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Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Appalachian Trail Map
Length:2,202.0 miles
Steps:4,994,751
Burned:283,045 calories
Hiked:Mar 18, 2015—Aug 14, 2015
Photos:9,656
Videos:24
Type:basic
Walk Trail!

The Appalachian Trail, also known as the AT, is the granddaddy of long-distance hiking trails, winding its way over 2,000 miles (3,500 km) through 14 states from Georgia to Maine along the Appalachian Mountains.

The trail was conceived by Benton MacKaye in the early 1920s and October 7, 1923, the first section of trail near Bear Mountain, NY, was opened.

Myron Avery took up the cause and continued advocating for the trail and reigned as Chairman of the ATC for twenty years. Avery become the first person to hike the entire trail from end-to-end in 1936, although not as a thru-hike.

It wasn’t until 1948 when the first documented thru-hike occurred. Earl Shaffer walked from Georgia to Maine in a single season—a feat that many people thought impossible at the time. Later, he then completed the first Maine-to-Georgia thru-hike. And 50 years after his first thru-hike hike, nearly 80 years old, Earl Shaffer hit the trail again in 1998 to thru-hike from Georgia to Maine making him the oldest person to have hiked the trail at the time.

The Appalachian Trail is historic, not just in its own right, but it also passes through Civil War and Revolutionary War battlefields. It follows old railroad beds and through the historic town of Harpers Ferry where John Brown’s raid occurred. You’ll pass many historic geographical landmarks such as the Potomac and Hudson Rivers, and over the top of Mount Washington where the world’s highest sustained wind speed of 231 mph was recorded.

The trail passes through 14 states: Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. It passes through two national parks: Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah National Parks. It passes through a multitude of state and county parts, wilderness areas, and through lots of colored mountains: the Blue Ridge through Virginia, the Green Mountains of Vermont and the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

The trail is so long, you’ll pass through several seasons. The trail starts in the winter in Georgia with trees barren of leaves and even a small snowstorm along the way. Then you’ll hit the spring flowers and trees turning increasingly green. In the heat of summer, the trees are full of life, but also bugs and humidity. By the end of the trail, you’ll start to see traces of autumn but, admittedly, I finished the hike before leaf-peeping season hit its stride. (We do have other trails such as the Long Trail for that, however!)

The Appalachian Trail is an adventure! Let’s go walk it!

