We had an excellent trip with Matt as our guide. The whole experience from initial email questions to post trip follow up was excellent.I was hesitant at first booking Introduction to backpacking trip having car camped my whole life. Let me be the first to tell you the experience and information shared was worth its weight in gold. If you want to learn about backpacking, maybe you have some gear, maybe you have been there and done that, Matt was fully sharing an endless wealth of knowledge to teach, share, and grow our experience.I would say the cost of this trip was covered 10-fold by the information shared that will tangibly result in the savings of not buying incorrect or unneeded gear.At some point over the weekend we interacted with three guides all with something to share. I could tell beginners to even the most accomplished hiker benefit from their experience.Overall the casual yet high level of professionalism was much welcomed. Blue Ridge Hiking Company is highly recommended.

What a great weekend! Tara Dower was awesome providing us with answers to all of our questions about cooking, hiking and camping as we made our way from Max Patch to Hot Springs. I am grateful for the opportunity to be among a wonderful group of women with the same adventurous curiosity! I would highly recommend Blue Ridge Hiking Company

Had an amazing weekend get away with other like minded women. Our guide Jenn On Day Gift was awesome. She was inspirational, funny, and loved to share her stories and life on the trail. The weekend filled my heart, soul, and I made new friendships. Thank you for helping me reach a dream/goal of mine!

My friend and I attended a 3-day/2-night backpacking trip with Blue Ridge Hiking Company. It my first backpacking experience, and it was fantastic! The gear they provided was great and lightweight. Our guide Matt was fun, capable, and very experienced. This experience taught me a lot about how to properly backpack, and I look forward to more adventures with them in the future.

I am an active hiker but have never backpacked or spent the night in a tent and really wanted to learn how and what to do! Luckily I found Blue Ridge Hiking Company online - and had the best experience with the womens backpack group on the AT (3 days, 2 nights - Max Patch to Hot Springs). This was a beginners group that included all the gear and food needed. Our guide Lexie Curls was the absolute best!! She was so patient and helped me so much during the hike to learn and understand the basics of backpacking. After this experience, I truly have a different appreciation for hiking and the beauty of the trails!!When I arrived at the Trailer on Thursday night, I knew no one - but leaving on Sunday I was sad to be leaving ladies that I now call friends!I totally recommend Blue Ridge Hiking and Lexie Curls if you are wanting to learn the basics of backpacking!!

Had a great long guided hike with Tamera (I booked a private morning day hike). The hike was well planned and organized. I would recommend Blue Ridge Hiking Company to anyone new to the area for some guided day hikes, group hikes and/or backpacking.

Jennifer and Brew have created an amazing place here in the heart of Asheville. Lots of locally made items along with guided hiking adventures. For the new or experienced hiker, you can find it here.

I would definitely recommend using this company for either day trips or longer backpacking trips. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet women from different parts of the country and make new friends. The guide Emma was amazing, very knowledgeable about her craft. She taught us about every little aspect of hiking and camping including how and where to set up a tent, cooking the food, getting water, and how to do all this in a respectful and sustainable way. I was very impressed with the way she handled different situations that arose with a calm and professional manner. I also recommend staying in their bunk house in Hot Springs if you are hiking in the area. It is comfortable and very clean with a wonderful caretaker: Haley. She was so cheerful and helpful during our stay, sharing with us about all the amazing places where she has been, as well as hiking tips on what to bring.

Perfect day trip for our Bachelorette party. Highly recommend! Guides Matt & Brew are fantastic!

Our hike with Jenn Gift (One day) was absolutely amazing ! She was very knowledge, kind, caring and responsive to our needs . She was also very helpful with the need for social distancing during this time and picked fabulous hikes that weren’t terribly crowded . We hiked graveyard fields and got to see the lower and upper falls . We had a wonderful break at upper falls and Jenn provided us with very tasty healthy snacks ! We then went on to pink beds and had an energy packed lunch before hiking a portion of the pink bed loop . When it was time to leave Jenn was very helpful in leading the way out as I was not very familiar withNavigating this area . We stopped at an amazing over look before we parted ways. I truly hope to cross paths with this amazing woman again at some point in my life . Jenn was truly a gift to us that day !

