The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile footpath that runs from Springer Mountain in north Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is the longest hiking-only trail in the United States and is also one of the most popular trails in the world. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), a nonprofit organization founded in 1938 to conserve, develop, and protect the Appalachian Trail, manages the trail and maintains it for hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians.
The AT runs through 14 states, from Georgia to Maine along the East coast, with its highest point at Mt. Katahdin in Maine and its lowest point at sea level on the banks of the Roanoke River at Hickory Gap, Virginia. The trail is often heavily trafficked through many of it's nearly 2,200 miles - which pass over the highest peaks of the Appalachian mountain range. More than 3 million hikers take to the AT trails annually. An estimated 3,000 annually attempt to complete the full trail with less than 25% of attempts being successful. While the trail is not a very technical trek, the endurance and mental fortitude required makes the challenge formidable.
The Appalachian Trail is much more than a hiking trail. It is a symbol of the friendship between the states and the union, a symbol of man's achievements, and a symbol of nature's beauty and fragility.
The trail is well maintained and has a large number of shelters and campsites along the way. It can be walked year round, but is most popular during the spring and fall. This iconic trail provides hikers with an opportunity to experience some of the most beautiful scenery in the United States.
If you're near a trailhead of the AT, we highly recommend you adding it to you hiking plans. While not many will take on the full 2,190+ miles, even just walking a few will put you in the fraternity of hikers who have enjoyed these wooded pathways.