Sunrise over Maine
Stage NameLength
(miles)
Position
(miles)
1.Approach Trail8.80.0 → 8.8
2.Neel Gap31.78.8 → 40.5
3.Unicoi Gap21.240.5 → 61.7
4.Georgia-North Carolina Border25.661.7 → 87.3
5.Winding Stair Gap31.387.3 → 118.6
6.Nantahala Outdoor Center27.5118.6 → 146.1
7.Fontana Dam29.1146.1 → 175.2
8.Great Smoky Mountains South41.0175.2 → 216.2
9.Great Smoky Mountains North30.4216.2 → 246.6
10.Hot Springs, NC36.7246.6 → 283.3
11.Allen Gap; Mom's Store14.8283.3 → 298.1
12.Sams Gap29.2298.1 → 327.3
13.Erwin, TN24.5327.3 → 351.8
14.Carvers Gap36.1351.8 → 387.9
15.US 19E (Elk Park and Roan Mtn)14.8387.9 → 402.7
16.US 321, Shook Branch Recreation Area33.3402.7 → 436.0
17.Tennessee-Virginia Border38.3436.0 → 474.3
18.Mount Rogers31.7474.3 → 506.0
19.Mt Rogers Visitor Center; Marion, VA34.5506.0 → 540.5
20.Interstate 81; Atkins, VA11.1540.5 → 551.6
21.Chestnut Knob Shelter23.8551.6 → 575.4
22.US 52 (North Scenic Hwy), I-7723.6575.4 → 599.0
23.VA 606, Suspension Bridge18.5599.0 → 617.5
24.Pearisburg, VA26.3617.5 → 643.8
25.VA 635, Bridge over Stony Creek21.9643.8 → 665.7
26.Sinking Creek, VA 4218.5665.7 → 684.2
27.Newport Rd (4 Pines Hostel)26.8684.2 → 711.0
28.US 220, Daleville, VA25.7711.0 → 736.7
29.Jennings Creek, VA 61428.2736.7 → 764.9
30.James River, US 501, VA 13028.6764.9 → 793.5
31.US 60, Buena Vista, VA21.8793.5 → 815.3
32.VA 56, Tye River Bridge25.4815.3 → 840.7
33.Rockfish Gap, Waynesboro, VA29.9840.7 → 870.6
34.Browns Gap, Skyline 84.323.6870.6 → 894.2
35.Swift Run Gap, Skyline 65.521.8894.2 → 916.0
36.Thornton Gap, US 211, Luray, VA35.6916.0 → 951.6
37.US 522, Front Royal, VA27.7951.6 → 979.3
38.Virginia-West Virginia Border36.6979.3 → 1,015.9
39.West Virginia17.71,015.9 → 1,033.6
40.Southern Maryland21.91,033.6 → 1,055.5
41.Northern Maryland18.71,055.5 → 1,074.2
42.Pine Grove Furnace SP37.71,074.2 → 1,111.9
43.Boiling Spring, PA19.31,111.9 → 1,131.2
44.Duncannon, PA25.61,131.2 → 1,156.8
45.PA 325, Clarks Creek17.71,156.8 → 1,174.5
46.501 Shelter, PA 50128.81,174.5 → 1,203.3
47.Port Clinton, PA24.11,203.3 → 1,227.4
48.PA 309, Blue Mountain Summit26.31,227.4 → 1,253.7
49.Lehigh Gap, PA 24814.51,253.7 → 1,268.2
50.PA-NJ Border, Delaware River36.01,268.2 → 1,304.2
51.Culvers Gap, US 20628.11,304.2 → 1,332.3
52.New Jersey High Point15.51,332.3 → 1,347.8
53.New Jersey-New York Border28.51,347.8 → 1,376.3
54.I-87, Arden Valley Road17.91,376.3 → 1,394.2
55.Bear Mountain Bridge20.41,394.2 → 1,414.6
56.Taconic State Pkwy Underpass25.01,414.6 → 1,439.6
57.New York-Connecticut Border26.51,439.6 → 1,466.1
58.Southern Connecticut, CT 422.61,466.1 → 1,488.7
59.Northern Connecticut, CT-MA Border28.21,488.7 → 1,516.9
60.MA 2323.21,516.9 → 1,540.1
61.MA Turnpike, I-9020.31,540.1 → 1,560.4
62.Dalton, MA19.41,560.4 → 1,579.8
63.Mass-Vermont Border27.61,579.8 → 1,607.4
64.Stratton-Arlington Rd/Kelly Stand Rd34.91,607.4 → 1,642.3
65.VT 11, VT 30, Manchester Center19.51,642.3 → 1,661.8
66.VT 14026.11,661.8 → 1,687.9
67.Sherburne Pass, US 4, Rutland, VT23.11,687.9 → 1,711.0
68.VT 12, Barnard Gulf Rd22.81,711.0 → 1,733.8
69.VT-NH Border, Connecticut River22.31,733.8 → 1,756.1
70.NH 25A34.21,756.1 → 1,790.3
71.Kinsman Notch, Lost River Rd, NH 11219.11,790.3 → 1,809.4
72.Franconia Notch, North Woodstock17.31,809.4 → 1,826.7
73.Crawford Notch, US 30227.71,826.7 → 1,854.4
74.Pinkham Notch, NH 1626.31,854.4 → 1,880.7
75.US 2, Gorham, NH21.11,880.7 → 1,901.8
76.New Hampshire-Maine Border16.51,901.8 → 1,918.3
77.Grafton Notch, ME 2614.61,918.3 → 1,932.9
