Mount Sterling Appalachian Loop
Asheville, NC
5.0 (51 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Appalachian Trail Hiking
- Beautiful Waterfalls
- Amazing Views
- Majestic Backcountry Camps
- Wildlife Viewing Opportunities
- Fascinating Natural & Cultural History
Description
This truly fantastic trip ascends two peaks (Mount Cammerer on the Appalachian Trail and Mount Sterling with some of the best views in the whole park), it features old growth forests, a fire lookout constructed out of rock, plenty of historic sites, the highest backcountry campsite in the park, waterfalls, a swimming hole and beautiful creekside hiking. The historical route we follow was used by Native Americans, settlers, loggers, and livestock herders before the national park was formed. We retrace their footsteps on this amazingly beautiful and diverse Appalachian adventure.
This trip is a loop hike, so each day features new and exciting scenery. We start low in the valleys and follow a series of mountain creeks high into the mountains, where we are rewarded with amazing hiking and out-of-this-world views. We’ll thoroughly explore the ecology of the Smokies, which is phenomenally diverse, from the temperate rainforests to the high peaks. In the spring, this trip offers outstanding wildflower blooms. In the summer, the group will have time to take a dip in swimming holes as well as wade around the creeks at camp. In the autumn, you’ll love the fall foliage and have great views of the turning leaves. This Great Smoky Mountains trip‘s exhilarating hiking and majestic camping leave most guests with an awesome sense of accomplishment and rejuvenation.
$1305 Per Person
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 4
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
This trip travels along an old railroad bed day 1 until we reach camp. Day 2 has elevation gain all the way to the firetower, hiking over a rocky section of the Appalachian Trail and then we return to camp the way we came. Day 3 is the toughest day with the most elevation gained to the top of Mt. Sterling and day 4 has a quick drop off the mountain traveling along maintained trails that are rocky and rooty.
Hiking Distances:
5-8 mi
Backpack Weight:
35-45 lbs
Terrain:
Moderately Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
2820 ft
Heights Exposure:
None
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Hiking uphill or downhill with a 35-45 lb backpack for 6-8 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on moderately rugged terrain
- Ascending a maximum of 2820 feet in a day; descending a maximum of 4070 feet in a day
SOLITUDE LEVEL 3
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Great Smoky Mountains backpacking trip a solitude 2. You can expect as much as an hour of solitude at a time.
Private Trips
Travel in perfect company by booking a private trip exclusively for your group!
Our sliding scale for private trips is based on the final number of guests in your group. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax, national park fees or guide gratuity. The final rate is based on the actual number of guests on the trip and may adjust based on cancellations or additions.
Please Note: you can also enjoy a private trip at our normal scheduled rates by filling any empty tour to capacity. However, if group members drop from the tour those spots will automatically become available on our website for instant booking. By purchasing a private trip at the rates listed below, your trip will remain exclusive to your group regardless of cancellations.
Private Rates FOr This Trip
- 2 People: Rate x 2.5
- 3 People: Rate x 1.75
- 4 People: Rate x 1.25
- 5+ People: Rate x 1.15
*all rates are per person
Backcountry Campsites
BACKCOUNTRY CAMPSITES
Our Great Smoky Mountains National Park backpacking trips primarily utilize backcountry campsites vs. shelters. The shelters – particularly along the popular Appalachian Trail – are very crowded and often plagued by rodent infestations and other undesireable qualities. The backcountry campsites on the other hand have wonderful solitude, are often nestled near creeks, and in general offer a cleaner, much more authentic and rewarding wilderness experience. Our backpacking itineraries therefore may follow the Appalachian Trail (which requires staying in shelters) for a day or part of a day, but in general we have decided on quieter, more scenic loop hikes that provide quality camping and a genuine wilderness experience.
Feel free to give us a call at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) with any questions you have about campsites or our use of the Appalachian Trail!
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private TripsITINERARY
Day 1
- Shuttle to the trailhead: 1-hour drive from Asheville
- Hiking Mileage: 5.3 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1250 feet
On this multi-day Great Smoky Mountains backpacking trip we begin hiking along a series of mountain creeks and cascades before arriving at an amazing swimming hole and stunning waterfall. This spot is by itself worthy of every bit of effort we’re going to put into this trip! After enjoying the swimming hole and falls, we pass a historic logging site from the late 19th and early 20th centuries and continue down the valley. Tonight’s camp is along the creek we’ve been following, nestled deep in the wilderness of the Appalachians. We’ll enjoy a big dinner and sound sleep with the rushing water of the creek as our background ‘music’.
