On the first weekend in November we will gather in Hot Springs for two days of hiking and enjoying the ambience of downtown Hot Springs (through which the Appalachian Trail passes).

This year’s event is particularly special: Last September, Hurricane Helene swept through Western North Carolina wrecking havoc throughout the region. Hot Springs, on the French Broad River, was especially hard hit — but the town has bounced back and is again a vibrant hiking hub.

Our plan for the weekend

Friday: Arrive after 4 p.m. From 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.  we will have a campfire welcome with cheese, crackers, little round meats and beer.

Saturday: Pancake breakfast at 7:30 a.m. We will catch the shuttle to Garenflo Gap on the AT at 9:30 a.m., arriving by 10 a.m. for our 7.4-mile hike on the AT that will bring us back into town that afternoon. We will provide lunch; dinner is in town, on your own.

Sunday: Continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m. At 9, we will drive a short distance to Tanyard Gap for the 5.5-mile, mostly downhill hike on the AT back into town.

This trip includes

• 2 breakfasts (Saturday and Sunday mornings)
• 2 lunches (build-your-own lunch buffet)
• Trail snacks
• 2 hikes
• Saturday shuttle to Tanyard Gap
• eguide for both hikes and for the weekend in general (including information on restaurants in Hot Springs)

The hikes

Saturday: Garenflo Gap into Hot Springs on the AT is 7.4 miles. There’s some climbing in the first 3 miles, the last 4 are downhill. The trail is in good shape and easy to follow. We will stop for lunch at the Deer Park Mountain Shelter, where there is water to filter (I will bring a filter). Moderate difficulty.

Sunday: This 5.5-mile hike starts high at Tanyard Gap, ends low back in Hot Springs, and offers a long downhill passage through a hardwood forest that should have good color. Moderate difficulty.

Lodging

Lodging is not provided on this trip. Our base camp will be at the Hot Springs Resort and Spa, which offers a range of accommodations, including camping, small cabins, bigger cabins, two houses and rooms in the lodge. Campsites start at $45 a night, cabins start at $125 a night. Provided meals will be served at a campsite to be identified upon registration. The resort is just across the railroad tracks from downtown Hot Springs, a 5-minute walk, tops.

You can make reservations  by either visiting the website or calling 828-622-7676. You may find other lodging options in Hot Springs here.

Fee

Fee for the trip, excluding lodging: $295. Though Hot Springs has made considerable progress and is again a viable trail town, recovery from Helene continues. Of your fee, 20 percent will go to ReBuild Hot Springs, a local non-profit created to aid in the recovery. Check it out here.

Refund policy

Full refund for cancelations made up to 7 days in advance of the trip’s start; credit give for cancelations made 1 to 6 days before the trip; no refund for cancelations made less than 24 hours in advance.

Questions?

Contact Joe at joe@getgoingnc.com

The post GetHiking! Fall 2025 Weekend Escape: the Appalachian Trail at Hot Springs appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

On the first weekend in November we will gather in Hot Springs for two days of hiking and enjoying the ambience of downtown Hot Springs (through which the Appalachian Trail passes). Our agenda for the weekend:

Friday: Arrive after 4 p.m. From 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.  we will have a campfire welcome with cheese, crackers, little round meats and beer.

Saturday: Pancake breakfast at 7:30 a.m. We will catch the shuttle to Garenflo Gap on the AT at 9:30 a.m., arriving by 10 p.m. for our 7.2-mile hike on the AT and on a U.S. Forest Service Trail that will bring us back into town that afternoon. We will provide lunch; dinner is in town, on your own.

Sunday: Continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m. At 9, we will drive a short distance to Tanyard Gap for the 5-mile hike on the AT back into town.

This trip includes

• 2 breakfasts (Saturday and Sunday mornings)
• 2 lunches (build-your-own lunch buffet)
• Trail snacks
• 2 hikes
• Saturday shuttle to Tanyard Gap
• eguide for both hikes and for the weekend in general (including information on restaurants in Hot Springs)

The hikes

Saturday: Garenflo Gap into Hot Springs on the AT is 7.4 miles. There’s some climbing in the first 3 miles, the last 4 are downhill. The trail is in good shape and easy to follow. We will stop for lunch at the Deer Park Mountain Shelter, where there is water to filter; I will bring a filter.

Sunday: This 5.5-mile hike starts high at Tanyard Gap, ends low back in Hot Springs, and offers a long downhill passage through a hardwood forest that should have good color. Moderate difficulty.

