North Carolina Adventure Weekends: A Traveler's Guide to the Best Outdoor Getaways

Plan a weekend of hiking, cycling, climbing, and paddling!

Whether you’re a novice or an experienced adventurer, North Carolina offers a variety of outdoor pursuits to enjoy—from camping in Pisgah National Forest to canoeing down the Nantahala River and hiking in the Croatan National Forest. There’s no need to spend hours researching the best destinations or go on long, expensive trips. North Carolina Adventure Weekends by Jessie Johnson and Matt Schneider is for hikers who love to climb, paddlers who love to pedal, and anyone else whose idea of unwinding is an action-packed weekend in the great outdoors. With 12 exciting trips to choose from, you’ll know where to stay and which adventures are truly weekend-worthy.

Spend more time playing and less time driving from place to place. Each chapter in this full-color guide highlights a specific destination and includes hiking, cycling, climbing, and paddling opportunities rated for difficulty, as well as lodging options, restaurants, breweries, and coffee shops. You’ll also get suggestions for where to stock up on supplies and what to do on a rainy day. With ideal outings for individuals, couples, families, and groups, get maximum adventure out of your weekends!

Jessie Johnson started her life of adventure by tromping through the woods behind her childhood home in North Carolina. Camping, hiking, backpacking, paddling, climbing, biking, surfing—if you can do it outside, she’s in! With years of practice, she and Matt perfected the ultimate weekend adventure. Matt would pick her up at work every Friday, bikes and burritos ready to go. She’s been a children’s librarian, outdoor educator, Girl Scout troop leader, and sea turtle patrol volunteer. Most recently, Jessie has been lucky enough to turn her weekend adventures into everyday adventures as a Subaru/Leave No Trace traveling trainer and is traveling the western US with Matt, teaching people how to play outside in sustainable ways. She now gets to camp 250 nights a year!

Matt Schneider began adventuring at a young age: first while being carried in a backpack, and then while trying to catch up to his parents across trails, down rivers, and up mountains. After earning his Eagle Scout, Matt became a camp counselor, outdoor trip leader, philosophy professor, and challenge course manager (in that order). He has paddled, pedaled, hiked, climbed, surfed, and caved on three continents and in 11 countries and 32 states over the years. When not competing in off-road triathlons or researching his next book, he can be found living on the road with Jessie, teaching outdoor ethics as a Subaru/Leave No Trace traveling trainer.

Jessie Johnson started her life of adventure by tromping through the woods behind her childhood home in North Carolina. Camping, hiking, backpacking, paddling, climbing, biking, surfing—if you can do it outside, she’s in! With years of practice, she and Matt perfected the ultimate weekend adventure. Matt would pick her up at work every Friday, bikes and burritos ready to go. She’s been a children’s librarian, outdoor educator, Girl Scout troop leader, and sea turtle patrol volunteer. Most recently, Jessie has been lucky enough to turn her weekend adventures into everyday adventures as a Subaru/Leave No Trace traveling trainer and is traveling the western US with Matt, teaching people how to play outside in sustainable ways. She now gets to camp 250 nights a year!

Matt Schneider began adventuring at a young age: first while being carried in a backpack, and then while trying to catch up to his parents across trails, down rivers, and up mountains. After earning his Eagle Scout, Matt became a camp counselor, outdoor trip leader, philosophy professor, and challenge course manager (in that order). He has paddled, pedaled, hiked, climbed, surfed, and caved on three continents and in 11 countries and 32 states over the years. When not competing in off-road triathlons or researching his next book, he can be found living on the road with Jessie, teaching outdoor ethics as a Subaru/Leave No Trace traveling trainer.