I would highly recommend Blue Ridge Hiking Company to guide your next AT adventure, you will not be disappointed!Myself and four other ladies recently hiked a small portion of the Appalachian Trail (Max Patch to Hot Springs) and it was an amazing experience!The night before our hike we stayed at the Blue Ridge Hiking Company bunkhouse. Haley from Blue Ridge greeted us at the door and stayed with us the entire night. She was so nice and accommodating.Christine (Dormouse) from Blue Ridge Hiking Company was our guide and she was phenomenal. She fit right in and quickly became one of us. Not only did she educate us about the AT she also talk about her many other hiking experiences and let me tell you, she is a rock star.I also want to mention that the gear (backpack, sleeping pad and tent) that I borrowed from the was very high quality and the food Christine brought was delicious.

I did a 3 day/2night backpacking trip with Blue Ridge at the Smokies. Such a wonderful experience it was! They provided all the essentials, helped us enjoy the nature through well planned days. Francisco -our guide- was extremely helpful with every possible thing I can think of. Not only was he very present and engaged the whole time, he was super knowledgeable about the trail, history of this particular trail and backpacking in general, dendrology, gears, etc...You can tell he does not do this as a job, but he is in love with everything about it. And he shares his love of outdoors with everybody.The whole experience exceeded all my expectations and made me plan my next trip out in the woods. Wonderful people and great company! I will be definitely be back!Baris

Our 4 day overnight trip in Pisgah National Forest and Shining Rock Wilderness was truly a mountain top experience. Our guide was the best and made us feel well prepared to spend the night in the woods. From the gear, to the service and the views, I highly recommend Blue Ridge Hiking Company!

My boyfriend, Norm, and I thoroughly enjoyed our first visit to Asheville this past week! Prior to our visit, we did a ton of research to learn about all of the activities and must do/see in the area. We came across Blue Ridge Hiking Company. After doing our own research, we called and spoke with Lindsay to learn about our different options. She was extremely friendly and, after speaking with her, we decided to sign up for a private morning half-day hike. We filled out some information about what we were hoping to see and Lindsay took it from there. The day leading up to the hike, she reached out with some options and information on what to bring for the day. We decided to hike DuPont State Park and she tailored the hike to our level and interest. We saw some amazing waterfalls, beautiful forests, and learned about some of the nature and wildlife along the way. Thank you so much for being such an awesome guide, Lindsay!

If you know the story of the fastest woman hiker - Jennifer Pharr Davis (46 days), then you will want to check out her boutique hiking shop in downtown Ashville, NC.

I have been dreaming of thru-hiking the AT for years, but I had absolutely zero experience backpacking. I booked a trip with Blue Ridge and was pretty nervous going in that I would be out of my element as the only newbie in the all ladies group. Upon arrival at the company bunkhouse, I immediately felt comfortable with the friendly guide and the rest of the group, as we all set a goal to learn more about backpacking. Christine calmly and methodically went through all of our clothes and personal items to ensure we packed smartly and efficiently. I was able to borrow all of the larger gear items from Blue Ridge, which gave me the opportunity to learn all the insider tips through tried-and-tested methods. The entire trip was a learning experience, and I became a confident backpacker as Christine showed us all the ropes. She was positive, encouraging, and patient as we practiced our new skills. I would highly recommend booking a guided trip to learn the ins and outs of backpacking, and I plan to book another trip next summer with my family, so they can also experience the beauty of the AT. Thanks Blue Ridge and Christine! I will be back!

Fantastic Womens overnight backpacking trip on AT led by experienced guide Jenn. Highly recommend! Great accommodations at Trail-er, amazing food on trail, experienced leadership, and lots of fun!!

My family had an excellent experience with the Blue Ridge Hiking Co. My daughter wanted to hike 13 miles for her 13th birthday, and BRHC did a great job!! Our guide Lauren was very experienced and professional. She made sure every detail of the hike was planned out. We highly recommend Lauren as a guide!! Thank you for making Caylies 13th Birthday so special!!!