Lodging

Lodging is not provided on this trip. Our base camp will be at the Hot Springs Resort and Spa, which offers a range of accommodations, including camping, small cabins, bigger cabins, two houses and rooms in the lodge. Campsites start at $45 a night, cabins start at $75 a night, rooms in the lodge start at $165 a night. Meals will be served at a campsite to be identified upon registration. The resort is just across the railroad tracks from downtown Hot Springs, a 5-minute walk, tops.

You can make reservations  by either visiting the website or calling 828-622-7676.

Fee for the trip, excluding lodging: $295

Refund policy: Full refund for cancelations made 7 to 14 days in advance of the trip’s start; credit give for cancelations made 1 to 6 days before the trip; no refund for cancelations made less than 24 hours in advance.

Questions? Contact Joe at joe@getgoingnc.com

The post GetHiking! Fall Weekend Escape: the Appalachian Trail at Hot Springs appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Weekend Plan

Friday

6 p.m. — From base camp at Lake James State Park’s Paddy’s Creek Access, we will take a shuttle to the nearby Fonta Flora Brewery for an evening of food and drink (on your own), followed by a 2.6-mile hike back to camp. 

Saturday

7:30 a.m. — Breakfast

8 a.m. — Lunch prep

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — We will spend the day on the Fonta Flora State Trail, hiking from Fonta Flora County Park back toward Lake James. This hike will include a stretch on a Mountains-to-Sea Trail connector, and a segment where the Overmountain Victory State Trail piggybacks: three state trails in one hike! Much of this stretch includes the most well-designed trail you will ever hike. We hike through evergreens, beneath hardwoods, along the lake. A 10-mile day, hiked at your own pace.

6 p.m. — Dinner

Sunday

7:30 a.m. — Breakfast

8 a.m. — Lunch prep

8:30 a.m. — Depart for Old Fort

9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. — Hike the Point Lookout portion of the Fonta Flora State Trail in Old Fort. This is a great recovery hike, following the former path of U.S. 70 up a gentle grade to a mountain pass.

This trip includes

• 2 continental breakfasts (Saturday and Sunday mornings)
• 2 lunches (build-your-own lunch buffet)
• Trail snacks
• 3 hikes
• eguide for the three hikes and for the weekend (to be emailed upon registration)
• 2 nights camping

Not a camper? Not a problem. There are numerous lodging options in nearby Morganton and Marion. Check out options here.

Fee: $275

Cancelation policy: Full refund for cancellations made 14 days or more prior to the start of the event (6 p.m., Friday, July 12); Cancelations made 2 days to 13 days prior to the event receive a credit for a future GetHiking! event; there are no refunds for cancelations made less than 48 hours prior to the start of the event.

The post GetHiking! Weekend Hiking Escape: Fonta Flora State Trail and Lake James appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Veteran’s Day  weekend — Nov.  10-12  — we will gather in Hot Springs for two days of hiking and enjoying the ambience of downtown Hot Springs (through which the Appalachian Trail passes). Our agenda for the weekend:

Friday: Arrive after 4 p.m. From 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.  We will assemble in town for a welcome libation.

Saturday: Continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m.. We will catch the shuttle to Tanyard Gap on the AT at 9:30, arriving by 9:45 for our 7.2-mile hike on the AT and on a U.S. Forest Service Trail that will bring us back into town that afternoon. We will provide lunch; dinner is in town, on your own.

Sunday: Continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m. At 9, we will drive a short distance to Tanyard Gap for the 5-mile hike on the AT back into town.

This trip includes

• 2 breakfasts (Saturday and Sunday mornings)
• 2 lunches (build-your-own lunch buffet)
• Trail snacks
• 2 hikes
• Saturday shuttle to Tanyard Gap
• eguide for both hikes and for the weekend in general (including information on restaurants in Hot Springs)

The hikes

Saturday: the 7.2-mile hike from Tanyard Gap to Rich Mountain, then back to Hot Springs trends downhill after reaching the Rich Mountain fire tower.. Should be some good lingering fall color. Moderate difficulty.

Sunday: This 5.5-mile hike starts high, ends low, and offers a long downhill passage through a hardwood forest that should have good color. Moderate difficulty.

Lodging

Lodging is not provided on this trip. Our base camp will be at the Hot Springs Resort and Spa, which offers a range of accommodations, including camping, small cabins, bigger cabins, two houses and rooms in the lodge. Campsites start at $45 a night, cabins start at $110 a night, rooms in the lodge start at $145 a night. Meals will be served at a campsite to be identified upon registration. The resort is just across the railroad tracks from downtown Hot Springs, a 5-minute walk, tops.

You can make reservations  by either visiting the website or calling 828-622-7676.

Fee: $275

Questions? Contact Joe at joe@getgoingnc.com

The post GetHiking! Fall Weekend Escape: the Appalachian Trail at Hot Springs appeared first on GetGoing NC!.