Backpack - Albert Mountain - Standing Indian Loop

   Escape for a weekend on the beautiful Albert Mountain Loop in the Nantahala Mountains of western North Carolina. We will depart Atlanta on Friday afternoon. The official carpool meetup will be at Indian Trail, with an alternate meetup option at the Buford Park and Ride. From there, we will drive approximately two and a half hours to Standing Indian Campground.

   We will most likely stay in one of the first-come, first-served campsites at Standing Indian Campground on Friday night. If the campground is full, we will hike a short distance up Kimsey Creek Trail and camp at one of the dispersed backcountry sites along the creek. This trail follows a mountain stream through dense hardwood forest with plentiful water and several established campsites tucked beneath rhododendron thickets.

   Saturday morning, we will begin hiking along Kimsey Creek Trail as it gradually ascends toward Deep Gap and joins the Appalachian Trail. At Deep Gap, the route transitions from sheltered creek valley to higher-elevation ridge walking through some of the most beautiful terrain in the Standing Indian Basin. The trail climbs over Standing Indian Mountain, offering intermittent panoramic views across western North Carolina and north Georgia, before continuing along rolling ridgelines toward Carter Gap. We plan to camp near Carter Gap Shelter, where reliable water and nearby viewpoints make an excellent overnight stop. Total hiking distance for Saturday will be approximately 11.8 miles.

  On Sunday, we will continue north along the Appalachian Trail toward Albert Mountain and the Long Branch Falls Trail junction. This section features rocky tread, moss-covered forest, and several outstanding viewpoints before descending beside cascading streams on Long Branch Falls Trail back to Standing Indian Campground. After finishing the 11.2-mile hike, we will return to Atlanta Sunday afternoon.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/north-carolina/standing-indian-mount-albert-nantahala-basin-loop

https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/northcarolina/recreation/standing-indian-campground

  This is not a beginner backpack. You attend this event you need a history of D4+ or higher backpacks with the club, or similar outside experience. You may be contacted to confirm your experience.

Please bring an additional $10 to contribute towards camping at Standing Indian Campground.