5-Day or 7-Day Slackpacking Trips
Reserve your spot with a $300 deposit.
5 days hiking plus 2 travel days or 7 days hiking plus 2 travel days – see full itineraries below.
Extreme Physical Activity Disclaimer: Our trips require extreme physical endurance. While we will cater to your abilities, it is recommended that a training regime be implemented prior to arrival.
Extreme Weather Disclaimer: It can get cold and wet in them there hills.
Trip Capacity: Trips must have a minimum of 4 hikers and will have no more than 8 hikers.
HOSTEL DETAILS (applicable to all trips)
Above the Clouds Hostel has two private rooms each with a queen bed, one bunk room with 6 bunks, and one bunk room with 4 bunks. Most bunks are built in with privacy curtains. Private rooms are available for an additional fee. If you would like a private room, please use the appropriate link with your trip choice.
Experience Hiker Hostel Life – Our slackpacking trips occur during the South Bound (SOBO) hiker season. It is possible we will have hikers staying at the hostel who are finishing up their thru hikes from Maine to Georgia. This experience will enable you to see first hand not only what it takes to hike Georgia, but the AT in its entirety.
What’s NOT included – Travel to and from Atlanta, trip insurance, alcohol, dinner/lunches in town, and optional guide gratuity.
5-Day – Appalachian Trail Slackpacking
Spend 5 days hiking the Appalachian trail, fully supported, starting at Springer Mountain Georgia. You will spend each night at Above the Clouds hostel where you will enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner (except when we stop in town), hot showers, comfortable beds, excellent WIFI, laundry facility, knowledgeable host, guides and shuttle drivers and an amazing community setting.
Hiking a lot, eating a lot, laughing a lot and maybe just a little bit of crying!
ITINERARY for 5-Day Appalachian Trail Slackpacking
Flexible Itinerary: Within the hiking community there is a popular saying. In fact, it is so popular that we even came up with an acronym for it (HYOH), which stands for “hike your own hike.” At Above the Clouds we believe strongly in this mantra. Because of this, the itinerary for this trip will be catered to the individual. While we will have a set itinerary, we can easily modify it to individual preference based on desire and ability. We want you to have a good time and enjoy nature, not be stressed out about how many miles you are hiking.
DAY 1
Meet North Springs Marta Station, Sandy Springs Georgia at 3:00 pm.
Take shuttle ride to Above the Clouds hostel. Parking is also available at Above the Clouds if you are driving. We can also accommodate other shuttle arrangements with advanced notice. Trip orientation and welcome dinner.
DAY 2
Springer Mountain to Hightower Gap
Every morning starts with coffee and breakfast at 7:00 am. Today we will arrive at Springer Mountain at approximately 9:00 am. By 10:00 am on day one you will start your journey where so many have before. How far will you make it? That is up to you. After taking in the significance of Springer Mountain you will hike 4.4 miles north where we will have lunch next to a beautiful trout stream. After lunch you will hike one mile north to Long Creek Falls and contemplate whether you want to stand under the waterfall. Why? Because there will be no one there to stop you! Ultimately you will decide it is a little too cold for that and you will continue hiking north for 3.2 miles and end the hiking day at Hightower Gap after completing 9.5 miles. Shuttle back to Above the Clouds for a hot shower and dinner.
DAY 3
Hightower Gap to Woody Gap
Today you will climb Sassafras Mountain. Because you will be slackpacking you will not have to say that Sassafras kicked your ass. Total hike for the day 12 miles then back to Above the Clouds for a hot shower and dinner.
DAY 4
Woody Gap to Neel Gap
Wake up before the sun comes up and do a short night hike to Preacher’s Rock to watch the sunrise. Then you will climb the highest point on the AT in Georgia, Blood Mountain, Elevation 4,442 feet. Finish at the iconic Neel Gap with an opportunity to shop at Mountain Crossing. 10.8 total miles for the day then back to Above the Clouds.
DAY 5
Neel Gap to Hogpen Gap
Today we have a short day ending at Hogpen Gap in time for an early dinner at a local restaurant. Total miles – 7.0.
DAY 6
Hogpen Gap to Unicoi Gap
Your last day of hiking will be 14 miles ending at Unicoi Gap for a total of 52 miles of Georgia. We will celebrate in the quaint little town of Helen, GA with dinner and laughter (laughter not mandatory).
Day 7
Farewell Breakfast then depart for North Springs Marta station 8:30 am. We can accommodate other shuttle arrangements with advanced notice.
5-DAY TRIP DEPARTURE DATES AND PRICING
(5 days hiking plus 2 travel days)
To reserve, click the dates of your slackpacking trip below!
2027 5-Day Trip Dates
5-Day Bunk – $1600 Per Person | 5-Day Private Room – $1900 one person, $3500 for two **
$300 deposit required. Click here to read deposit and payment policies for the slackpacking trips.
