Three Ridges Loop, Virginia
See colorful wildflowers and big views on the Appalachian Trail.
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How Do I Train for a Thru-hike?
Prepare for the long haul with advice from Appalachian Trail speed record-holder Jennifer Pharr Davis.
Baldpate Mountain, Maine
The Appalachian Trail in Maine will take your breath away, both as you climb 3,662 feet to the summit and then your 360-degree view.
Atlanta: Tesnatee Gap
Traverse a dramatic high ridge via 5 miles of the Appalachian Trail, ending at thru-hiker hangout Walasi-Yi Center.
New York City: Hurd Corners to Morgan Stewart Shelter via the AT
A massive oak, a sprawling wetland, an atomic lake-this classic weekend trip packs it all into a 19.2-mile out-and-back on the Appalachian Trail. Bonus: Save the Earth by taking the train to the trailhead.
New York City: Bear and West Mountains via the AT
This 10-mile out-and-back climbs a summit with far-reaching views and ends at a rustic Appalachian Trail shelter.
Harpers Ferry: Loudoun Heights via the AT
Hop a train for a weekend on Blue Ridge trails near the headquarters of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.
New York City: High Point
This 11.8-miler traces the Appalachian Trail along an idyllic ridgeline to New Jersey's highpoint, 60 miles from Manhattan.
White Mountain National Forest: Thoreau Falls
Gaze down the barrel of a waterfall and visit a secluded pond on this 10.2-mile section hike of the Appalachian Trail.
Shenandoah National Park: Beahms Gap to Thornton Gap
Mature oaks, overgrown homesites, a mountain hut, and a scenic viewpoint highlight this 3.6-mile dayhike on the Appalachian Trail.
Shenandoah National Park: Sugarloaf Loop
A fantastic four-season trek, this 5.5-mile hike near the Appalachian Trail roams around Hogback Mountain in Shenandoah National Park.
Atlanta, GA: Blood Mountain
This 5.5-mile loop in Chattahoochee National Forest follows a leg of the Appalachian Trail and provides long views across the Blue Ridge peaks.
Asheville, NC: Nantahala Headwaters Loop
Hike 24.8 miles around the source of the Nantahala River on the Appalachian Trail and camp atop Albert Mountain for night-sky views. On night two, pitch your tent on 5,498-foot Standing Indian, a treeless bald with front-row sunset vistas.
White Mountain NF: Mt. Adams and Mt. Madison Loop
Ascend two White Mountain peaks on this 8.5-mile sneak route to the Appalachian Trail's best view in the state.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Clingmans Dome
This paved, half-mile (one-way) trail leads to the highest point on the Appalachian Trail and 100-mile views of seven states.
Asheville, NC: Max Patch Loop
Use the Appalachian Trail as the backbone of a 2.8-mile loop over and around Max Patch, a high-elevation bald that provides a grassy perch for observing the Black Mountain Range’s 6,000-foot behemoths.
Grand Traverses: Roan Highlands
Gorge on views that don't quit on a high stretch of the Appalachian Trail.
Online Exclusive: Readers' Choice 2012: Peter Rives's Suggested Packing Lists
Suggested packing lists from our prolific map contributor, who has thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail and notched more than 90 bag nights while scouting routes for BACKPACKER.
Readers' Choice 2012: Top 3 – Southeast Hikes
Our prolific map contributor has thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail and notched more than 90 bag nights while scouting routes for BACKPACKER.
Madman Walking?
Warren Doyle has hiked the Appalachian Trail 16 times, and he has a no-fee plan guaranteed to help others complete the 2,180-mile trek. The hardest part? Hiking with Warren Doyle.
Megahiking: The 12,500-mile All-in Trek
Sam Gardner plans to hike the North Country Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, and the Appalachian Trail back-to-back-to-back-to-back.
Hike of the Day: PA's Delaware Water Gap
Trek to the border of New Jersey along PA's finest section of the Appalachian Trail.
Help The AT Win A Million Bucks
Febook users can vote for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to win a charitable contest from Chase Bank
Readers' Choice Northeast Hikes: Maine's 100-Mile Wilderness
Explore the Appalachian Trail's wildest stretch.
Hike of the Day: Maine's 100-Mile Wilderness
Explore the Appalachian Trail's wildest stretch.
Outdoor Retailer: Dollars for Socks
Darn Tough Vermont Socks donates cash to maintaining Appalachian Trail
Thru-Hiking Away The Recession
A bum economy and a dearth of jobs drives more hikers to tackle the Appalachian Trail
SC Gov in…Argentina?
