I have 10 days off in mid-July and my plan to go to the Whites and finish the 4thousand footers is a bust to do my not so reliable volvo heading off to the salvage yard. I need my money for new wheels so I'm trying something more local.

I'm looking for a 3-7 night trip somewhere in the southeast. I was hoping some people could help me come up with some ideas on trails I'm not thinking of. I figure this was a good place to get suggestions.
Maybe the foothills trail in SC or a loop in the Smokies. maybe the Art Loeb and then the John Muir and split up the week into 2 trips. I don't know.
Basically I'm open to suggestions. I don't want to do a section on the AT because I've thru hiked and I don't want to do a section on the BMT because I hope to thru that next year.

Pisgah national forest
nantahala national forest
linville gorge - lovely place, im going there for 5 days as well, they call it the "Grand canyon of the south"

AT/BT loop nantahala:
http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/60410

lst is about 37 miles and easy and then lots of good stuff around there too like shuckstack and charlies bunion. if you did the lst and ended at the dam, the trail to shuckstack is right there...one of the best fire towers from what ive heard.

cool area, but have to sleep in shelters in gsmnp...that kinda blows.

Edited by rbeard on 06/11/2010 12:14:26 MDT.

Thanks for the suggestions. I've done Shuckstack and Charlie's Bunyon on my AT thru so I'm hoping for something new. Maybe the Bartram or something anybody here hike that? I appreciate all the feedback so far.

Some Ideas:
- Sheltowee Trace Trail (212 miles total)
- Link some trails in the Red River Gorge Wilderness area(s) and/or bushwhack your heart's content.
- Big South Fork
- Packraft the Hiawassee or check with the local rangers for trail link options.
- Obed River Gorge (although I've only done an overnighter there and don't know how extensive the trail system is)

Aaron, I don't need the suggestion of packrafting the Hiawassee as I'm already way too tempted into buying a packraft right now. Don't push me and my wallet haha

Thanks for your post. Its pretty much what I was looking for. Ideas on stuff in my backyard I didn't realize was there. I've never even heard of the Sheltowee Trace Trail. I'll look into that.

The Bartram Trail is one you should look into. I did it in January ( had the entire thing to myself). It's about 110 miles if I remember correctly. Also, it goes through the town of Franklin on day 3 or 4 so you can resupply meaning you can go light on food for the first half. Or if you didn't want to do the whole thing, you could end here. The Northern terminus is up in the Nantahala Gorge on Cheoah Bald which I'm sure you're familiar with since you thru-ed the AT already. Just a suggestion. Let us know what you choose!

Edited by getupandgo on 06/13/2010 02:42:29 MDT.

Sure thing, Patrick. It used to be my backyard as well and I am yet fond of the laureled hills and steep creeks. Let us know what you decide and how it goes! You'd probably have much of the Sheltowee to yourself as well, except for certain portions through the RRG, which are quite spectacular in scenery and topography.