What we’re about
Meet others in Nashville, middle Tennessee, and beyond, interested in backpacking. At regular monthly Zoom meetings, we discuss trails, equipment, tents, hammocks, packs, stoves, cameras and photography, clothing, weather, wildlife, first aid, food, recipes, etc., and find fellow hikers to go backpacking with. Our backpacking trips are multi-day events that require a great deal of work by hike organizers. PLEASE RSVP WITH INTEGRITY; if you can't do that, this might not be the Meetup group for you.
Most of our trips are open to all members on a first-come basis. However, there will be events that are attendance-selective based on difficulty, experience required, past participation in related or similar events, etc. This will be at the discretion of the specific event organizer.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Burch Reserve Trail Evening HikeBurch Reserve Trailhead, Nashville, TN
Looking to get in better shape for backpacking? Missing the Backpacker Meetup group but don't have time for a trip? Then join us for a 3.0 mile hike in Edwin Warner Park!
This moderate hike typically takes about an hour with the pace set by the group. No one is left behind.
Alltrails:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/burch-reserve-trail?sh=rwslffWater, snacks, and appropriate layers for the weather are recommended.
We will start from the parking lot of the Burch Reserve Trail. This park is easy to access at the intersection of Highway 100 and Old Hickory Boulevard and offers paved parking. Please give yourself enough time to find parking and get to the trailhead – we will start promptly to respect everyone's time. Message me if you're running late!
I will keep an eye on the weather and may cancel for rain, thunderstorms, or windy conditions.
Dogs are not allowed on the Burch Reserve Trail, so please leave them at home.
- Smoky Mountains - Deep Creek/Clingmans Dome/Noland DivideDeep Creek Trail Trailhead, Bryson City, NC
Overview
Let's explore the Deep Creek and Noland Divide area of the Smoky Mountains. This will be a four day trip. We'll spend the first two days making our way up to the Appalachian Trail and the last two days descending.Friday: We'll meet at the Deep Creek Campground hiker parking area at around noon and start on the Deep Creek Trail. At our first trail intersection we'll turn right onto the Indian Creek Trail and then left on the loop trail. The trail climbs the southern end of Sunkota Ridge where we'll turn right on the Sunkota Ridge Trail. We'll trace Sunkota Ridge all the way to a four way intersection at Martins Gap. After turning left onto the Martins Gap trail, we'll descend all the way back to the Deep Creek Trail. From here it's a very easy walk to campsite 55. (8.5 miles)
Saturday: Saturday is a day for climbing. We'll continue on the Deep Creek Trail until turning onto the Fork Ridge Trail. From here the climb is a little steeper. Our ascent on the Fork Ridge Trail finishes at Clingmans Dome Road. We'll cross the Road and hop on the AT and then the Sugarland Mountain Trail. The Mount Collins Shelter is about a half mile down the trail. (9 miles)
Sunday: On Sunday we'll head back to the AT and start climbing toward Clingmans Dome. Weather permitting we can stop for pictures at the observation platform. We'll then head south on the Forney Ridge Trail and take in the views again from Andrews Bald. We'll leave the bald and continue downhill until reaching the Springhouse Branch Trail. A left turn here will take us down toward Noland Creek. We'll turn left on the Noland Creek Trail and after a couple miles we'll arrive at campsite 63. (13.5 miles)
Monday: We'll want to wake early on Monday to give ourselves as much time for the return drive as possible. We'll continue our slow ascent on the Noland Creek Trail. The trail makes an abrupt turn away from the creek and the climb is more steep, but we'll soon reach Sassafras Gap. At the gap we'll turn right on the Noland Divide Trail. The trail follows a ridgeline almost all the way back to the Deep Creek Campground. Once close to the campground, we can take the Deep Creek Horse trail a half mile to the hiker parking area.
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-november-3-2023-3bf29f3?u=i&sh=u4gemu
Permits are required for parking and reservations are required for each campsite. You are responsible for both though we may carpooling. At this point all sites still have space available. I will keep an eye on this and close the event if any of the sites reach capacity.
https://smokiespermits.nps.gov/index.cfm?BCPermitTypeID=1
This trip is for experienced backpackers familiar with the distance and elevation gain involved. This will be a "go at your own pace" hike, so come prepared with a map and an understanding of the route.
If I haven't hiked with you previously, please send me a Meetup message with your phone number and a good time to call when you rsvp for this trip.
- Overnight Backpack: Piney River- Cumberland Trail, May 18-19Piney River RMA Trailhead of the Cumberland Trail, Spring City, TN
Please read the entire trip description before signing up
Please read the detailed mileage description on the link at the bottom. Let’s explore the Piney River Segment of the Cumberland Trail area with an overnight backpacking trip. The entire segment is 8.5 miles but the campsite (Rock-house Branch) that we will hike to is about halfway in (4.4) and then we hike the rest of the segment the next morning and shuttle everyone back to their cars. This hike is considered moderate. We should be able to cool off in the water right next to the campsite.
Since I have not backpacked this trail before, this hike is for experienced backpackers or conditioned beginners familiar with the mileage and elevation change involved. This will be a "go at your own pace" hike, so come prepared with a map and an understanding of the route.
Saturday, we'll meet at 11 am central time at the Piney River parking lot/trailhead. I will need a couple of people to help shuttle us to the Newby Branch Trailhead and then in the morning we will hike out to the Piney River parking lot where we can take those who drove us to the Newby Trailhead back their cars.
If I haven't hiked with you previously, please send me a message with your phone number when you rsvp for this trip. My contact will be below. If I don't receive your contact info when you sign up, your spot will go to the next person on the wait list.
If you have any questions about this hike, please let me know. My phone number is 931-267-9378. Please RSVP with integrity....canceling at the last minute keeps someone else from attending.
Here are the directions to each trailhead: From US 27 at Spring City, take TN 68 northeast for 1.2 miles and turn left onto Shut-In Gap Road. Proceed another 1.1 miles to the large, well-kept Piney River Picnic Area on the right, which has ample parking. The Piney River Trailhead is on the left across the road from the picnic area.
To reach the Newby Branch trailhead of the trail, continue on Shut-In Gap Road another 5.2 miles to Forest Camp Road on the left, which is a dirt and gravel road not very well marked. There is no sign indicating Forrest Camp at this writing. Instead, there is a single post with the words Newby and Duskin inscribed in white letters. Turn on Forest Camp Road and proceed .2 mile to the fork in the road. Take the right fork and continue toward Newby. In .3 mile, there is a fork. Bear right to reach the Newby Branch picnic area trailhead. Continue less than .1 mile to the second entrance to the Newby Branch picnic area. Note that this picnic area is not maintained. Park in any open space. The Newby Branch trailhead kiosk is just ahead on the right.
There is no fee for this trip, but you do need to register your vehicle at the Friends of the Cumberland website.