South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford wasn't on the Appalachian Trailhe was in Argentina. Ooooookaaaay.
Governor Goes On AT Walkabout
South Carolina's governor scares staff, wife after disappearing on the Appalachian Trail for four days without contact.
BACKPACKING LIGHT editor missing on AT
Ken Knight, avid hiker and contributor to BACKPACKING LIGHT, goes missing near Punchbowl section of the Appalachian Trail.
Smarter Than the Average Bear
Six-mile stretch of Appalachian Trail closed due to clever and hungry bear
Hiking England's Pennine Way
Explore Great Britain's answer to the Appalachian Trail.
AT Shelter Photo Gallery
A few of the shelters and lean-tos found along the length of the Appalachian Trail © Jeff Chow
Save Your Feet: How to Prevent Foot Problems
You think thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail is a long walk?
Hiking The Mahoosuc Range
The short but stunning Mahoosuc Range has major-league attractions, like the toughest mile on the Appalachian Trail and conditions that discourage the faint of heart.
Bill Foot 1946-2000
The Appalachian Trail community lost a prominent supporter, volunteer, hiker, and maintainer.
Maine's Bigelow Preserve
Follow the Appalachian Trail to new heights in the rugged New England high country.
Virginia's Three Ridges
Hike this gorgeous, mountainous section of Virginia's Appalachian Trail.
Two Epic Thru-Hiking Memoirs Just Dropped. Here’s What You Should Read.
New books by Heather Anderson and Derick Lugo take readers across America's long trails, up to the Continental Divide's highest ridgelines, and deep into backpacking's heart.
Skip the Pass: These 4 National Parks Are Free to Visit
Say goodbye to high gate costs at these four parks, none of which charge an entrance fee.
How Fit Do You Actually Have to Be to Start a Thru-Hike?
You don't need to be in peak form to start a long trail—but there are some caveats.
19 Outdoor Adventures for Every Timeline—From One Minute to a Lifetime
Got a free afternoon? Or maybe a sabbatical on the horizon? These adventures fit any timeframe.
The 5 Most Incredible Thru-Hiking Stories of 2025
Stories of adventure, danger, and change from America's most vaunted long trails.
The Top 10 Hiking Travel Stories Backpacker Told in 2025
These were the most-read trips articles we published in 2025, from an essay on backcountry loneliness to a guide to our editor's recent hike.
The Best Long Reads Backpacker Published in 2025
Discover the stories our readers loved most this year.
What Were the Hiking Highlights of 2025? Backpacker’s Editors Discuss.
From 10,000-mile hikes to the battle over public lands, here are the highlights we'll be thinking about long after the year turns over.
For the First Time Ever, Three Hikers Will Log 10,000 Miles in a Single Year
In 2025, three hikers will complete the rare Border-to-Border Calendar-Year Triple Crown. And they aren't stopping there.
The 10 Best Hiking Skills We Learned in 2025
Check out Adam Roy's author page.
This is the Most Common Overuse Injury That Derails Thru-Hikes—And How to Deal With It
Plantar fasciitis is extremely common, and yet experts don’t always agree on how to treat it. Here’s how to sort fact from fiction.
She Hiked 8,405 Miles in Less Than a Year. Here’s How She Pulled Off the Impossible.
Madison "Peg Leg" Blagden battled injury and weather to become the first woman to complete a border-to-border Calendar Year Triple Crown.
Why So Many Thru-Hikes End in a Breakup (and How to Avoid the Same Fate)
A couples counselor explains why the trail can strain relationships—and how to keep it from happening to you.
This Hiker Has Trekked Between Canada and Mexico Not Once, Not Twice, But Three Times Since January
After walking for 293 days, Troy “Punisher” Croxdale touched the southern border of the Continental Divide Trail—his third long trail since the year began.
Nearly a Century Ago, American Chestnut Trees Died Off. Now, Hikers Can Walk Among Them Again.
Efforts to restore the American chestnut comprise "one of the most epic conservation stories ever told.”
Should You Quit Your Job for a Thru-Hike? Here’s How to Decide, According to Experts.
Are you in a temporary rut—or do you have a case of catastrophic burnout that only a long walk in the woods can cure? Two career coaches weigh in.
Hiking On Your Next Vacation? Here’s How to Pack For a Successful Trip.
What gear's worth the weight, what gear's TSA-approved for flights, and more.
Why You Always Get Constipated on Backpacking Trips (and How to Fix It)
Getting stopped up during a backpacking trip is a common—and uncomfortable—experience.
Thru-Hiking Probably Won’t Help You Lose Weight—and That’s a Good Thing
Even the longest hikes are too short to spend worrying about how you look.
