Explore with us!
Asheville is home to some of the best hiking, paddling, climbing, biking, and backpacking on the East coast. Outdoor Programs offers a wide variety of outdoor trips, workshops, clinics and trainings for current UNC Asheville students. No experience is necessary for any of our offerings! We will provide all transportation, essential equipment and highest quality instruction. Come share your next adventure with UNC Asheville’s Outdoor Programs. Human powered adventure is at the heart of what we do! Programs may be open to faculty, staff, and rec card members based on availability and additional fees may apply. Priority enrollment will be for our students. Please email outdoorprograms.rec@unca.edu to inquire about non-student enrollment on trips.
Stay tuned! Registration for Fall 2025 Outdoor Trips will open up on August 18th, 2025.
Spring 2025 Trip Calendar
January
- 1/24/2025 – Cataloochee Ski Shuttle
- 1/25/2025 – Honors Ski Shuttle
- 1/31/2025 – Cataloochee Ski Shuttle
February
- 2/1/2025 – Ski to Sugar
- 2/7/2025 – Cataloochee Ski Shuttle
- 2/9/2025 – Spelunking Sampler
- 2/14/2025 – Cataloochee Ski Shuttle
- 2/23/2025 – Caving Exploration
March
- 3/1/2025 – Mountain Biking
- 3/8/2025 – Backpacking the Blue Ridge
- 3/22/2025 – Bouldering 101
- 3/29/2025 – Rock Climb at Looking Glass
- 3/30/2025 – Plein Air Hike
April
- 4/4/2025 – Night Hike with Astrology Department
- 4/5/2025 – Whitewater Kayaking 101
- 4/6/2025 – Caving Exploration
- 4/12/2025 – Photography Day Hike
- 4/19/2025 – Whitewater Kayaking 201
- 4/20/2025 – Waterfall Sliding Rock Rappelling
- 4/26/2025 – Sup Yoga
- 4/27/2025 – Mindfulness and Meditation Nature Retreat
How to Register for a Trip:
- Use the Trips and Programs Calendar (above) to choose the trips you’re interested in. You can also see what’s available and register for a trip with our online registration system.
- All trip registrations close at noon on the Thursday before the program!
- A Trip Leader will follow up with you via email to answer any questions and to share additional details about your trip! Make sure to check your email for all the necessary details and information after registering.
If you have any questions, please email outdoorprograms.rec@unca.edu
Requests for accommodations
If you have a request for accommodation or questions about the essential eligibility criteria for trips please contact outdoor programs at outdoorprograms.rec@unca.edu.
Adventure Programs for High School Students:
Check out our River Ecology & Adventure and our Geology & Adventure Summer Pre-College Programs! These programs are open to rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. All students live on campus to fully experience university life and the surrounding community:
River Ecology & Adventure:
Are you ready to explore the wild beauty of Southern Appalachia’s rivers while gaining invaluable knowledge about ecology and environmental stewardship? Our River Ecology & Adventure Pre-College Program offers a thrilling, hands-on learning experience that blends the excitement of outdoor adventure with the science of stream ecology. Dates: June 15-20 and June 22-27, 2025. Visit unca.edu/precollege to learn more and register.
Geology & Adventure:
Learn about the geology of the Southern Appalachians while hiking to scenic landmarks. Practice field-based learning while rock climbing and rappelling on the beautiful granite bodies of western North Carolina. Experience the geology of caving systems while spelunking. Enjoy time outdoors, build lifelong friendships, participate in adventure experiences, and see what it is like to be a geologist for a week in our Geology & Adventure Program! Dates: June 15-20 and June 22-27, 2025. Visit unca.edu/precollege to learn more and register.