Guided Backpacking Trips in North Carolina’s National Forests

5 Reasons to Try North Carolina Backpacking with Adventure Grown Guides

Asheville, United States – May 8, 2026 / Adventure Grown Guides /

Adventure Grown Guides has launched a structured guided backpacking program across Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests in Western North Carolina, giving outdoor enthusiasts of all experience levels a supported way to explore some of the region’s most significant public lands. The program, led by founder and head guide James Perkins, formally introduces a roster of small-group backpacking experiences built around hands-on education, environmental stewardship, and accessibility for first-time backpackers.

A Program Built Around Education and Stewardship

At the core of Adventure Grown Guides’ offering is a commitment to Leave No Trace principles — a set of outdoor ethics designed to minimize human impact on natural environments. Every guided outing incorporates direct instruction on these principles, from proper waste disposal and campsite selection to wildlife awareness and trail etiquette. Rather than treating Leave No Trace as a disclaimer, Adventure Grown Guides embeds it as a central part of the experience.

“Our guided backpacking program covers 7 core Leave No Trace skills across every trip we lead in Pisgah and Nantahala,” said James Perkins, Founder and Head Guide of Adventure Grown Guides. “We want people to walk away knowing how to protect these forests, not just how to move through them.”

The forests themselves provide a compelling classroom. Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests together cover more than 1 million acres in Western North Carolina, encompassing waterfalls, ridge-line trails, old-growth pockets, and diverse ecosystems that reward careful, informed exploration.

Making North Carolina Backpacking Accessible to New Adventurers

One of the program’s defining features is its focus on removing barriers that typically discourage first-time backpackers. Gear selection, physical preparation, navigation, and trip planning are areas where beginners often feel overwhelmed. Adventure Grown Guides addresses this directly by offering pre-trip consultations, gear guidance, and pacing strategies tailored to each group’s fitness level and goals.

The company’s approach to North Carolina backpacking trips are deliberate in pairing logistics support with nature education, so participants are not just following a guide but building the knowledge and confidence to plan their own future trips. Groups are kept small to allow for more direct instruction and a less intimidating environment for those new to multi-day hiking.

Experienced backpackers are also accommodated through route variations that increase technical challenge, elevation gain, or mileage, making the program flexible enough to serve a wide range of skill levels within a single structured offering.

Western North Carolina’s Forests as the Foundation

Perkins’ familiarity with Western North Carolina’s trail systems shapes the route selection and storytelling throughout each trip. His background reflects a sustained investment in understanding the ecology, history, and land management context of the forests where he guides — knowledge he actively shares with participants on the trail.

Backpacking trips in North Carolina through Adventure Grown Guides are designed to connect people not just to the physical experience of carrying a pack through the backcountry, but to a broader understanding of why these landscapes matter and what responsible use looks like in practice.

The guided trips currently operate across multiple trail systems within Pisgah and Nantahala, with itineraries ranging from overnight introductory routes to multi-day traverses suited for those looking to extend their time in the backcountry.

About Adventure Grown Guides

Adventure Grown Guides is a Western North Carolina-based guiding company offering backpacking experiences in Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests. Founded by James Perkins, the company focuses on outdoor education, Leave No Trace stewardship, and making backcountry travel approachable for participants at all experience levels.