First, I must say thank you to our wonderful, highly experienced and knowledgeable Guide- Emma H. I had wanted to do a backpacking trip on the AT for a long time but I had no idea where to begin. Blue Ridge Hiking Co. was the answer!! They took care of all the details of the trip including supplying top notch equipment, (tent, sleeping bag, tent, food etc.) Emma shared her vast array of knowledge of the AT and backpacking in general. I highly recommend a guided trip for anyone that has hesitations/anxiety about backpacking the AT for the first time. What I learned during our 3 days was invaluable. Safety for ourselves. respect for the trails and abiding by the rules of the trails, how to prepare meals, (food was surprisingly excellent), set up and take down of camp, finding and filtering water, information about fruits, plants and trees including the benefits and dangers and the list goes on. Although we did not lodge the evening prior to the trip at the Blue Ridge Hiking Co. new Trail-er located in Hot Springs, after seeing it in person I would definitely take advantage of those accommodations. You could sense the pride taken in making the Trail-er a clean hospitable welcoming stay. Thank you Halley!Finally, wear comfortable shoes. Emma also is quite talented at tending to blistered feet. sorry Emma. Wear comfortable shoes and remember this is not a walk in the park. Be ready for a physical walk in the woods up and down MOUNTAINS!!! Thanks again Blue Ridge Hiking Co. - we will be back!!!!

Exceptional service! My friends and I made reservations at the Trail-Er along with some shuttle reservations. The staff couldn’t have been more helpful. It was reassuring to have booked shuttles with a reputable company knowing our ride would be there when needed.Haley was the best shuttle driver and host at the Trail-Er! She was so knowledgeable and helpful along with being such a joy to be around. When our plans were getting complicated she even came through at the last minute with some better suggestions! We were blessed to have her as our host!The stay at the Trail-Er was top notch. Clean, cozy and comfortable. Would definitely stay again.

Blue Ridge Hiking Company was responsive from the time I contacted them.I knew I wanted to get myself and my two boys back out in the woods but also knew there was much I needed to learn for us to be safe. Blue Ridge Hiking Company and Emma, our guide, helped us do that.They made sure we knew what we needed to bring and then provided a significant amount of the gear we did not have. They arranged all the food which was a big deal. Shuttles were provided by Blue Ridge Hiking Company.We had a GREAT 3 days and 2 nights in the woods. Learned lots. Hiked lots.We will be going with them again soon!As they said, The Trail Loves EveryoneBottom line is Emma made the FUN FACTOR really high!

I really enjoyed hiking with Francisco and Jennifer. They both were fun and were knowledgeable about the area. I went with my school and I would highly recommend this company to anyone looking to hike in the Asheville area!

Fantastic adventure, incredible guide, great people, very well run.

I cannot say enough about how wonderful our experience was with Blue Ridge Hiking, yall really did make a dream come true.

This tiny little store tucked back into a cute alley is well worth the stop, but the amazing people behind it and what they stand for are the best part. If you ever get the chance to go hike with them, do it.

Our guide, Lindsey Barr, was great! She took our interests and needs into account when selecting the perfect half day hike for my family. She recommended a hike at Graveyard Fields and to the waterfalls. The hike was great, and she provided us with information along the way that we wouldnt have found in a guidebook or map. My shy and introverted fourteen year old daughter felt comfortable with Lindsey and was interested in the information she imparted. Overall, the hike was a great success, and I wholeheartedly recommend Blue Ridge Hiking Company and their guide, Lindsey.

I cannot say enough about how wonderful our experience was with Blue Ridge Hiking! They really did make a dream come true. Lindsey and Haley were both exceptional in their experience and ability to make us comfortable--and Lindsey as a guide provided a perfect balance of instruction and challenge.

This was my first backpacking hike and I have to say that I felt well cared for with BRHC. They were organized, prepared and knowledgeable. They helped me prepare as well since I had no idea what I was doing! Emma, our guide, was so patient with our pace and campsite set up issues. She was the best! Many laughs and great snacks shared along the way. I highly recommend this experience:)

I had a amazing experience hiking with the Blue Ridge Hiking Company in July! The guides made my groups time on the trails the best and listened to our preferences and altered our trip accordingly! My group enjoyed the 10 mile challenge hike along the Appalachian Trail the most! We were a group new to hiking and felt safe and challenged with the trails due to the caring staff! I would definitely say hiking with the blue ridge hiking company was the highlight of my summer! I could not recommend them enough!!

