One thing we don’t do, though, is cite specific beginner trips we like. That is our goal here today.

Fortunately, I didn’t need to look far to find beginner-friendly hikes. More than half the hikes in my guidebook, “Backpacking North Carolina: 43 Can’t-Miss Trips,” fall into the good-for-beginners category. Which doesn’t mean they aren’t great adventures for more experienced backpackers; they just happen to meet the criteria for a good beginner trip, which includes:

• Moderate distances between camps (5-7 miles, tops)
• Obvious, flat campsites
• Easy access to reliable water
• Easy-to-follow trails

There’s more — you’ll just need to listen to the podcast to learn them. Now, on to our 5 favorite beginner backpack trips in North Carolina.

Neusiok Trail

Croatan National Forest, Havelock

20.1 miles

2-3 days

If you’re looking to bust out some miles on your first weekend, here’s your hike. There are three shelters along the way, letting you break down the hike into manageable days of roughly 4, 7 1/2, and 9 miles. But because this is likely the flattest 20.1 miles in the state, a two-nighter is easily doable. There’s water at the shelters, the trail is well maintained by the Carteret County Wildlife Club, and it’s perhaps the best winter hike in the state (winter being the only time you’ll want to hike through this otherwise buggy, steamy coastal forest).

Trip No. 42, “Backpacking North Carolina”

More info here.

Hunt-fish Falls

Wilson Creek area, Pisgah National Forest, Mortimer

2.8 miles in full pack, 13.6 miles in day pack

2-3 days

While we are big fans of backcountry camping, we aren’t quite as keen on putting in big miles with 30 pounds on our back. Thus, we gravitate to basecamp trips: hike in a short distance in full pack, establish basecamp, hike in a day pack from there. This hike is one of our favorite basecamp options, with a 1.4-mile hike to camp, an expansive, flat area along Lost Cove Creek. We like to spend one day on a roughly 6-mile hike along the creek and on the Timber Ridge Trail, a more casual day hiking about 3 miles up Gragg Prong and lolling in the numerous pools at the base of numerous falls. A good summer trip.

Trip No. 8, “Backpacking North Carolina.”

More info here.

Birkhead Wilderness

Uwharrie National Forest, Asheboro

7.4 miles

2 days

The quintessential one-night trip, used as both a first-time outing and to try out new gear. One reason the trip is so popular is its proximity to the state’s three prime population centers: Charlotte, the Triangle, the Triad. This 5,160-acre northern tip of the Uwharrie National Forest also carries the cachet of being a wilderness area — a wilderness area much of the state can reach within two hours. Camp 5 makes for a campsite capturing the morning and evening sun, Camp 3 is on water. This relic range in the heart of the Piedmont gives a sense of the mountains minus the extreme elevation.

Trip No. 35, “Backpacking North Carolina”

More info here.

Panthertown Valley

Cashiers

1 mile backpack in, 30 miles of day hiking

2-5 days

Pantherton is base camping taken to extreme. An easy hike in, a shelter, campsites on the water — and then the day hiking. There are multiple waterfalls (Schoolhouse, Frolictown and Granny Burrell are musts), there are views (Little Green Mountain is a good lunch spot because of the sweeping views). And then the miles and miles of trail, none of which will disappoint. Its appellation as “the Yosemite of the East” is a bit hyperbolic, but you’ll definitely see the resemblance.

Trip No. 28, “Backpacking North Carolina”

More info here.

Sam Knob Loop

Shining Rock area of the Pisgah National Forest, Waynesville

8.2 miles

2-days

Shining Rock is one of those bucket list backpacking areas in the Southeast, but the fact that much of it is a designated wilderness may deter the novice. That and the lack of reliable water and bear activity. But there is a way to ease yourself into Shining Rock, and that’s with the 8.2-mile Sam Knob Loop. You start from the same trailhead, Black Balsam off the Blue Ridge Parkway, but instead of heading north, hike west, toward 6.050-foot Sam Knob. Great views from both Sam and Little Sam, an abundance of water, and passage through a black balsam forest. And with surprisingly little elevation gain.

Trip No. 14, “Backpacking North Carolina” 

More info here.

* * *

GetHiking! Southeast Podcast

What makes for a good first-time backpack trip? We tell you, on this week’s podcast. Give a listen here.

