly summit of Shining Rock, a mountain capped with white quartzite rock outcroppings.
Day 2
Hiking Mileage: 9 miles
Elevation Loss/Gain: 1795 feet
Today we get to enjoy the Appalachian High country on a spectacular day hike. After a delicious, hot breakfast we’ll embark on a hike up to an amazing summit view from atop Cold Mountain, whose name you might recognize from Charles Frazier’s historic fiction novel based in this region during the Civil War, “Cold Mountain”. Our summit brings us to a height of 6,030 feet. After lunch at the summit we’ll hike back toward Shining Rock Gap and our comfortable, scenic camp for one more, much deserved, hearty Appalachian dinner prepared by your guide!
Day 3
Hiking Mileage: 4.1 miles
Elevation Loss: 2550 feet
Shuttle to Asheville: 1-hour drive to Asheville
Today we work our way back to where we began our trek. Our porters will hike in, break camp, and transport everything out, allowing us again to hike with just light day packs. On the way we will stop and enjoy multiple views along the trail that oversee all of Pisgah National Forest. Today’s lunch is at one of the many amazing viewpoints of the famous Blue Ridge Parkway. While enjoying the views and a delicious lunch we will recount the highlights of our Shining Rock Wilderness adventure and then have a short drive back to Asheville.
Trip Dates
Click on a date to register. You can also click here to request new dates or book through customer service.
Scroll horizontally to view all dates
What's Included
-
Porters to transport gear in and out, and to set up and break down camp
-
Top-of-the-line tent, backcountry sleeping pad and multi-day backpack
-
High quality, synthetic sleeping bag (professionally laundered after every use)
-
Use of trekking poles
-
All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
-
Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
-
Roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Asheville, North Carolina to the trailhead and back
-
Entrance fees and national park permits
-
Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device
What's Not Included
-
Clothes, raingear, and footwear -
Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
-
Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
-
Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
-
No camp fires allowed in Wilderness Area
Accommodations
Backcountry Sleeping
TENT CAMPING
Sleeping on backpacking trips is in premier 1-person, 2-person or 4-person backcountry tents. Solo travelers, and anyone else who requests it, are issued single tents. Top-of-the-line self-inflating sleeping pads and synthetic-fill sleeping bags (professionally laundered after every trip) are also provided.
Backcountry Cuisine
Backcountry Cuisine
Meals from breakfast Day 1 through lunch the last day are fully included and prepared by your guide. We never us dehydrated backpacking meals, instead serving freshly prepared, delicious backcountry cuisine made with a variety of common and specialty ingredients that travel well with the wilderness.
Amazing Campsites
IN THE ACTION
Campsites vary by destination, trip and even by the individual day of a trip. However, you can expect to camp in beautiful areas that put you right in the action to make the most of your trekking adventure. We carefully design our itineraries with campsites in mind.
Trip Logistics & FAQs
Where Do We Meet?
You will meet your guide and group at the Holiday Inn in downtown Asheville (standard rooms are $99-$140 for our guests, 828-225-5550) for an orientation meeting at 5:00 PM the evening before the trip begins. We’re happy to give you a ride to this meeting if you’re not staying at the Holiday Inn. Your guide will then pick you up the next morning for transport to the trailhead. For Private Great Smoky Mountains Tours your guide can meet you at any hotel in Asheville at an agreed upon time.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Travel to Asheville, NC
All North Carolina trips begin and end from Asheville, North Carolina. Asheville has an airport served by Allegiant Air, Delta, United, and US Airways. One can also fly into Greenville, South Carolina or Charlotte, North Carolina and drive to Asheville. It is a 1.5-hour drive from Greenville to Asheville and a 2-hour drive from Charlotte on good roads.
FROM ASHEVILLE AIRPORT
Asheville Airport Express (http://www.ashevilleairportexpress.com, 828-231-1053) and Harry’s Car Service run (828-774-8178) shuttles to and from downtown. Also a number of taxis are usually available on the curb in the Arrivals area.
FROM GREENVILLE/CHARLOTTE
Asheville Airport Express also runs daily vans from Charlotte and Greenville to Asheville.
CAR RENTALS
Avis: 800-331-1212; Hertz 800-654- 3131; National: 800-227-7368; Thrifty: 800-367-2277; Alamo: 800-327-9633
Start/End Times
Your guide will inform you of the first day’s pick-up time at the orientation meeting. Generally, you can expect it to be between 5 and 8 am, although the exact time will depend on current weather and road conditions. We will drop you off at your hotel on the final day normally before 5 PM (this time is not guaranteed, as a variety of circumstances can influence our exact return time).
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval and specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
Reviews
- SORT BY:
- Most recent
- LOW - HIGH
- HIGH - LOW
Christopher S
1 year agoAwesome Trip
My 13 year old daughter and I had an awesome time on this trip. Jacob was a great guide - positive attitude, tons of stories and information about the wildlife around us, and wonderful cooking! We got to watch an absolutely beautiful sunset from Shining Rock our first night, and the second day enjoyed a fun hike up to the top of Cold Mountain. Would highly recommend.
Brenda S
2 years agoExcellent
Francisco is an excellent guide…knowledgeable, upbeat and great cook! The porters did a great job for us.
Nicole G
2 years agoWas a Treat
Was a treat to go on a portered trip. If you are not up for carrying 40-50 pounds like the non-portered trips but still want the full experience of camping in the back country and hiking, this is a great trip. Francisco, our guide, was wonderful. He made great food, was very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna and was encouraging and patient. The group was really fun. The hike up to Cold Mountain was challenging but very manageable especially with just day packs.
You Might Also Like...
"*" indicates required fields
Leave a Reply