We had three amazing days on the AT with our guide Emma from the Blue Ridge Hiking Company. She was a wonderful guide; knowledgable, capable and simply a very nice person to be with. Her skill and experience of the outdoors saved us from trouble when we were caught in very heavy NC rain, that we are unused to in our home country. Before going we were not sure if we needed a guide, but it saved us a lot of planning and arrangements, plus added a lot to our trip. Thanks!

John Haffner drove and guided my husband and I, and he was excellent! He was interesting, patient, knowledgeable and fun to be with. We knew very little about the trails and are (at least, I am) fairly inexperienced hikers. Without John, we never would have found or made it to both the Lower and Upper Falls of Graveyard Fields. It was a day and money well spent, and we hope to be back to hike with him again!

Blue Ridge Hiking Companys retail location in downtown Asheville has the best selection of lightweight and ultralight hiking and backpacking gear Ive ever found in an outdoor retailer. Their curated selection of cottage brand industry products covers everything you would need to outfit yourself for an overnight trip. I was particularly excited to see that they carry Western Mountaineering, Gossamer Gear, ULA, Six Moon Designs and Astral.

Our guide, David, was fantastic! We decided to do a private tour and we really enjoyed it. We told him exactly what we wanted and he knew just where to take us! Highly recommend one of these guided tours!

Couldnt recommend Blue Ridge Hiking Co more highly! Their mission is inspiring and they provide amazing services to support it. The equipment and supplies provided by the company were excellent, and Christine (our guide) was fully prepared to handle any challenges that came up. She was also very knowledgeable and would often point out interesting plants and wildlife along the trail. She made sure to walk us through each procedure--rather than doing everything for us--so that, by the end of the five-day trip, I felt informed and empowered to attempt a backpacking trip on my own. It was an incredible learning experience and tons of fun for our 10-member group. And, of course, the mountains themselves were stunning! If you want to get into backpacking or hiking but dont know where to begin (or if youre looking for adventure on the Appalachian Trail without worrying about the logistics), I would absolutely recommend Blue Ridge Hiking Company.

We could not have asked for a better guide than Christine. Both her and Blue Ridge really went above and beyond to make our 5 day women in engineering hiking trip a memorable experience! Excited to take on the wilderness myself now with everything we learned.

Choosing the Blue Ridge Hiking Company was the best decision I could have made for my first hiking experience with my mother! Our hike with our AMAZING guide Christine was wonderful. We enjoyed great scenery, learned about historical landmarks, and encountered numerous plant species such as beautiful purple fringed orchids! I highly recommend the Blue Ridge Hiking Company for all family occasions and vacations!

Christine is an amazing hiking guide! She has vast hiking experience and is knowledgeable about plants, birds, trees, geology and more. She planned a wonderful day of hiking to waterfalls based on our request. Our family of 4 thoroughly enjoyed it. We highly recommend Christine.

We wanted to go to this spot and asked if they would take us. They didnt have a permit but worked on it and got one in 3 days!! Our tour guide Andrea was amazing-kind,funny,very knowledgable of the area. She even went to great lengths to get us a vegetarian lunch with all kinds of cool snacks thrown in. We went on 3 different hikes including one to the very top. Had a ton of fun. Absolutely recommend the company and Andreas services.

This was our first guided hike and it was fabulous!! Very relaxing to be worry-free while hiking the Graveyard Fields on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Although weather was questionable for the scheduled morning hike, our guide Christine contacted us the night before to prepare us. With rain gear in tow we lucked out and had a beautiful morning. No need to be concerned about wild life/plants, snacks, or weather. Our guide, Christine had all the knowledge to assure us a successful hike.

Amazing two day hike with Emma and Christine. They were knowledgeable and experienced in both hiking and camping. I look forward to working with BRHC again!

We had a stunning three day trip along a section of the Appalachian Trail. I cannot say enough good things about our guide, Christine, and about Blue Ridge Hiking Company. They are amazing. Christine took us through a breathtaking section of the Blue Ridge Mountains, from Hot Springs to Max Patch. Id go back there - with this company - in a heartbeat. Christine planned out the trip so carefully, and her whole approach to the mountains - leaving no trace; understanding the flora and fauna; allowing us to identify the pace but ensuring that the journey challenged us (without getting to breaking point); teaching us about camping in the mountains - if you want a guide who is very smart, generous, and most importantly, loves the land and who will imbibe you with the same spirit, she is your gal. We will be going back as soon as we can. Did I say that enough times? It was that good.BTW, you can rent TERRIFIC gear from them - dont bother lugging yours down, because the lightweight, warm, ingeniously designed selection that they offer as part of the trip planning is better than yours. Trust us.

