Four Pines Hostel

Had a good stay last week at 4 Pines. Joe was a good host and welcomed me though I wasn’t hiking the AT. It was clean, warm, welcoming, unconventional, and affordable which suited me. It was good to meet others as I was traveling alone. Will stop here again next time on Blue Ridge Parkway.

We stayed at the Four Pines Hostel for one night recently. It’s a three-​bay garage converted to a hostel with a bed, chaise lounge, sofa, military cots, and several chairs. The back and left walls support work benches with various tools and parts collected through the years. In the right-​rear corner is a bathroom with shower, a feature most AT thru-​hikers are no doubt appreciative of, and on the right wall is a wood stove, storage for firewood, and a desk with donation box. And on the front wall near the entrance are shelves with items left or donated by previous visitors, potentially valuable to thru-​hikers.
Unfortunately for us, we arrived late (10:30pm) on a Monday night. Having called beforehand, we were told to just come up and help ourselves, and that the owner had to leave around 6am, so we didn’t get to meet him. He was super nice over the phone and even re-​checked that the fire was going when we call to say we’d be arriving at 10:30 instead of a few hours earlier.
The next morning after packing and washing up and patting the dogs goodbye, we left a donation and drove off to our next destination. While we were the only ones there that night and didn’t get to meet anyone we still appreciated the hospitality and good will extended to our small party of wedding-​goers. If I ever get it together and hike the AT, I’ll be sure to stop back by to visit the Four Pines Hostel.

This place is the best hostel I have ever stayed at, and I’ve been to a few now!
Its not because of its amenities, or its services, its not because of any reason a normal hostel would be rated. It is because of how it is run, where you stay, and who is there. You sleep in this guys garage/​shop, its all donation based, he has a wood burning stove and shower, he will drive you down to the Homeplace restaurant (try to go if you can!), and there is usually a handful of rowdy AT thru-​hikers smelling up the place and drinking beer, its a GREAT experience!
If you get the chance go, its worth it!