Appalachian Trail

Completing America's most popular long trail is a major time commitment.

Water weighs a lot, audiobooks weigh nothing, and more semi-philosophical tips to guide rookie trekkers to a strong finish

With over 30 years of thru-hiking and section-hiking long trails all over the country (but never the PCT), Andy Niekamp is definitely the voice of experience. Backpacker sat down with him to find out his tips, tricks, and favorite gear.

With over 30 years of thru-hiking and section-hiking long trails all over the country (but never the PCT), Andy Niekamp is definitely the voice of experience. Backpacker sat down with him to find out his tips, tricks, and favorite gear.

He averaged about 10 miles every day, but still had the energy to play freeze tag at night.

The Appalachian Trail is the adventure of a lifetime. Make it yours with our ultimate guide to the country's most famous footpath and the prep, gear, and knowledge you'll need to go the distance.

Hike some of the East Coast's wildest wilderness on the AT.

See the peaks, parks, and hotspots of America's most storied long trail in this interactive 3D map from BACKPACKER.

Visit Georgia's best section of the Appalachian Trail in winter for a crowd-free experience and Blue Ridge vistas frosted in white.

It takes most thru-hikers around five months to finish the Appalachian Trail. It's taken Casey Lyons sixteen years—and counting.

Six months on the AT means a whole lot of time for singalongs under the stars. But as Case Conover discovered, taking along an instrument on America's most famous walk isn't easy.

We’re throwing a 2,180-mile party from Georgia to Maine! Join us on August 20th for our record-setting attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail in 24 hours.

Ticking these three prestigious trails off your list is worth the time—but it'll take a lot of it.

A little creak in the joints didn’t stop them. Emotional maturity, discipline, and life experience helped these eight badass older hikers thru-hike as well as—if not better than—any younger trekker.

Dreaming of a truly long hike someday? Don't limit yourself to the famous options like the Appalachian Trail. Take this quick quiz to find out which trek is really right for you.

Long distance hiking is awesome, but becoming a thru-hiker can have some…side effects.

Start planning and training for next year’s long trail now.

Rowdy hikers and an ultrarunner's clash with park rangers have officials threatening to move the northern terminus of America's most famous trail.

Register for our 24-hour thru-hike AT in a Day on August 20, 2016 and be part of something huge.

Answers to your AT in a Day FAQs

Our contributor makes the tough decision to step off the Appalachian Trail.

Our contributor checks off the Georgia section of the Appalachian Trail—69.6 miles in.

Our contributor prepares to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail.

People expected less of me on the Appalachian Trail because I was a woman.

See colorful wildflowers and big views on the Appalachian Trail.

Summit nine peaks and graze on trailside blueberries in Maine.

Get the story behind the Appalachian Trail in Bear Mountain State Park, New York—and how to see it yourself.

Most of this easy 7-mile hike passes under a tree-shaded ridgeline that insulates dayhikers from the outside world.

Wander through white pine, Eastern hemlock, and mountain laurel to the summit of Mt. Minsi on this 4.2-mile out-and-back sprinkled with lovely mountain overlooks.

Tackle a section of America's first National Scenic Trail on this 15.8-mile out-and-back overnight near Lake Tiorati in Harriman State Park.

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.

Sample a classic stretch of the Appalachian Trail on this 11.5-mile route around a 1,000-foot gorge, with overlooks and eye-candy vistas of the Smokies.

Get away for a night or three on this 12.8-mile lasso loop that delivers you to the high reaches of the Great Smoky Mountains.

In less than 7.5 miles, you’ll visit quiet woods and a secret Underground Railroad spot, and cross the midpoint of the Appalachian Trail.

Hop off the train and onto a quiet, well-marked trail. Hike as far as 12.2 miles; see deer and turkey, and, if you choose, camp in a classic AT shelter.

Big climb. Big crowds. Bigger reward. This classic 9.8-mile route climbs the tallest peak in Maine, a hiking high point in every sense.

Go 5 or 10 miles on this dayhike, which features skyline views of migrating hawks, the Shenandoah River Valley, and nearby towns.

Hit this 15-mile out-and-back on the Appalachian Trail via train and bus for sprawling views and Massachusetts' high point.

This 10-mile out-and-back climbs a summit with far-reaching views and ends at a rustic Appalachian Trail shelter.

Hop a train for a weekend on Blue Ridge trails near the headquarters of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

To enjoy the stretched-out ridgeline views on this 10-mile out-and-back, you'll first have to navigate an interesting hand-over-foot scramble.

Go 6.9 miles on the Blue Ridge, mostly tracing the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, to one of the largest balds in the Southern Appalachians.

This succinct 3.8-mile dayhike winds across Brushy Mountain’s ridgetop, traverses a small saddle, then crests Locust Mountain before a final descent.

This 11.8-miler traces the Appalachian Trail along an idyllic ridgeline to New Jersey's highpoint, 60 miles from Manhattan.

Gaze down the barrel of a waterfall and visit a secluded pond on this 10.2-mile section hike of the Appalachian Trail.

