Hammock Friendly 30+ mile Circuit in NC or VA

[turkeyboy]

I'm going to take a group of 16-18 year old scouts on a 4 day backpacking trip in mid August. All of us prefer hammocks. We want to cover somewhere between 30 and 40 miles, and be able to sleep in hammocks each night. It would be best if it were a circuit, so we could park, leave the cars, and come back in a few days. We are in Chapel Hill, NC, and would like to make the trail head less than 6 hours away. Any suggestions?

[NCPatrick]

How many total are in the group? It's a factor since you'll have to have room at campsites for that many hammocks.

[slowhike]

For starters, I would suggest Mt Rogers Rec Area as one possibility. It's about 2.5 hrs drive from Winston-Salem area & has lots of possible loops.
Beautiful place. If you begin to consider it for your trip, just ask here or else where about the terrain.
You may want to avoid some of the higher ridge lines for your overnight set ups or at least give thought to where you camp in regards to wind protection, hammock trees, & water sources.

[turkeyboy]

How many total are in the group? It's a factor since you'll have to have room at campsites for that many hammocks.

We'll have 6-7 boys, and 2 leaders. So, total of 8-9.

[NCPatrick]

I'd agree with slowhike, check into the Mt. Rogers area. Lots of good places to hang out, and many trails to make up a loop with. Beautiful scenery too, if that's also important .

[DougTheElder]

Standing Indian Campground (North Carolina) is at the bottom of Standing Indian Mountain and the AT approaches from the south up on the ridge and then sort of circles east around the campground following the ridgeline, and then continues north. There are a number of trails that radiate from the campground up to the AT. There are probably more scenic routes, but this location offers many distance options, all looping back to the campground, as well as bail-out opportunities. And there are showers, etc at the campground.