Appalachian Trail
🥾 2,190 Miles from Georgia to Maine — America’s Most Famous Footpath — The Appalachian Trail spanning 14 states from Springer Mountain Georgia to Mount Katahdin Maine, approximately 2,190 miles, established 1937, National Scenic Trail, white blaze markers, 260+ shelters, thru-hikers section-hikers and day-hikers, highest point Clingmans Dome 6,643 feet, passes through Great Smoky Mountains Shenandoah Blue Ridge White Mountains, managed by Appalachian Trail Conservancy and National Park Service — 14 States, GA to ME
It starts on Springer Mountain in Georgia. It ends on Mount Katahdin in Maine. In between: 2,190 miles of footpath through 14 states, across the spine of the Appalachian Mountains. No other trail in America has this kind of pull — every year, thousands try to walk the whole thing. Most don’t finish. The ones who do are changed.
The Appalachian Trail is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world. White blazes painted on trees mark every mile. Over 260 shelters dot the route. It passes through some of the most iconic landscapes in eastern America — the Great Smokies, the Blue Ridge, Shenandoah Valley, the White Mountains, the Maine wilderness.
The Trail by the Numbers
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Length | ~2,190 miles (the exact distance changes slightly each year due to trail relocations) |
| States | 14 — Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine |
| Highest Point | Clingmans Dome — 6,643 feet (Great Smoky Mountains, NC/TN border) |
| Lowest Point | Bear Mountain Bridge — 124 feet (Hudson River, New York) |
| Total Elevation Gain | ~464,500 feet — equivalent to climbing Mount Everest from sea level 16 times |
| Shelters | 260+ three-sided shelters along the trail, spaced roughly every 8–15 miles |
| Thru-Hike Time | 5–7 months typical. Most northbound thru-hikers start in March/April, finish September/October |
The 14 States
| State | AT Miles | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | ~76 | Where it begins. Springer Mountain. Southern Appalachian hardwoods. Where thru-hikers learn if they’re serious |
| North Carolina / Tennessee | ~95 / ~71 | Great Smoky Mountains. Highest sustained elevations on the trail. Roan Highlands. Balds with 360° views |
| Virginia | ~550 | The longest state — over a quarter of the entire trail. Shenandoah National Park. Blue Ridge Parkway. Where hikers find their rhythm or quit |
| West Virginia / Maryland | ~4 / ~41 | Harpers Ferry — the “psychological midpoint” and home of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy |
| Pennsylvania | ~230 | Rocks. Endless rocks. “Rocksylvania” earns its nickname. The most technically demanding footing on the trail |
| New Jersey / New York | ~72 / ~88 | Surprisingly wild. Bear Mountain. Delaware Water Gap. Harriman State Park. The trail crosses the Hudson River |
| Connecticut / Massachusetts | ~52 / ~90 | New England begins. The Berkshires. Mount Greylock. Small towns with real food |
| Vermont | ~150 | The Green Mountains. Shares the Long Trail for 100+ miles. Mud season is real. Beautiful and brutal |
| New Hampshire | ~161 | The White Mountains — the hardest section of the entire trail. Presidential Range. Above-treeline exposure. Real alpine danger |
| Maine | ~281 | The 100-Mile Wilderness. No roads, no towns, no resupply for 100 miles. Then Katahdin — the end |
The History
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1921 | Benton MacKaye publishes “An Appalachian Trail: A Project in Regional Planning” — proposing a continuous footpath along the Appalachian ridgeline from Georgia to Maine |
| 1925 | The Appalachian Trail Conference (now Conservancy) is founded to coordinate trail building |
| 1937 | The trail is completed — a continuous marked footpath from Springer Mountain to Katahdin. The first thru-hike is still years away |
| 1948 | Earl Shaffer becomes the first person to thru-hike the entire AT in a single continuous journey — walking from Georgia to Maine in 124 days |
| 1968 | The National Trails System Act designates the AT as one of the first two National Scenic Trails (with the Pacific Crest Trail) |
Best Time to Hike
| Season | Best For |
|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | 🌸 Thru-hike season begins. Wildflowers in the South. Cool temperatures. Mud in New England. Most northbound starts |
| Fall (Sep–Oct) | 🍂 Peak foliage across the entire trail. Cool, dry hiking. Thru-hikers finishing in Maine. Best two months for section hiking |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Hot in the South. Black flies in New England. Thunderstorms. But long days and green mountains. Best for high-elevation sections |
| Winter (Nov–Feb) | Southern sections hikeable. New England dangerous — ice, snow, extreme cold. White Mountains can be lethal in winter. Only for the experienced |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people complete a thru-hike each year?
About 25% of those who start a thru-hike finish. Roughly 3,000–4,000 people attempt a thru-hike annually. About 1,000 complete it. The rest stop due to injury, weather, cost, or simply realizing that 2,190 miles is a very long way to walk.
Do I need a permit?
Yes — for specific sections. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Shenandoah National Park, and Baxter State Park (Katahdin) all require permits or reservations. Most of the trail is free to hike without permits.
🥾 2,190 Miles. 14 States. One White Blaze at a Time.
Springer to Katahdin. Five million steps. Half a year of your life. The longest hiking-only footpath in the world — and the one that changes people who walk it.
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