With the “Minor League” Triple Crowns, Anyone Can Be a Thru-Hiker
No time to hike the Triple Crown? These trail trios are epic adventures for every type of backpacker.
5 Gourmet Backpacking Recipes You Can Make With Gas Station Ingredients
Why waste time pre-packaging trail food when you can purchase a feast along the way?
‘Can You Bring Trekking Poles on a Plane?’ and Answers to Other Common Air Travel Questions
Here's everything backpackers need to know about air travel with hiking gear.
Go Hiking by Train in These 4 Gorgeous Rail-Accessible Mountain Towns
No TSA fuss, no parking lot madness. Take the rail to these four hiking towns flush with beautiful trails.
What Happens When You Push Ultralight Backpacking Too Far?
Cutting your pack weight can make for a more fun experience on the trail—to a point. From backpacking with no backpack to trying the Triple Crown without a sleeping bag or tent, we share four stories of hikers who pushed ultralight to uncomfortable—and occasionally dangerous—places.
Midwesterners, Rejoice: These Are The 6 Best Multiday Backpacking Trips In The Heartland
These multiday trails offer scenic nature in a convenient package.
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The Beer Drinker’s Guide to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Work up a thirst—and then toast the outdoors—on the Smokies’ top hikes, rides, and more
The Best Hikes in Vermont for Big Views and Quiet Moments
There are so many amazing hikes to choose from in the Green Mountain State. Here are our favorites—ranging from quick dayhikes to multi-week backpacking trips.
International Thru-Hikers Are Being Denied Entry to the U.S.: Here’s What Backpackers Should Know
Reports of thru-hikers facing rejection and even detention at the U.S. border have left some backpackers questioning whether to cancel their long-planned trips.
A Hiking Retreat Will Help You Reinvent Yourself—If You Can Afford It
A year ago, I flew to British Columbia for a week in the woods punctuated by scenic hikes, gourmet food, and treatments ranging from massages to sound baths. It fundamentally improved my life, but it's a shame we’ve let that kind of wellness become a luxury.
Let’s Bring Back the Hiking Boot
We get it: Trail runners are cool. But some rough terrain calls for a little more ankle support.
Shelter Etiquette Every Backpacker Should Know
Sharing a cramped sleeping space with a dozen stinky hikers can be a challenge. Here's how to make it more pleasant for everyone.
Want to Thru-Hike in Retirement? 3 Senior Trekkers Share Their Wisdom.
These three hikers achieved their long-trail dreams later in life. Here's how you can, too.
My Dad Made Me a Hiker—and His Generation Changed Hiking Forever
My dad carried me (kicking and screaming, mostly) up Mt. Washington at age four. It was just the intro I needed for a lifetime of high adventure.
Deal of the Week: Grab This 10-Ounce Ultralight Shelter for Less Than $100
The MSR Thru-Hiker Mesh House 1 is one of the lightest solutions for keeping out bugs, no-see-ums, and water seepage from the ground.
California’s “Golden Mountain” Features Forests, Coastal Bluffs—and Some of the Best Wildflowers You’ll Ever See
Montaña de Oro is one of California’s biggest state parks, but it receives a fraction of Yosemite National Park’s visitation.
The Best Summits Backpacker’s Editors Have Ever Hiked
Every hiker has a summit that they can't stop thinking about. In honor of National Trails Day, the Backpacker editors are sharing ours.
Meet the Educator Bringing Backpacking to Rural Virginia Students
Lisa Benish found her calling introducing kids in Virginia’s rural coal country to the joys of backpacking and nature.
7 Great Reasons to Quit Your Hike
When should you prioritize your safety over your desire to finish your hike? Always. Six hikers explain how they knew it was time to call it.
Explore Narnia or Walk With a Saint on These 5 Northern Ireland Treks
Hike alongside basalt cliffs, through lush meadows, and between tiny towns in this lesser-traveled region of Ireland.
The 13 Best Thru-Hiking Stories of All Time
From bold new long trails to incredible physical feats to the people who make our hikes possible, these are some of the best stories ever to come out of the world's longest trails.
Hear the Speech That Launched a Generation of Thru-Hikers
For over 17 years, trail angels Barney and Sandy Mann gave PCT thru-hikers an unofficial orientation before they set off from the southern terminus. This talk undoubtedly changed trail culture forever—and saved lives.
Cut Pounds Off Your Pack Weight With These 3 Easy Steps
Don't let the gram-counting around ultralight gear intimidate you. Slimming down your pack's weight is easier than many beginners think.