Appalachian Trail

Information

Distance

3540.0 km

Duration

150–210 days

Max elevation

2,025 m

Country

United States (US)

Difficulty

Very strenuous — long-distance 3,540 km route crossing 14 states; total elevation gain of about 141,000 m, equivalent to climbing Everest from sea level 16 times

Best Season

March–October; northbound hikers (NOBO) start March–April from Georgia, southbound hikers (SOBO) start in June from Maine

Permits & Fees

Thru-hiker registration with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (recommended, free); a backcountry permit is required in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (~USD 4/night); reservations are required at Baxter State Park, Maine; most of the trail is free

Description

The Appalachian Trail (AT) is the longest and most celebrated thru-hiking trail in the United States, stretching 3,540 km (2,197 miles) from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine through 14 states along the Appalachian Mountain spine. Conceived in 1921 by Benton MacKaye and completed in 1937, it is managed by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) alongside the National Park Service and thousands of volunteers. Northbound (NOBO) thru-hikers typically start in March–April and take 5–7 months to finish, accumulating roughly 141,000 m of total elevation gain — equivalent to summiting Everest from sea level 16 times. Beyond the physical challenge, the AT is renowned for its vibrant trail culture: shelters roughly every 12 km, enthusiastic 'trail angels' offering free food at road crossings, and a tight-knit community of thru-hikers bonding over shared hardship and joy.

Trail Highlights

Springer Mountain in Georgia to the summit of Mount Katahdin in Maine; Great Smoky Mountains National Park; Shenandoah National Park; the spring-blooming Roan Highlands; the White Mountains of New Hampshire; and a legendary trail community with 'trail angels' and shelters about every 12 km