If you were to hike 10 miles per day for the entire length of the trail, it would take you about 217 days or approximately seven months. It extends from Springer Mountain to Mount Katahdin in Georgia and Maine respectively. MacKaye’s idea was published in the New York Evening Post the following year by Raymond H Torrey. With a formal education in writing, Meg can translate her outdoor experiences into accessible and relatable content for any reader. It generally takes hikers at least a full month or more to cross the entire state. Campfires are prohibited along the AT in Connecticut and camping is allowed only at designated sites. Keep in mind that the window for starting a southbound thru-hike is much narrower than if you are heading north. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail spans fourteen U.S. states during its roughly 2,200 miles (3,500 km)-long journey: Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The trail itself covers a total of fourteen states, eight national forests, and six national park units. The top 4 fastest supported times on the trail are as follows: The top 4 unsupported times on the trail are as follows: Many hikers, especially those not from the Eastern part of the United States, imagine the AT is a flat, easy trail. At approximately 2,181 miles long, the AT is the longest continuously marked footpath in the world. Some of the extensions of the Appalachian Trail are in Nova Scotia, the western shores of Newfoundland, and along Appalachian Mountain Range. The International Appalachian Trail, which runs from Maine through to New Brunswick and Gaspé Peninsula, is a 1,900-mile extension of the main Appalachian Trail, though it is considered a separate trail and not an extension of the trail. 88 miles of the trail runs through North Carolina, ascending through Standing Indian Mountain through to the Fontana Dam. Some of the fauna species include the American black bear, deer, elk, squirrel, chipmunk, porcupine, fox, and moose. The epic-length trail travels 78.6 miles in Georgia, beginning at the southernmost blaze at Springer Mountain . … It takes five to seven months to thru-hike the trail while a section hike can take two or more months. The Appalachian Trail is a non-governmental, independently managed recreation facility of the national park system and is the nation's longest marked hiking trail at 2,180 miles. It’s not that the length of the trail is unknown, but rather that the distance changes year to year, based on trail modifications such as switchbacks and reroutes. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Our Tax ID number: 526046689. This can help hikers to have a physical reminder as they pass a sign telling them they are indeed halfway. The total expanse of the Southern Maine section, including the Bigelow Range, will be just over 100 miles. The Appalachian Trail also offers many other important landmarks throughout its long and extensive abode. Still, you can usually determine an estimate before you depart based on past hiking experiences and your physical condition. This pace may be slower at the beginning of the trail, and become faster as hikers gain muscle strength and confidence. This hike on the blue-blazed AT Approach Trail departs from the summit of Amicalola Falls, rolling through a beautifully diverse forest t… No matter if you are traveling northbound or southbound, the passes you make over these mountains and these states will be days you remember. Trailandsummit.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Walking the A.T. is only for uber-fit athletes. Appalachian Trail route through Great Smoky Mountains National Park NPS Map On the southwest end, where most AT hikers start, the trail crosses into the park at Fontana Dam, ascends up to its highest point at Clingmans Dome and back down in elevation in the northeast area of the park where it exits at Davenport Gap. 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