Two ways to explore the mountains. Two weeks to find a new frontier with friends.
Only 18 teenagers can attend each session.Sign up now.
A mountain program for ages 13–17
Leave the familiar behind. Find out what you can do together.
Appalachian Adventures brings Camp Frontier teens to the Nantahala National Forest region of North Carolina for two weeks of outdoor discovery. Choose Appalachian Trail Explorers (ATE), the backpacking-focused path, or Appalachian Life Explorers (ALE), a cabin-based program with varied mountain day trips. Both offer time with friends and room to grow in confidence and independence, guided by staff experienced in outdoor adventure.
This is a dedicated mountain program for teenagers, separate from the daily activity choices at Camp Frontier’s Florida campus. The exact mix of outings depends on conditions and the final program schedule.
The Otter’s Den
Our private mountain cabin
Our Home Away From Home
Our private cabin in the mountains of North Carolina sits right in the middle of the beautiful Nantahala National Forest, near the Appalachian Trail, fishing and rafting.
The Otter’s Den sleeps 28 in double and triple bunk beds, with plenty of indoor and outdoor space for games, activities and time together. It’s where we relax and get ready for our next mountain adventure.
Settle in. Share the adventure.
Two program choices
Choose Your Mountain Adventure
Trail and backpacking focus
Appalachian Trail Explorers (ATE)
For teenagers ages 13–17 who want to backpack, learn trail skills and share the challenge of traveling through the mountains.
Ready for the trail.
What you’ll do
Take on two Appalachian Trail backpacking hikes, each four days and three nights long, for approximately 57.4 trail miles in total, excluding side trips.
Hike A: Winding Stair Gap to the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC), approximately 27.3 trail miles.
Hike B: Fontana Dam to the NOC, approximately 30.1 trail miles.
Enjoy whitewater rafting together.
Learn mountain fly fishing in scenic streams.
Practice backpacking, tent camping, campfire cooking and caring for the places you visit.
Travel as a team, share responsibilities and build confidence along the way. These are our planned routes; daily distances and outings may change with trail and weather conditions.
Great views. Even better friends.
Camp togetherCook outdoors
Your mountain home base
Our private cabin, The Otter’s Den in the Topton area of North Carolina, serves as the home base for this two-week program.
Photos from our Appalachian trip archives.
Variety across the mountains
Appalachian Life Explorers (ALE)
For teenagers ages 13–17 who want varied mountain day trips, shared adventures and a comfortable cabin home base.
A new kind of teamwork
What you’ll do
Appalachian Life Explorers enjoy varied mountain day trips while the Appalachian Trail Explorers group is backpacking. Our planned outings are listed below; the order may change with weather and local conditions.
Mountain fly fishing
Learn fly-fishing techniques and enjoy fishing in the mountain streams.
Mountain biking
Ride mountain trails and experience the landscape on two wheels.
Horseback riding
Explore the mountains on a horseback-riding outing.
Water skiing
Enjoy a water-skiing day as part of the mountain adventure program.
Bryson City train ride
Take a scenic train ride from Bryson City through the mountain region.
Cherokee visit
Visit the Cherokee community to learn about its culture and history.
Mountain ropes & challenge course
Build confidence and teamwork on a mountain ropes or challenge-course outing.
An ALE day hike
Take a day hike with the Appalachian Life Explorers group and return to our cabin home base.
Shared adventures with ATE
Both groups travel together from Camp Frontier to The Otter’s Den, begin with relaxation and training, share the Tellico Gap–NOC day hike and a cabin rest day, and come together for whitewater rafting, mountain fly fishing and time at basecamp between the trail group’s hikes.
Explore the mountainsTake in the view
Your mountain home base
Stay at our private cabin, The Otter’s Den in the Topton area of North Carolina. This home base brings the group together between outings throughout the two-week program.
Photos from our Appalachian trip archives.
Share the mountain experience
A Hiker’s Experience
Hear a participant describe the trail, the friendships and the adventure that brings both programs together.
New trails. Good friends.A mountain adventure with friends.
2027 Sessions & Tuition
$4,800 Per two-week session · All-inclusive
Appalachian Trail Explorers (ATE) or Appalachian Life Explorers (ALE) · Ages 13–17
Session A
June 26 – July 10, 2027
Session B
July 10 – July 24, 2027
Everything for your mountain adventure is included.
All program activities
Lodging & meals
All program supplies & equipment
Round-trip ground transportation
The same all-inclusive tuition covers either program, including travel from Camp Frontier in Florida to North Carolina and back. All program supplies and equipment are provided.
Families receive personal clothing and preparation guidance before departure. Ask Admissions about current availability and the program that best fits your teen.
Step into your frontier
The mountains are waiting.
Talk with us about the two program choices, the right session and preparing your teen for two weeks in North Carolina.
