how long is the appalachian trail

If I'm not training for my next 100 mile trail race then you can probably find me exploring a new trail with my family. The Appalachian Trail also offers many other important landmarks throughout its long and extensive abode. Speed records of the trail have been set in just over 41 days. The Katahdin trail does not open until the last week of May or early June. It extends from Springer Mountain to Mount Katahdin in Georgia and Maine respectively. Now, these three that we list are not the only difficult portions of the trail. The plant species along the trail vary since the trail passes through different biomes and the climate changes. You'll find a very different lifestyle on the trail than anything … Most hikers begin at Springer Mountain in Georgia in the spring and head north to the trails terminus at Mount Katahdin in Maine because the northern mountain is frequently snowy and cold well into the spri… Karel Sabbe, a Belgium ultrarunner, completed the trail in 41 days 7 hours and 39 minutes in 2018 (Northbound), Karl Meltzer, an American ultrarunner based in Utah, completed the trail in 45 days 22 hours and 38 minutes in 2016 (Southbound), Scott Jurek, an American ultrarunner from Minnesota, finished the trail in 46 days 8 hours and 7 minutes in 2015 (Northbound). Your email address will not be published. As the location of halfway moves, those that upkeep the trail will relocate a marker as well. The trail covers about 75 miles of Georgia, with the highest point being the Blood Mountain. There are many more challenging sections and sometimes even larger mountains to climb. It basically goes through entire East Coast. A typical thru-hiker takes 5 to 7 months to hike the entire A.T. The Appalachian Approach Trail, which is approximately 8.8 miles long, begins at Amicalola Falls State Park. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2020 worldatlas.com. This would put your end date somewhere in December. The highest point of the mountain is 5,268 ft. Theres more than one way to summit the mountain and begin the AT. Researching trails and vistas or reading stories from hikers past. Mileage wise, this will be past halfway, but as a hiker, it can be significant for one location to signify you’re halfway there. The Appalachian Trail will span 554 miles across the state of Virginia. All hikers will face their own hardest section of the trail, but we can narrow down some of the most challenging terrain portions that are commonly reported as being the hardest parts of the AT. There are also a few dates to avoid as hundreds of hikers start their thru-hike on: One these days upwards of 100 thru-hikers may start their journey. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is a 501c3 organization. This pace may be slower at the beginning of the trail, and become faster as hikers gain muscle strength and confidence. The idea of having the Appalachian Trail in place was conceived by Benton MacKaye shortly after his wife’s death in 1921. Thru-hikers will gain and lose a total of 464,464 ft or 89 miles. The usual start time for the fairest conditions on the entire trail is anytime in June or as late as mid-July. The specific part of the trail that should be called the hardest is hard to pinpoint. The Appalachian Trail hosts thousands of flora and fauna species including rare, threatened, and sensitive species. Your email address will not be published. Since the entire Appalachian Trail is so long, many choose to complete it over the years by doing something called section hiking. The most difficult parts of the trail tend to be in the northern portion. The Appalachian Trail (AT) is a National Scenic Trail extending from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Mount Katahdin, Maine, and protected by federal- and state-owned lands as well as public rights-of-way. The Appalachian Trail is a 2,180+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. This can be a vital aspect, as many hikers have set up drop points and only carry enough food to get them from one drop point to another. In 1936, Avery, who was the chairman of the ATC, was the first person to walk through the Appalachian Trail end-to-end. With a formal education in writing, Meg can translate her outdoor experiences into accessible and relatable content for any reader. You’ll also want to keep in mind that different legs of the trail are more difficult than others. This year, 2015, according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) Data Book, the AT is 2,189.2 miles. There are an estimated 3 million visitors that hike parts of the AT each year, yet only about 20,000 thru-hikers have completed the trail since 1936. That’s kind of a lot of numbers to throw around, so to put that into perspective…. The first few steps in a successful thru-hike experience are getting to know the trail and getting to know yourself as a hiker. Clingmans Dome, located in the Great Smokey Mountains of Tennessee, is the highest point along the Appalachian Trail.With an elevation of 6,643 feet, it offers hikers stunning views of the surrounding countryside hills, mountains, and forests up to 100 miles on a clear day. The Appalachian Trail begins its northbound trek to Maine’s Mount Katahdin in the rolling southern Appalachians of North Georgia, beginning a 2000+ mile northbound journey through fourteen states. It traverses 14 states from Maine's Mount Katahdin to Georgia's Springer Mountain … 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. Contact | Privacy Policy. Immerse yourself in the experience. The Appalachian Trail is one of the most popular thru-hikes in the United States, along with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). The direction of the hike depends on the hiker. 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. This website is where I share all our adventures along with tips and advice to help you get outdoors too! Mount Washington will be your highest point at 6,289 ft. Trail speed attempts can be broken down into two categories: supported and unsupported. Our CFC number: 12230. Reportedly tricky due to elevation gain per each mile, intense weather, regulations for camping, rocky trails, and steep terrain. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is a significant hiking trail located in the Eastern US. Each year, thousands of hikers attempt a thru-hike; only about one in four makes it all the way. It pays to be in shape. The terrain will be steep, rocky, sustained, and will involve some stream crossings. Depending on the ability of the hiker, some will go up to 20-25 miles near the end of their trail days. If you’re planning to tackle the AT heading South, you will need to be determined and in excellent physical condition. Still, you can usually determine an estimate before you depart based on past hiking experiences and your physical condition. At approximately 2,181 miles long, the AT is the longest continuously marked footpath in the world. Not to mention depending on the time of year, water may be scarce on these legs. The Appalachian Trail extends from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. 88 miles of the trail runs through North Carolina, ascending through Standing Indian Mountain through to the Fontana Dam. These are the trails which thru-hiking is commonly associated with, but the term could be used to describe other end-to-end long-distance hiking as well. The trail itself covers a total of fourteen states, eight national forests, and six national park units. From market farming to wilderness survival guide to forestry technician and climbing instructor, Meg has an eclectic work history. The epic-length trail travels 78.6 miles in Georgia, beginning at the southernmost blaze at Springer Mountain . This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Planning a thru-hike can be part of the excitement of the trip. This can help hikers to have a physical reminder as they pass a sign telling them they are indeed halfway. You will be ascending for about 5 miles. A thru-hiker of this mountain typically takes six months. Some of the fauna species include the American black bear, deer, elk, squirrel, chipmunk, porcupine, fox, and moose. Campfires are prohibited along the AT in Connecticut and camping is allowed only at designated sites. There have been many speed records set and many attempts made, but to date, the fastest known time on the trail is 41 days 7 hours and 39 minutes. Most of the AT in the state follows the ridges to the west of the Housatonic River Valley and to the east of the Taconic Mountains. Not to mention, you’re likely looking for a bit of solitude on your journey, and with 100 other hikers by your side, you won’t have that. No matter if you are traveling northbound or southbound, the passes you make over these mountains and these states will be days you remember. As a thru-hiker, it can also be daunting to cross 14 states. He thought of a trail that would connect several farms and wilderness camps for the city residents. Matt Kirk, an American ultrarunner based in North Carolina, completed the trail in 58 days 9 hours and 40 minutes in 2013 (Southbound). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail typically takes between five and seven months, although speedsters have done it in less than 50 days. The Appalachian Trail stretches 2,168 miles from the state of Georgia to Maine. The Appalachian Trail stretches 2,168 miles from the state of Georgia to Maine. While fewer thru-hikers choose to start heading southbound, the northern parts of the trail are extremely popular section hiking and day hiking destinations. This section will be just over 100 miles long. In 2008, the Pinhoti National Recreation Trail was connected to the Appalachian Trail through the Benton MacKaye Trail. Still, many hikers see Harper’s Ferry of West Virginia as their psychological halfway marker. 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. Luckily, Virginia’s terrain is not going to be the most difficult on the AT. That means that more of the AT passes through Virginia than any other state. Headed northbound from Springer? Snakes are also common along the trail, especially in drier and rocky areas. This will mean that your solitude on the trail will be limited. When a hiker completes the entire Appalachian Trail in a 12-month time span it is referred to as a “thru-hike.” A thru-hike takes anywhere from four to seven months to complete, with five to six months being the average timeframe. In 1925, Appalachian Trail Conservancy was formed following Appalachian Trail conference held in the same year in Washington DC. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Although the main trail ends in Georgia, the Appalachian Mountain Range continues to Alabama. However, these parts of the trail tend to be the most strenuous, rocky, repetitive, and steep. That means some speedsters use a support team while others choose to be self-supported, much like that of a thru-hiker. The Appalachian Trail measures about The trail is, at 2,190 miles (3,510 km) long, the longest hiking-only footpath in the world. Between 1929 and 1933, the Connecticut leg of the trail was mapped and blazed. The bears rarely confront people. If you are a hiker of average speed, that will put you on pace to finish the trail in Maine by September. Another common psychological halfway point for many hikers is Pine Grove Furnace in Pennsylvania. Throughout this article, we will present you with some valuable tools as you begin your AT journey and layout some remarkable trail history along the way. The first section of the trail from Beer Mountain to Aden, New York through the Harriman State Park was opened in October 1923. That gives you miles and miles of steep, rocky terrain to climb up and wander down. According to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, out of the 1,500 to 2,000 hikers who try to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail every year, only 200 to 300 hikers succeed. It’s increased over 200 miles from its original 2,000-mile length that gave rise to the 2,000 miler moniker for successful thru-hikers. When you’re going over a mountain on the AT, you can expect to be taking a straight shot at it. 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. So, estimating how long it takes to pass through some of the states can put your mind at ease and give you a frame of reference as you hike. The Appalachian Trail together with two other trails, Continental Divide and Pacific Crest Trails form the Triple Crown of Hiking. 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