SLACKPACKING THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL IN GEORGIA
Introduction, Intermediate, and Advanced Slackpacking
Reserve your spot with a $300 deposit.
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.
HOSTEL DETAILS – applicable to all trips
All trips are maximum 8 people. Above the Clouds Hostel has one private room with a queen bed, one private cabin with two twin beds, one bunk room with 6 bunks, and two bunk rooms with 4 bunks. Most bunks are built in with privacy curtains. Private room/cabin is 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.
Introduction to Appalachian Trail Slackpacking
This is a 3 day hiking trip starting at Springer Mountain and will end at Neel Gap for a 10 mile a day average. It’s perfect for a long weekend of hiking while enjoying Long Creek Falls and the summit of Springer Mountain, the start or finish for so many who are on the journey that is the 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.
ITINERARY for Introduction to Appalachian Trail Slackpacking
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
Coffee and breakfast and then on to Springer Mountain. After summiting Springer Mountain, we will hike 5.4 miles to Long Creek Falls and end our day at Hightower Gap. We will then head back to Above the Clouds Hostel for a hot shower and dinner.
DAY 3
Hightower Gap to Woody Gap – We’ll start our second day of hiking where we finished off day 1. We will climb Sassafras Mountain, cross Justus and Blackwell Creeks, enjoy the view from Ram Rock and finish our hike at Woody Gap. We will then head back to Above the Clouds Hostel for a hot shower then step out to a local restaurant for dinner.
DAY 4
Woody Gap to Neel Gap – We will wake up before the sunrises and climb Preacher’s Rock to enjoy a beautiful mountain sunrise. We will continue on and finish our day at the world famous Mountain Crossing at Neel Gap. We will then head back to Above the Clouds Hostel for a hot shower and either depart for home or spend the night and depart the following morning.
INTRODUCTION TRIP 2024 and 2025 DEPARTURE DATES AND PRICING
To reserve, click the dates of your slackpacking trip below!
IMPORTANT: $300 deposit required. Click here to read deposit and payment policies for the slackpacking trips.
Intro Bunk – $900 Per Person
Click here to reserve a bunk for 9/19/24 – 9/22/24
Click here to reserve a bunk for 10/31/24 – 11/3/24
Click here to reserve a bunk for 9/18/25 – 9/21/25
Intro Private Room – $1100 for one person, $2000 for two*
Click here to reserve private room for 9/19/24 – 9/22/24
Click here to reserve private room for 10/31/24 – 11/3/24
Click here to reserve private room for 9/18/25 – 9/21/25
* Private rooms are maximum of two people. EACH PERSON must pay the $300 deposit using the appropriate link above
Intermediate 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 Intermediate 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.
INTERMEDIATE TRIP DEPARTURE DATES AND PRICING
To reserve, click the dates of your slackpacking trip below!
IMPORTANT: $300 deposit required. Click here to read deposit and payment policies for the slackpacking trips.
Intermediate Bunk – $1400 Per Person
Intermediate Private Room – $1700 one person, $3100 for two**
** Private rooms are maximum of two people. EACH PERSON must pay the $300 deposit using the appropriate link above.
Advanced Slackpacking – All of Georgia in 7 days
You will notice that with our three and five-day slackpacking trip itinerary we highlight stopping at waterfalls, enjoying the views and hiking your won 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 for Advanced Slackpacking – 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.
ADVANCED TRIP DEPARTURE DATES AND PRICING
To reserve, click the dates of your slackpacking trip below!
IMPORTANT: $300 deposit required. Click here to read deposit and payment policies for the slackpacking trips.
Advanced Bunk – $1800 Per Person
Click here to reserve a bunk for 9/6/24 – 9/14/24
Click here to reserve a bunk for 10/4/24 – 10/12/24
Advanced Private Room – $2200 one person, $4000 for two**
Click here to reserve private room for 9/6/24 – 9/14/24
Click here to reserve private room for 10/4/24 – 10/12/24
*** 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.
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