The Appalachian Trail, or simply The A.T., is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Georgia and Maine and is approximately 2,178 miles long.
In 1921, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail was simply an idea. Benton MacKaye proposed the idea of the Trail as the connecting element of “a project in regional planning.”
The efforts of countless volunteers made that part of MacKaye’s idea a reality. Today, the Appalachian Trail is best known as a simple footpath.
The Appalachian Trail, completed in 1937:
- Is a privately managed unit of the national park system.
- Is the nation’s longest marked footpath, at approximately 2,178 miles.
- Is the first completed national scenic trail, designated in 1968.
- Crosses six other units of the national park system.
- Traverses eight national forests.
- Touches 14 states. Houses more than 2,000 occurrences of rare, threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant and animal species at about 535 sites.
- Crosses numerous state and local forests and parks.
- Is maintained by 30 trail clubs and multiple partnerships.
- Lowest elevation: 124 feet – near the Trailside Museum and Zoo at Bear Mountain, New York
- Highest elevation: 6,625 feet – on Clingmans Dome in Tennessee
- Approximately 165,000 white paint blazes mark the Trail’s route.
- More than 10,000 people have reported hiking the length of the Trail.
- It takes approximately 5 million footsteps to walk the entire length of the Trail.
- More than 6,000 volunteers contribute about 200,000 hours to the Appalachian Trail every year.
Planning a Hike –Planning will go a long way in ensuring your hike is enjoyable and safe. In this section you will find tips on getting to the Trail with our shuttle list and parking tips, weather and safety considerations, information on camping, shelters, and hiking with dogs, and valuable details on regulations and permits along the way.
Thru-Hiking – A hike of the Trail’s entire length in one season is called Thru-Hiking. This section of the site provides details on preparing for a Thru-Hike, information on start-dates and itinerary options, as well as facts and statistics on 2,000-milers.
Section-Hiking – The approach to walking the length of the Trail in segments is called Section-Hiking. Here, you can learn about the opportunities and challenges related to it, as well as tips for making the most of this option.
People who complete the distance of the Appalachian Trail, in one season or over a number of years may officially report their completion to the ATC by completing the 2,000-miler application.
This pocket-sized book provides a bare-bones summary of essential information for the entire Trail. Updated every year, it provides mileages between features and facilities, notes locations of water sources, shelters, and campsites, and shows the availability of off-trail lodging, restaurants, grocery stores, and post offices. The Data Book is divided into eleven chapters; each chapter corresponds to one of the more detailed A.T. guidebooks. Sample Data Book pages (PDF).
Not just for thru-hikers, this spiral-bound compilation, updated annually, provides extensive information on campsites, shelters, off-trail accommodations in towns, resupply stops, and points of interest along the Trail. Where the Data Book notes the availability of services, the Companion provides the details—prices, phone numbers, hours, etc. Essential for hikes of five days or more. The Companion also includes information about other services such as banks, laundries, and doctors. You can review the Companion online at the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association Web site. Updates to the current edition are available online.
Explore the A.T. state-by-state.
See plants & wildlife of the Trail.
Related posts:
- Photo Sunday-The Appalachian Trails 100 Mile Wilderness
- Climbing Mt. Katahdin – Notes From My Appalachian Trail Journal
- Photo Sunday – Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
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