My daughter and I had a wonderful time hiking from Max Patch to Hot Springs this weekend as an early celebration of my 65th birthday. As a beginner hiker who is up there in years :), I was a little nervous at first but our guide, Christine Martens, immediately made me feel confident about my ability to conquer all the challenges ahead. We learned so much about plants and gear and outdoor living from Christine — and we had a great time doing it. The adventure was all I’d hoped it would be...and I’m ready for more hiking soon!

I booked a short hike on a weekend that ended up being super rainy: our guide contacted me in advance to suggest a change of day for the hike. Even that day the rain didnt let us go to the originally planned place and he already had a plan B that turned out great: our super fantastic guide John was patient and really kid friendly, bot my 13 and (especially) my 10yo loved hearing all about plants and animals of the area! Also, they told me to note the snack he brought along to share with us was the BEST, lol. I would recommend this company to anyone who wants to get to know NC trails.

We had a great hiking experience thanks to our wonderful guide Tamera. Thank you Blue Ridge for being so professional!

I went on a five-day long backpacking trip with seven other college aged girls. None of us were really experienced with the backpacking experience, but our guide Lindsey Barr was very good at reading everyones emotions and taking breaks during our trip when the whole group really needed them. She was there to help any bruises or blisters that were occurring and she went out of her way to make sure everyone felt comfortable. I will remember this trip for the rest of my life and it will always be a positive experience!

Had a great guided hike after our CSIA conference. Christine was very knowledgeable of the biodiversity in the area and we talked a lot about gear. Their customer service was awesome and would highly recommend them.We booked again for a private tour Sunday to continue enjoying the beauty in the area.

Our guide John was extremely knowledgeable and taught us so much about the environment. He was accommodating and offered suggestions for the remainder of our trip. Highly recommend!

We hiked with Emma for the half-day Saturday tour as a group of four girls. Emma was personable, knowledgable, extremely friendly, and both an excellent hiker and professional when it comes to balancing the needs of the group and the hopes each person has for the day. We saw the Blue Ridge Parkway, waterfalls, picked blueberries, and learned so much about the plants, nature, history, and beauty of the area - nothing that I would have been able to gain going alone. She cares about each person in the group and goes above and beyond to care for them the entire day. ALSO - SNACKS, so the hike is definitely a must ;) Thank you Emma for an amazing day!

We took a group of 27 women on a five day backpacking trip. BRHC worked out every detail in advance, were organized, professional, and tons of fun. Our women were challenged and also supported throughout the entire week. The trip was perfect and I would not hesitate to take another group in the future. Thank you BRHC for making this such a wonderful experience!!

BRHC is a wonderful operation. I have completed 2 different backpacking trips (>50mi) with them & will be back for more! I loved the simplicity of showing up and knowing everything would be provided. Guides Emma and Lauren are so knowledgeable, caring and passionate about the Trail. They showed me how to survive and thrive on the AT. Love Haley and the Trail-er! BRHK is the complete package. Thank you for the life changing experiences ! Julie

Highly recommended. Our guide John was great and knowledgeable on the local wilderness and Asheville hot spots. We loved it! Saw waterfalls and great views.

Excellent guided hike!

Great for lightweight backpacking gear

John and the team led a large group hike for us to the waterfalls. Great knowledge of the area including additional hikes to do later. Highly recommend.

I have hiked with BRHC a few times now and will hike with them many more times. The guides are always great and the hikes are always amazing. I highly recommend this company.

