Thru Hiking the Bartram Trail - Planning, Logistics, & Resupply

In early June 2021 I set out to thru hike (hiking end to end in one trip) all 114 miles of the Bartram Trail, alone. This video caps off my short film series showcasing my Bartram Trail thru hike with an overview of considerations to help you plan your own thru hike, or section hike, of the Bartram Trail. In this video I cover the following topics. Click on any of the links to skip directly to specific chapters.

Chapters:

00:55 The best time to hike the Bartram Trail
01:34 Pros and Cons of hiking northbound vs. southbound
02:27 Getting to & from the trail
05:17 Navigation
07:03 Permits & camping
07:43 Resupply
08:25 The Franklin road walk & whether to hike it or skip it
09:46 Water availability on trail
10:21 Food storage considerations & recommendations
10:51 Whether the Bartram Trail is a good first thru hike (or not!)

I hope you find this video and the resources below helpful! I definitely recommend hiking the Bartram Trail if you have the opportunity.

—My Bartram Trail Thru-Hike Gear List: https://lighterpack.com/r/h19bl8

—Food Storage Options: A few people asked about this. Here is a link to the Opsack that I like to use. I use it inside of my Zpacks food bag so that I can hang it, but you could use any kind of dry bag (I just like the Zpacks one): https://amzn.to/3uQ3FEN . If you prefer the tried and true bear canister, I have this one, though I don’t use it unless I really need to because of the weight it adds to my kit: https://amzn.to/3iGJqob.

—My Bartram Trail GPX files: This link takes you to the Trip Planners page on my website, where you can find the Bartram Trail GPX files. This includes water and campsite location waypoints that I mapped along the way. You can use these in combination with any GPS map application. I use a free one called Gaia. It works great because I can use it in airplane mode (doesn’t drain my battery) and still know my precise location on trail. https://unfetteredfootsteps.com/trip-...

—Gaia GPS: https://www.gaiagps.com/. Free GPS reader app that I used for this hike (and others).

—Bartram Trail Southern Terminus Parking: https://goo.gl/maps/TLRfzCpQ7pw3V9Fh8 . There is another lot on the other side of the bridge on the same side of the road.

—Bartram Trail Northern Terminus Parking: https://goo.gl/maps/vKb41oJaYpe8uEnbA. This is the closest parking lot. You still have to hike 5.1 miles north on the Bartram Trail to get to the northern terminus at the top of Cheoah Bald.

—Alternate Northern Terminus Parking at Stecoah Gap if you hike the Appalachian Trail to the top of Cheoah Bald: https://goo.gl/maps/snJmDJsfJNi8gSme6. This would be a fun alternate to get to Cheoah Bald.

—Bartram Trail Conservancy: https://blueridgebartram.org/. Paper maps, trail info, volunteer opportunities, and donations to support the trail.

—Nantahala Outdoor Center: https://noc.com/. Great place to contact for a list of shuttle providers that service the Bartram Trail, as well as a rafting or kayaking adventure on the Nantahala River if you want to add that to your Bartram Trail adventure.

—Wildwater Rafting (Chattooga River): https://wildwaterrafting.com/adventur... In case you want to add a Chattooga River rafting trip to your Bartram Trail adventure. The Chattooga River bears a Wild and Scenic River designation, is classic southeastern whitewater, and was featured in the 70s film “Deliverance.”

—Chica & Sunset’s Hostel in Franklin: https://chicaandsunsets.com/. I have not personally stayed here, but always hear great things about them from other backpackers (and they are AT thru-hikers themselves!). It’s a great option for a stay in Franklin.

—My Blog Short Story about Thru-Hiking the Bartram Trail: I love storytelling! Here’s a link to the beginning of this multi-chapter series: https://unfetteredfootsteps.com/thru-...

Other Resources

—Current gear I'm using, as well as all of my thru-hike gear lists: https://www.unfetteredfootsteps.com/g...

--My current favorite tent: https://zpacks.com/products/plexamid-...

—My blog, including my Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Benton MacKaye Trail thru-hike journals and stories: https://www.unfetteredfootsteps.com/b...

—My website: https://www.unfetteredfootsteps.com

More content coming soon. If you’re enjoying, please give this video a “like,” subscribe and share with your friends!

You can also learn more about me and buy me a coffee, if you like, here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kevinkelly.

Thank you for your support!

Happy Trails!
--Hungry Cat

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