Save this 13.6-miler for a weekday in the spring when crowds are thin and haze-free views stretch for miles (patches of flowers and wildlife, too).

Connect the tops of two Berkshire peaks and catch views into three states on this 4.4-mile out-and-back in Mount Everett State Reservation.

Perfect for a weeklong jaunt, this 38-mile section climbs mountains, winds through deep gaps and passes a short side hike to Standing Indian Mountain, where Indian lore says a bolt of lighting struck a lone Cherokee sentinel and turned him to stone.

Trace the high brow of the Appalachians on this 12.3-mile segment past several campsites and overlooks--including Annapolis Rocks, a popular crag for climbers.

This 14.6-mile leg promises long views on Blue Mountain and ends at Unicoi Gap where hikers can find an original 1934 metal AT trail marker.

Start by walking through Mountain Crossings at Walasi-Yi--the only indoor section of the AT that runs through a stone building built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934--and then climb up into Raven Cliffs Wilderness.

The hotspot on this 9.8-mile section is Blood Mountain, a 4,450-foot peak where historic battles between the Creek and Cherokee Indians stained the ground red.

Civil War battlefields, the original Washington Monument, and a rolling ridgeline await dayhikers and overnighters on this lovely historical section of the AT.

Three shelters, rolling hills and beautiful vistas reward hikers as they connect Springer Mountain to Woody Gap where a recently renovated shelter sits under a leafy canopy.

This 10.4-miler passes Jefferson Rock, climbs Weverton Cliff for jaw-dropping views, then continues on temperate terrain to Gathland State Park.

It's not the officially the AT but this 8.8-mile hike climbs past Amicalola Falls to Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail.

Exposed ledges, a glacial cleft, summit climbs, and a talus-strewn ravine highlight this 12.5-miler in the Berkshires and Taconic Mountains.

A moderate ascent of Calebs Peak and a steep descent off St. Johns Ledges ends with a gentle cruise along the Housatonic River banks on this 10.7-mile hike.

This scenic 11.2-miler crisscrosses the New York-Connecticut border three times and rewards hikers with numerous views of the Housatonic Valley.

Build your quads on this remote section of the Appalachian Trail, which features seven balds over 5,000 feet, and amazing views of the Smokies from Jump off Point.

Watch for black bears along this 7.1-mile leg that features woodlands and a worthy side trip to the glacial leftovers of Cheshire Cobbles.

Go from wooded ravines to marshy bogs to a blueberry-speckled trail on this mellow 10.5-mile segment.

Over the course of this 9.6-miler, you’ll crest three Berkshire peaks, cruise the banks of Finerty Pond, and visit the largest state forest in Massachusetts.

This 6.2-miler offers a quick overnight getaway. Connect scenic outcrops with views to nearby mountains and camp at Silver Bald Shelter.

Tour hemlock- and pine-covered landscapes in the Berkshires to a glacial lake nestled between wooded hills on this 8.4-miler.

This 11-miler follows a network of bog bridges, passes a glacial pond, and showcases postcard views from The Ledges.

This 30.3-miler in the Great Smokies leads to picturesque panoramas including Charles Bunion, a popular 5,736-foot bald.

Earmark a long weekend for this 20.9-miler that connects Massachusetts to Vermont. Highlights include: sweet lookout views and a walk on The Long Trail--the country's first long--distance trail.

Multiple peaks, steep climbs, and open meadows highlight this 40.6-mile trip in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Meander through lush hardwood forests with moderate elevation change and check out Cable Gap Shelter--a cozy, three-sided log shelter.

Connect farm fields, hardwood forests and the rocky crown of Mount Greylock--Massachusetts' highest summit--on this 10.9-mile dayhike.

Start at the Nantahala Outdoor Center and hit the trail for a beautiful, yet rugged 12.7-mile walk under hardwoods and through Nantahala Gorge. Not up for a long day hike? Stop at Sassafras Gap Shelter and swap stories with thru-hikers.

Rocky and rugged, this 15.9-mile trek travels through two states, crests the tallest peak in Connecticut, and links four summits in Massachusetts.

Some of the best views of Connecticut can be seen from Rand's View—a quiet meadow dotting this 9-mile leg that showcases unrivaled views of wooded Berkshire Hills.

Ready your camera. This 7.3-miler serves up five-star views of countless peaks: Bear Mountain, Mount Everett, Kaaterskill High Peak and the Catskills, to name a few.

Don't let the mileage fool you. This 4.9-miler packs in two summits, crosses a rushing brook, and provides idyllic views of the Housatonic Valley.

Tackle a rigorous 1,000-foot climb, traverse fields, and cross an impressive gorge on this 15.8-mile section.

This 18.7-mile weekend trip starts with a 2,700-foot climb up Snowbird Mountain then descends and climbs again to Max Patch, an old homestead and logging camp.

Cruise 8.1 miles into wooded creek valleys and up Rich Mountain where an old fire tower is accessible by a short spur trail.