Day 2
- Hiking Mileage: 10.4 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 1970 feet
Today is a layover day to explore some of the best views the Appalachian Trail has to offer! We’ll depart camp carrying only daypacks and hike uphill toward the high ridge of the Appalachian Trail. The historic trail we follow takes us by ancient agricultural sites and the historic Dan Gunter homesite. Your guide will share amazing stories about these early pioneers as you hike by the sites. We’ll eventually reach the Appalachian Trail and turn North on this legendary trail; our destination is the Mount Cammerer Fire Tower with arguably the most outstanding views in the Park. This tower, the only rock one of it’s kind in the Park, was built by the CCC in the 1930’s. It is a masterpiece and on a clear day allows views for a hundred miles in every direction. We’ll eat lunch at the lookout and drink in the views before hiking back to camp for a big, much-deserved Appalachian dinner.
Day 3
- Hiking Mileage: 5.8 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2820 feet
We’ll ease into day 3 with some lovely creekside hiking. Eventually we’ll leave the creek and climb up to a high gap and junction with another trail that will take us high into the mountains. Historic homesteads and evidence of early pioneers dot our path and will fill our conversation. We’ll hike through beautiful spruce/fir forests leading to the Mount Sterling summit and fire lookout. From this towering vantage point we’ll enjoy sweeping views of the Smokies Crest and especially Mount Guyot, the park’s 2nd highest peak. Tonight’s camp is the highest in the park at 5,820 feet at the summit of Mount Sterling. We’ll settle in for a hearty dinner and peaceful night of much-needed sleep.
Day 4
- Hiking Mileage: 6.1 miles
- Elevation Loss: 4070 feet
- Shuttle to Asheville: 1-hour drive
The last day of our Smoky Mountains adventure begins with another fantastic breakfast prepared by your guide. Afterward, we’ll start down the Baxter Creek Trail through virgin forests with large trees, rock outcroppings, and wildflowers and eventually reach another majestic mountain creek. This being our last day, we’ll take our time to absorb the unique biodiversity of the Smokies’ amazing creeks. Our hike concludes at the Big Creek Ranger Station, after which a short drive will bring us back to our starting point in Asheville, NC and the end of our outstanding Appalachian hiking experience!
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.
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
AVAILABLE TO BOOK
This trip is available and bookable online! Click on the date to register now or contact us online to book through our award-winning customer service team!
GOING FAST
This trip has 1 or 2 spots remaining and is bookable online! Click on the date to book now or contact us online to book through customer service.
REQUEST A RESERVATION
This trip is exclusively booked through customer service due to logistics with lodging, permits, staffing, availability, or something else. Please contact us online or call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to request a reservation.
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
What's Included
- Top-of-the-line tent, backcountry sleeping pad and multi-day backpack
- High quality, synthetic sleeping bag (professionally laundered after every use) – or bring your own.
- 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 (InReach Explorer or satellite phone)
- Mandatory 5% national park fee that passes through directly to Great Smoky Mountains NP
What's Not Included
- Clothes, raingear, and footwear (see recommendations)
- Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
- Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
- Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about what to pack.
Meals: What To Expect
All of our hiking and backpacking tours include a diversity of tasty meals packed full of critical carbohydrates, proteins and fats. We carry foods that travel well in the backcountry – rice, pastas, lentils, beans, couscous, packaged meats, nuts, breads, oatmeal, granola, and more.
For optimal taste and energy, we supplement all our meals with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables (fresh and dried). In addition, we provide you with with an assortment of trail mix, snacks, and dried fruits to eat at your own discretion.
We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.
Gear We Provide
We provide all group gear which includes the following:
- Deuter or Osprey backpacks
- Sierra Designs, Kelty or Big Agnes tents
- Sierra Designs, Big Agnes and Mountain Hardware synthetic-fill sleeping bags (or bring your own)
- Thermarest or Big Agnes sleeping pads
- Leki trekking poles
- Cooking stoves and cookware
- Company-issued first-aid kit
- Emergency communication device(s)
Guest Packing List
When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with a detailed packing list specific to this trip (click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, a recommended clothing system, a headlamp or flashlight, a hydration system (water bottles and/or bladder) and other items specific to each trip.
