Appalachian Trail

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.

Switchback 1,000 feet to poster-worthy views of Lovers Leap Rock, an aptly-named perch made famous by a suicidal Cherokee maiden.

Enjoy panoramic Smokies views on blueberry- and rhododendron-lined trails on the way to French Broad River, where relaxing hot springs await.

This weeklong hike tours photogenic balds, rhododendron-choked valleys, and grassy hillsides with wild ponies in Grayson Highlands State Park.

Cruise past 230-year-old homestead foundations and old roads used by troops during the Revolutionary War on this 8.5-mile dayhike.

Top-of-the-world vistas, fields of wildflowers and sun-dappled hardwood forests are nothing compared to David Greer, an insane murderer who once lived on Bald Mountain from 1802 to 1834.

Drop to the lowest elevation point on the AT, cross the Hudson on what was once the world's longest suspension bridge, then claim views of a glacier-scoured valley on this 9.2-mile section hike.

The payoff on this 6.4-mile hike is the big views on Bear Mountain, stretching from the Hudson Highlands to New York City's skyline.

Postcard-worthy views are plentiful during this 11.2-mile stretch. Bring your camera and snap panoramas overlooking Canopus Lake, the Hudson River Valley, and the Fishkill Plains.

Navigate the infamous lemon squeezer, a pinched corridor tucked between mammoth-sized boulders, on this 11-mile route peppered young hardwoods and old iron mines in Harriman State Park.

This 11-miler traverses four mountains and passes the faded remains of settlements and iron mines. Along the way, you'll skirt the base of Fitzgerald Falls.

Connect New Jersey and New York on this rugged 8.6-mile route that traverses the glacier-cut spine of Bellvale Mountain.

This sweet 5.3-miler charges up Wawayanda Mountain, crosses a 19th century iron bridge, and cruises past Luther’s Rock, a boulder left by retreating glaciers.

Ten miles is all it takes to tour this medley of landscapes ranging from giant swamps in Vernon Valley to the glacier-scraped summit of Pochuck Mountain.

Cross farmlands and woods then climb 1,500 feet to Lick Rock. Bonus: Look closely for an old barbed wire fence that once separated North Carolina and Tennessee.

Soon after its start in Highpoint State Park, this 9.5-miler travels the New Jersey-New York border then crosses tens of small bridges through the Vernie Swamp. Add-on: Follow spur trail to New Jersey's highpoint.

Walk along Kittatinny Ridge to the crest of Sunrise Mountain to photograph panoramas of the New Jersey Highlands and the Poconos before dropping down to High Point State Park.

This 13.7-miler unfurls across the backbone of Kittatinny Ridge showcasing lake-dotted landscapes and views above Culvers Lake. Must see!: Take the sidetrip to Buttermilk Falls, New Jersey’s highest waterfall.

Start where the Delaware River pours through Kittatinny Ridge to explore this 13.3-mile trek of a wooded ridgeline that runs past a glacial pond and a 60-foot fire tower.

Go the whole 18.6 miles or shorten your hike by staying at one of the three shelters planted along this leg. Highlights: Civil War markers and panoramic views on Firescald Knob.

Highlights along this 6.7-mile section hike include: long-stretched views from Glade Mountain, colorful wildflowers, and Settlers Museum (fresh water, seasonal fruits and veggies available to hikers).

This 13.1-miler twists around several 3,400-foot peaks then dips into wooded valleys and traces an old narrow-gauge railroad route.

This 13.3-miler is loaded with interesting points: the massive Dover Oak, a trailside railroad station, and the Great Swamp--one of the largest wetlands in New York.

The marshlands and wooded swamps on this 6.9-mile leg are home to more than 77 species of birds.

Fields painted in wildflowers, steep climbs to sweet vistas, and rhododendron tunnels await ambitious day-hikers and weekend warriors on this 10.2-mile hike.

This segment packs a lot in 7.2 miles: rocky ledges, sweeping river views, and an old 1930s shelter.

Connect Roan Mountain, Little Rock Knob, and Iron Mountain on this rolling 13.2-mile leg through Pisgah National Forest.

Link dense maple forests to scenic ridgelines then finish with a steep descent to the Nolichucky River on this 9-mile leg. Bonus: Check out Uncle Johnny Hostel, a popular hangout for thru-hikers.

This 5.1-mile section hosts one of the oddest named shelters (Devils Racecourse), crosses the Mason-Dixon Line, and climbs to the highest point on the AT in Maryland.

This relatively flat 20.2-mile section runs through rhododendron tunnels, quiet woodlands, and past three AT shelters.

Grab a photogenic lunch spot at Laura Creek Falls, or sleep over at a nearby shelter on this 8.2-mile segment.

This 4.8-mile dayhike jams in 1,400 feet of climbing, and a mile-long spur trail to Chimney Rocks—a stunning overlook with easterly views of Green Ridge and Waynesboro Reservoir.

This 7.2-mile leg traces Indian trading routes to Mount Dunlap then continues through second-growth forests rich in song birds and whitetail deer.

This 23.3-mile stretch of the AT passes beneath waterfalls and young hardwoods in Cherokee National Forest. Don't miss the short hike to Jones Falls.

Cross over several grassy balds and look for wild ponies on this 13.5-mile leg with three AT shelters.

Take a Blue Ridge summit tour to the tops of Big Rocky Row, Little Rocky Row, Bluff Mountain, and Punchbowl Mountain on this 10.7-mile hike where views extend south to the James River.

Get lost in a mixed forest of evergreens and hardwoods on this fairly flat 20.3-mile hike with multiple camping spots and a steep final descent into Damascus.