My husband and I did a morning hike with Emma!! She was so kind, interactive and knowledgeable ! We definitely recommend the Blue Ridge Hiking Company and Emma as your guide!*P.S. She provided delicious snack too!!! :)

Cannot say enough about my experience with Jennifer Pharr Davis Blue Ridge Hiking Company and Trail-er hiker hostel. From pre-arrival accessibility to ask questions as I prepared for my trip, to the excellent route recommendations that matched exactly what I was looking for, to the welcoming, relaxed, and comfortable atmosphere of the Trail-er...no detail is overlooked to help you and your friends have a great experience on the trail. Big thanks and shout-out to Trail-er Queen Haley who graciously answered questions, shared part of her amazing hiker-story, and set us up for two great days on the AT. Cant wait to return.

I wanted to take my first overnight backpacking trip and BRHC did not disappoint! Our guide John Hafner was a experienced, helpful and knowledgeable. When we arrived at the Trail-er in Hot Springs Haley checked us in and John conducted a thorough pre-hike gear evaluation. It was a treat learning about the Appalachian trail history, the plants and trees we found along the way, and being respectful of your surroundings and of course I learned a lot about backpacking. The fellow hikers were also a great bunch and added to the adventure. I had a enjoyable experience and recommend BRHC would not hesitate to book another hike with them.Thanks John and Haley (and the other hikers), your have given me the tools and confidence to start my hike in 2020! I can do this!

I highly recommend Blue Ridge High Ridge Company! I signed up for a low intensity hike at Catawba Falls (about 2.5 miles).Emma was my guide and she was spectacular. She was super nice and knowledgeable about the trail itself, the plants and wildlife around. We finished the hike ahead of schedule, so Emma took us to Montreat and we did the Lookout too :). I didnt have a car so it was very convenient that the company provided transportation from their downtown shop as well as snacks and things you may need to borrow on the hike i.e. an umbrella, a walking stick, etc :). Next time Im in Asheville I will definitely go on another hike with Blue Ridge Hiking Company!

My husband and I went on an all day hike with John Haffner, from Blue Ridge Hiking Co. in Asheville N.C., on October 15th when fall colors were still developing and patchy, at best. We were also unfamiliar with the entire Blue Ridge area and didnt know what hikes would be best to do seeing we had a limited amount of time. John picked out two outstanding hikes, totaling about 8 miles ( Graveyard Fields, Black Balsam/Tennant Mountains) and assured us these would also present really good color change. We were not disappointed! John was so experienced, knowledgeable, friendly, and most importantly, attentive to our abilities and needs along the hike. John picked up on our interests in the plants and trees and history of area and focused on those areas with an abundance of knowledge gained through his education and extensive hiking background. John provided us with safe hiking tips and was patient with our pace, as some of the hike was somewhat difficult. John provided a really good lunch and snacks along the way, and the lunch break was in a really beautiful spot. John made us feel as if we were hiking with our best friend. Near the end, John showed us how to filter water and safely drink from it which we all did and it was really good. We highly recommend Blue Ridge Hiking Company for a unforgettable hiking experience. We would also like to thank John for making an all day hike a memory for a lifetime-Thank you John!Mike & Nancy

Lindsey did a wonderful job and made our half day hike a truly fun experience

Nice little store with really great quality products for hiking and backpacking.We asked for info on a hike near Great Smoky Mountains but she was unfamiliar with it and had no other waterfall hike recommendations.

We had an excellent tour of Dupont Park. The staff members were all very helpful and enthusiastic. I would definitely recommend this group for hiking trips.

Lindsey was awesome! Such a great experience!

Nice local and knowledgeable hiking store

Great selection of boutique backpacking and hiking gear, including from lots of local and North Carolina companies!

I did the 3 day applachian trail hike and had a blast! Our guide Jackie was awesome, she taught us many cool plant species and was very motivating and kind. She also woke up really early each morning to make sure that everyone had fresh water for the day. Anyways, she was a great guide and I recommend going on this backpacking trip.

Sara Matzke is amazing! Very sensitive to your needs, knowledgable, and kind. She has an awareness of her surroundings and peoples needs ( how could I modify helping someone going down a hill- which I neeeded) and she thinks of different variables and thinks ahead. She was also nice enough to set up driving us to DuPont. She understands different uses of plants that are on the trail and thier homopathic uses. She is very open to communicating throughout the hike to ensure safety. She has awesome stories about The AT ( Applacian Trail) too! With her as your guide you will sure have happy trails!Many thanks! Carolyn and Julia!

Yep!