Reserve a spot for 5-Day Trip 10/22/27 – 10/28/27
Reserve a spot for 5-Day Trip 11/12/27 – 11/18/27
** Private rooms are maximum of two people. EACH PERSON must pay the $300 deposit using the appropriate link above.
All of Georgia in 7 days
You will notice that with our five-day slackpacking trip itinerary we highlight stopping at waterfalls, enjoying the views and hiking your own hike. There will be no such talk in this itinerary. The reason for that is simple – hiking all the Appalachian Trail that runs through the state of Georgia in seven days is a physical and mental feat that will require your full attention.
This trip includes the approach trail starting at Amicalola Falls State Park and ending at Deep Gap North Carolina which is approximately 93.8 miles of hiking in seven days. If you finish this trip and it doesn’t kill you, you will undoubtable know whether you have what it takes to hike the entire Appalachian Trail.
You will spend each night at Above the Clouds hostel where you will enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner (except when we stop in town), hot showers, comfortable beds, excellent WIFI, laundry facility, knowledgeable host, guides and shuttle drivers and an amazing community setting. We will be your support team just as if you were a professional athlete. We say this because that is the type of focus that is required by you and us to make your trip a successful one.
If this does not sound like the challenge you are looking for, but you would still like to slackpack Georgia supported we encourage you to sign up for our Introduction to the Appalachian Trail trips or contact us to discuss your objectives. We are not trying to discourage you in anyway, but as the support team coach it is our job to tell you that this will be one of the toughest yet most satisfying things you have ever done in your life.
ITINERARY – All of Georgia in 7 days
DAY 1
Meet North Springs Marta Station, Sandy Springs Georgia 3:00 pm
Take shuttle ride to Above the Clouds hostel. Parking is also available at Above the Clouds if you are driving. We can also accommodate other shuttle arrangements with advanced notice. Trip Orientation and welcome dinner.
DAY 2
Amicalola Falls to Three Forks. Day one of hiking starts off with the approach trail and the summit of Springer Mountain ending at the beautiful trout springs of Three Forks then head back to Above the Clouds for shower and dinner.
13 miles
DAY 3
Three Forks to Woody Gap. Quick stop at Long Creek Falls. Then Climb Sassafras. Cross two creeks, go up a hill, go down a hill, and end at Woody Gap then back to Above the Clouds for shower and dinner.
16.0 miles
DAY 4
Woody Gap to Neel Gap. Wake up before the sun comes up and do a short night hike to Preacher’s Rock to watch the sunrise. Then you will climb the highest point on the AT in Georgia, Blood Mountain, Elevation 4,442 feet. Finish at the iconic Neel Gap with an opportunity to shop at Mountain Crossing then back to Above the Clouds for shower and dinner.
10.8 miles
DAY 5
Neel to Hogpen Gap. Today we have a short day ending at Hogpen Gap in time for a early dinner at a local restaurant.
7.0 miles
DAY 6
Hogpen Gap to Unicoi Gap. Is it just me or are there a lot of flat places during this stretch? Oh, wait it’s mega downhill at the end.
14 miles then back to Above the Clouds for shower and dinner.
DAY 7
Unicoi Gap to Dicks Creek Gap. This seems like the longest day yet. They told me about Tray Mountain, but no one told me about Kelly Knob! Finish at Dick’s Creek. Stop in Hiawassee for dinner.
16.7 miles
DAY 8
Dicks Creek Gap to Deep Gap NC. Victory is yours! Reach the state line. Take pictures at the iconic twisted oak of Bly Gap and then finish at Deep Gap North Carolina. Stop in Hiawassee for dinner.
16 miles
DAY 9
Wake up late, eat breakfast, laugh, cry, smile and then go home.
7-DAY TRIP DEPARTURE DATES AND PRICING
(7 days hiking plus 2 travel days)
To reserve, click the dates of your slackpacking trip below!
2027 7-Day Trip Dates
7-Day Bunk – $1900 Per Person | 7-Day Private Room – $2300 on person, $4200 for two**
$300 deposit required. Click here to read deposit and payment policies for the slackpacking trips.
Reserve a spot for All of Georgia 7-Day Trip 9/10/27 – 9/18/27
Reserve a spot for All of Georgia 7-Day Trip 9/24/27 – 10/2/27
*** Private rooms are maximum of two people. EACH PERSON must pay the $300 deposit using the appropriate link above.
SOME PACKING RECOMMENDATIONS
Keep in mind that we have laundry facilities at Above the Clouds. With that in mind we do not recommend bringing more than three days’ worth of clothes. The weather in the mountains can be unpredictable. No matter the time of year you should plan for potentially wet and cold conditions. While hiking we recommend clothing that will dry out quickly. We also recommend thinking in layers.
If you have been planning a thru hike and you want to bring your backpack to do a shakedown hike, we think that would be awesome and we would love to help get you dialed in. However, we do provide your daypack, as well as water bottles, snacks, and lunch. Leaving you with your clothes, electronics/phone/phone charger, personal items and anything else you think you may need.
We do recommend bringing two pair of comfortable hiking shoes, as opposed to uncomfortable hiking shoes, which we strongly discourage. We also prefer trail runners. You will also want to have a phone charger for your day pack. Other than that, we trust that you will pack accordingly.
Don’t see your date? Call us to book a fully supported solo or custom group trip.
Check us out on Facebook @Abovethecloudshostel or on Instagram @Atchostel