Additionally, some guests choose to bring their own sleeping bag. We supply high quality, synthetic fill bags that are professionally laundered after every trip. Synthetic fill is non-allergenic, insulates when damp and stands up well to repeated washings, but is heavier and bulkier than down. If you’re able to bring your own down sleeping bag, there are multiple benefits. If not, we’ve got you covered!
Trip Logistics
How do I Register?
Reserve your spot today! In the Trip Dates & Booking section of this page, the green and red dates are bookable online by simply clicking on the date, and blue dates must be booked through our customer service team for a variety of possible reasons. To email our customer service team, you can click here to get the ball rolling. Our adventure consultants will confirm availability, and if you’re ready to register we’ll email you a link to a registration profile. You’ll have 72 hours to complete your profile (and that of any dependents) and pay the deposit.
Feel free to call us for more info – we’re here 7 days a week!
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.
Essential Eligibility Criteria
Essential Eligibility Criteria (“EEC”) have been specifically identified to help you understand the skills and abilities necessary to participate on each Wildland trip, and they apply uniformly to all potential trip participants, irrespective of the presence or absence of any disability.
Once you identify a trip in which you may be interested, please carefully review the EEC and itinerary details. If after reviewing the EEC that apply to your desired trip, you determine you need an accommodation in order to meet the EEC, please contact us prior to registering to discuss your requested accommodation.
The EEC exist for your own safety and the safety and enjoyment of all participants. If you are unable to meet the EEC for the trip, with or without an accommodation, you are not eligible for that trip. If you register and arrive for a trip for which you do not meet the EEC, you will be disqualified from participation on the trip and will be dismissed or evacuated from the trip without a refund.
Guide Working Parameters
Guides are required to take 8 hours off each 24-hour period to sleep, recuperate, take personal/down time…etc. In addition, as part of the 8 hours off they must sleep/rest or be in their tents/rooms uninterrupted for a minimum of 5 hours each night. We ask guests to respect these requirements and to not interrupt guides’ off time and sleep time unless there is a true emergency.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 10 and older to join private tours, with final approval on a case by case basis
- specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
Weather in the Great Smoky Mountains
The weather in the Great Smoky Mountains varies greatly by time of year. To be fully prepared, please follow the recommended clothing list closely (this list comes as part of your trip packet when you register). Read below for average high and low temperatures in for low elevations in the Great Smoky Mountains:
| Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit) | ||||
| Month | Low Elev | High Elev | ||
| hi | low | hi | low | |
| January | 51° | 28° | 35° | 19° |
| February | 54° | 29° | 35° | 18° |
| March | 61° | 34° | 39° | 24° |
| April | 71° | 42° | 49° | 34° |
| May | 79° | 50° | 57° | 43° |
| June | 86° | 58° | 63° | 49° |
| July | 88° | 59° | 65° | 53° |
| August | 87° | 60° | 64° | 52° |
| September | 83° | 55° | 60° | 47° |
| October | 73° | 43° | 53° | 38° |
| November | 61° | 33° | 42° | 28° |
| December | 52° | 28° | 37° | 21° |
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
FRESH & DELICIOUS
Meals from breakfast Day 1 through lunch the last day are fully included and prepared by your guide. We never use dehydrated backpacking meals, instead serving freshly prepared, delicious backcountry cuisine made with a variety of common and specialty ingredients that travel well in the wilderness.
Amazing Campsites
In the Action
Of course campsites vary tremendously 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 backpacking adventure. We carefully design our itineraries with campsites in mind.
Trip Reviews
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David T
Challenging trip, but well worth every step!
It was a challenging trip, but well worth every step! Our guide, John, did an outstanding job. Very experienced guide and awesome cook. John answered any and all questions, and I felt very comfortable with him leading the group.
Darren N
We had a great trip/vacation.
Great trip and great guide. Would highly recommend it to anyone.
Lynn B
Definitely a 5-star experience
This was a bucket list trip with several of my closest girlfriends and it was everything we hoped it would be! The Mount Sterling Appalachian Loop was absolutely gorgeous, and the hike was the exact amount of challenging (we trained for a month ahead of time with around 40 - 45-pound backpack and felt very well prepared!). I was also so impressed with our guide Grace; she was so incredibly knowledgeable of the area including the history, wildlife and plants of this region and the meals she planned were so much more than we had expected (we expected dehydrated meals and instead were so pleasantly surprised with fresh ingredients for every meal we had)! This was definitely a 5-star experience, and we were already talking as we drove to Asheville about next year and another hiking trip with Wildland!
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