78.South Arm Rd (Andover)20.41,932.9 → 1,953.3
79.Rangeley, ME 426.41,953.3 → 1,979.7
80.ME 27 (Stratton)32.21,979.7 → 2,011.9
81.West Carry Pond23.02,011.9 → 2,034.9
82.Caratunk, US 20114.02,034.9 → 2,048.9
83.Bald Mountain Pond18.82,048.9 → 2,067.7
84.Monson, ME 1517.92,067.7 → 2,085.6
85.Katahdin Ironworks Rd29.82,085.6 → 2,115.4
86.Jo-Mary Rd33.22,115.4 → 2,148.6
87.Nesuntabunt Mountain19.72,148.6 → 2,168.3
88.Abol Bridge, Penobscot River21.22,168.3 → 2,189.5
89.Baxter State Park12.52,189.5 → 2,202.0
Amicalola Falls
Appalachian Trail @1.9 miles
Amicalola Falls
Campfire at Springer Mountain
Appalachian Trail @10.2 miles
Campfire at Springer Mountain
95.6 miles
Appalachian Trail @95.6 miles
Wesser Bald observation tower
Appalachian Trail @139.2 miles
Wesser Bald observation tower
Fontana Dam
Appalachian Trail @175.4 miles
Fontana Dam
Gatlinburg, TN!
Appalachian Trail @216.2 miles
Gatlinburg, TN!
235.0 miles
Appalachian Trail @235.0 miles
Snake! Snake!
Appalachian Trail @247.1 miles
Snake! Snake!
View from Blackstack Cliffs
Appalachian Trail @306.7 miles
View from Blackstack Cliffs
Flowers of the A.T.
Appalachian Trail @375.4 miles
Flowers of the A.T.
Laurel Falls
Appalachian Trail @427.4 miles
Laurel Falls
Gang of orange mushrooms!
Appalachian Trail @476.3 miles
Gang of orange mushrooms!
Wild ponies!
Appalachian Trail @511.7 miles
Wild ponies!
Deer! Deer!
Appalachian Trail @557.8 miles
Deer! Deer!
Caterpillar nest!
Appalachian Trail @618.3 miles
Caterpillar nest!
Superman builds a campfire
Appalachian Trail @653.6 miles
Superman builds a campfire
Audie Murphy Monument
Appalachian Trail @697.9 miles
Audie Murphy Monument
Butterflies!
Appalachian Trail @701.0 miles
Butterflies!
Dragons Tooth
Appalachian Trail @707.9 miles
Dragons Tooth
FAA Tower
Appalachian Trail @775.8 miles
FAA Tower
797.7 miles
Appalachian Trail @797.7 miles
913.6 miles
Appalachian Trail @913.6 miles
Bears!!! Bears!!!!
Appalachian Trail @973.4 miles
Bears!!! Bears!!!!
Millipede hiking the trail!
Appalachian Trail @982.4 miles
Millipede hiking the trail!
Looking back to Harpers Ferry
Appalachian Trail @1,033.8 miles
Looking back to Harpers Ferry
War Correspondents' Memorial
Appalachian Trail @1,043.6 miles
War Correspondents' Memorial
Half Gallon Challenge
Appalachian Trail @1,111.0 miles
Half Gallon Challenge
Boiling Spring Furnace
Appalachian Trail @1,129.9 miles
Boiling Spring Furnace
Doyle Hotel
Appalachian Trail @1,156.3 miles
Doyle Hotel
View from Council Rock
Appalachian Trail @1,299.3 miles
View from Council Rock
New Jersey High Point
Appalachian Trail @1,347.6 miles
New Jersey High Point
Bear Mountain Bridge over the Hudson River
Appalachian Trail @1,416.3 miles
Bear Mountain Bridge over the Hudson River
Great Falls
Appalachian Trail @1,502.6 miles
Great Falls
Mount Greylock
Appalachian Trail @1,594.2 miles
Mount Greylock
View over the Rutland Airport
Appalachian Trail @1,692.5 miles
View over the Rutland Airport
1,803.4 miles
Appalachian Trail @1,803.4 miles
Mount Washington Cog Railroad
Appalachian Trail @1,866.8 miles
Mount Washington Cog Railroad
Little Swift River Pond
Appalachian Trail @1,975.1 miles
Little Swift River Pond
View from South Horn
Appalachian Trail @2,019.7 miles
View from South Horn
View from Pleasant Pond Mtn
Appalachian Trail @2,055.2 miles
View from Pleasant Pond Mtn
Katahdin Stream Falls
Appalachian Trail @2,195.9 miles
Katahdin Stream Falls
The end of the trail....
Appalachian Trail @2,201.6 miles
The end of the trail....