Leave the highlands and enjoy young forests and farmland panoramas (cue the hay fields and barns) on this easy-going 8.1-mile stretch.

Go for one, two, or three nights on this 15.5-mile leg featuring a trio of shelters and long shady stretches under classic Pennsylvanian woodlands.

You'll travel past Harpers Creek Shelter and continue on a steady ascent over the summits of the Three Ridges in George Washington National Forest on this 10.2-mile trek.

Wander hills painted in wildflowers and crest several crags before charging down 3,000 feet to the Tye River on this 24-mile trek.

This 10.2-miler crosses a new suspension bridge over the Pedlar River and curves around the southern tip of Lynchburg Reservoir. Bonus: Cool off and snap photos at the waterfall next to Brown Mountain Creek.

Climb. Descend. Repeat. This 8.3-mile leg connects 4 unnamed highpoints along Rocky Ridge. No surprise: Lots of giant rocks on the trail too.

A popular dayhike, this 10.9-miler traces the banks of Holly Brook, skirts the edge of a scenic pond, and reveals panoramic views from the top of Pleasant Pond Mountain.

Weave through old-growth stands of white pine and spruce on this 19.3- mile hike that tours four ponds and ends with a wet crossing of the Kennebec River.

This 10.4-miler climbs weathered mountain ridges to several rocky overlooks then ends on the banks of the Susquehanna River, the longest river on the East Coast.

Summit climbs, mountain ponds, and panoramic views highlight this 15.5-mile hike in the Bigelow Range.

Put your lungs and quads to the test on this 7.5-mile summit climb that crests South Crocker and North Crocker mountains--two 4,000-foot peaks with five-star views.

This rugged 21.6-mile route links five summits and passes a plague honoring the final section of the Appalachian Trail.

Connect four picturesque ponds on this 12.2-mile leg that rolls across wooded hills to the Sandy River. Watch for moose too.

The first 12 miles of this ambitious dayhike are almost pancake-flat then the homestretch climbs 800 feet to Blue Mountain.

This 12-miler climbs out of Black Brook Notch and connects a string of summits with far-reaching views of distant peaks and countless lakes.

You’ll tour the tops of three summits overlooking Grafton Notch State Park and visit a scenic waterfall on this 9.5-mile dayhike.

A stiff climb—you’ll gain roughly 1,300 feet in a mile—and an even steeper descent make this 8.8-miler a challenging daytrip.

Quickly climb to the mostly wooded spine of Piney Mountain, go 5 miles, then descend the gap into Toland and climb again on this 10.4-mile section. Tip: Don’t miss the Half-Gallon Challenge at Pine Grove Furnace General Store.

You'll trace the northern banks of Lake Hebron--a popular fishing hole--and climb the wooded slopes of Buck Hill on this 6.1-mile dayhike.

Follow the West Branch Piscataquis River through lake-dotted landscapes and old growth forests on this 17.9-mile hike—perfect for a long weekend.

This 53.2-mile section is wild and remote, stringing together the 100-Mile Wilderness to Mount Katahdin, the highest point in Maine and the northern-most point on the Appalachian Trail.

This classic 54-mile section travels through Maine's infamous 100-Mile Wilderness where countless notches, summit bids, and old-growth conifers are just a few highlights.

Several reasons to explore this mostly forested 9.4-mile trip: Two shelters, countless springtime wildflowers, a lovely pond, and a summit bid on Mount Mist.

Climb more than 3,300 feet on this adventurous dayhike up Mount Moosilauke, a 4,802-foot bald with airy views of the White Mountains and New Hampshire.

Before you lose 2,500 feet in the final two miles on this 11.2-miler, enjoy the fern-draped ridges and sweeping valley views on Angels Rest.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Raise your heart rate while climbing to the postcard-worthy balds on Peters Mountain. This 19.6-mile ridgewalk traces the Virginia-West Virginia border.

This 15-miler starts out gently along Dismal Creek then cranks up 1,300 feet to Sugar Run Mountain. Take the side trip to Falls of Dismal—a multi-tiered cascade and local swimming hole.

This 4.6-mile dayhike leaves Lickskillet Hollow and follows Brushy Mountain's ridgetop before dropping down to cross Kimberling Creek on a suspension bridge.

Follow an old gravel road on this 5.7-mile dayhike from Rocky Gap to Kelly Knob where mountain skylines turn fiery pink at sunset.

Wind Rock. The first explorers nailed the name of this breezy point perched above a sea of wooded wilderness in two states.

Numerous campsites, two shelters, and a viewpoint dot this 12.7-mile section hike. Note: Native wintergreen grows along the trail.

Go from the watery flats of Sinking Creek to the knifelike ridges of Cove Mountain on this 26.5-mile leg. Other highlights: A 300-year-old Keffer Oak and the Medieval-named rock called Dragons Tooth.

Need a quick getaway? This 11-mile hike drops into Swatara Gap, then continues to wooded campsites and overlooks above two lakes.

Overnight at War Spur Shelter on this 7.7-mile ridgeline tour linking Potts Mountain and Lone Pine Peak then drop into Rocky Gap (one of many Rocky Gaps along the AT spine).

Weak-ankled hikers need not apply. This 15.8-miler descends a slow-going rock garden off Stony Mountain then runs a fairly wide trail through rhododendron forests.

Cut out a monster climb by hiking this 9.7-mile section south-to-north along Peters Mountain to two scenic outposts: Table Rock and Shikellimy Overlook.

Go from a lazy riverside to scenic outcrops to a wooded ridgeline on this 6.3-mile segment located in the state game lands of central Pennsylvania.