Backpacking North Carolina

Today’s recommended backpack trips for beginners were but 5 of 25 included in “Backpacking! North Carolina: The Definitive Guide to 43 Can’t-Miss Trips from Mountains to Sea.” Learn more here.

The post 5 trips made for the first-time backpacker appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

When we started GetBackpacking! four years ago, we assumed that everyone wanted to learn how to plan a trip, then venture off on their own. But we quickly learned that not everyone enjoys pulling out the topo maps, the rulers, the string, the protractor, the hiking guides to plot a trip. They come to the trip planning meetings to prepare for a specific trip, but they’re not so interested in sussing out the information on their own. And that’s fine with us. We love that backpackers are out there to calm their minds, to clear their heads, to reduce their world to the basics: food, shelter, survival. If the logistics of planning and following that plan are a burden, we are more than glad to take the reins.

We do, however, find some backpackers who subscribe to our initial premise, who do want to learn how to plan and execute a trip on their own.

In our most recent planning session, Nick, one of the backpackers attending this weekend’s GetBackpacking! Going Solo trip to Wilson Creek, noted: “I’m interested in doing some trips on my own, but I have no idea how to plan one. I don’t know how to find out if there’s water, or where I would find a campsite.”

So, for Nick and his kind, we’ve worked up a new class that we’ll debut this fall:

• Trip planning. Are you up for planning a trip, but not sure where to start? In this two-part class we go over all the basics—using both time-trusted tools like maps and more modern tools like Mr. Google—to help you plan a trip. That’s Session 1; for Session 2, you’ll return with your trip plan to share with the class. 

We will continue on with our Intro to Backpacking course, which will be retooled a bit for fall. We’ll start with a two-hour gear session, during which we go over the basic gear required, the options available, then how to properly pack your gear. Then we’ll spend the better part of a Saturday at Morrow Mountain State Park setting up and breaking down camp, cooking, and getting used to hiking in a full pack. Finally, graduation: a two-night trip to South Mountains State Park to execute your new skills.

For backpackers interested in moving toward independence, we’ll continue with our series of Intermediate Skills Classes:

• Going Solo. If you’re into backpacking for the solitude but are leery of going the distance, we help you prepare as much as possible, then take you on a supervised solo trip.
• Winter Camping. Cold and snow and a scarcity of sunlight make backpacking a different animal in winter. The season also underscores the importance of careful planning. We help you plan, then execute, a winter trip.
• Navigating Wilderness. Wilderness areas are intended to be devoid of the impact of man. For starters, that means no blazes, no signs, no trail maintenance. Our class takes the mystery out of navigating a wilderness.
• Our Wildest Places. A new trip series that will take us to some of the wildest areas in the Southeast in a series of 3- and 4-day trips. Our first trip will be a Friday thru Monday trip to the Joyce Kilmer/Slickrock Wilderness in far western North in October.

And for those of you intrigued by the notion of backpacking but not sure if you want to make a full commitment, we have:

Overnight Sampler. We provide the backpacking gear on this overnight trip designed to give you a sense of spending a night in the backcountry.

Regardless of your motivation for backpacking, we have a place for you around the GetBackpacking! campfire.

Happy trails,

Joe

Take a class

For more information on the classes described above:

• Trip Planning. This class will be held in August, the dates for which are to be determined. Keep an eye on GetHiking! Triangle for details, or email us at joe@getgoingnc.com to receive information before the session is announced.
• Going Solo. We have one more opening for the trip this weekend to Wilson Creek; Our next session will be Oct. 5-7. Learn more about that session here.
• Winter Camping. We’ll have two Winter Camping Intermediate Skills Classes in January and February of 2019. Watch GetHiking! Triangle for details.
• Navigating Wilderness. Our next Navigating Wilderness Intermediate Skills class is scheduled for Linville Gorge Aug. 10-12. For details, go here.
• Our Wildest Places. We kick off this series with a 5-day visit to the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock/Citico Creek Wilderness Area Oct. 25-29. Learn more and sign up here.
• Overnight Sampler. Our next Overnight Sampler is at Eno River State Park in Durham on Saturday, July 28. Details here.

The post Planning a backpacking trip: unpacking the logistics appeared first on GetGoing NC!.