A. Rufus Morgan Shelter

We hiked into Rufas Morgan, northbound on the Appalation Trail, and found the shelter occupied. We set up our tents on the levalest spots we could find down hill from the shelter. Great water point at this shelter! Best thing is that NOC is only .8 miles up the AT! Easy to go get something to eat, grab a resupply, and return to camp!

The best part about this Appalachian Trail shelter is that it's than a mile from N.O.C. (Nantahala Outdoor Center). The shelter was dirty and had trash all over. We ended up finding a place for our tents for a nervous night of sleep. Being so close to a major tourist area means people can take the short hike to stay without following the leave-no-trace principles.

However being close to the N.O.C. is what we wanted. We were able to quickly get to the outdoor center and get a few supplies. The restaurant had wonderful food and we took our time satisfying our hiker hunger. My hiker partner took a break and went rafting and caught up to me on the trail. Many people visit the N.O.C. for outdoor fun on the river or day hiking along the trail.

This shelter is an option if you want a free night's camping or an easy hike into the center for a fun day.