Trips

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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

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.

This popular 5.9-mile stretch crosses rolling farmlands before climbing Catawba Mountain at Beckner Gap. Bring your camera: Major viewpoints showcase magnificent views of valley.

Travel under The Guillotine--a large boulder hanging precariously over the trail--and test your mettle with a ridge climb to Highcock Knob on this 13.7-miler. Watch for seasonal blueberries and box turtles along the trail.

You'll gain 3,000 feet by the end of this 12.9-miler that runs from Jennings Creek to the top of Apple Orchard Mountain.

This 6.1-miler runs from Bearwallow Gap, traces the horseshoe-shaped ridge of Cove Mountain, and descends to a great swimming hole in Jennings Creek.

Locals say Bigfoot lives in the wooded foothills on this 14.7-mile segment. Take photos, if you see the hairy beast (evidence is weak), and camp out at Eagles Nest Shelter.

There's no shortage of scenic overlooks on this 14.8-mile section that crisscrosses the Blue Ridge Parkway four times.

Save this 11-miler for leaf-peeper season when the hills are brushed in reds and browns. Don’t miss the incredible overlook at milepoint 1.9.

Wind through mid-Atlantic woodlands and farmland to Fullhardt Knob on this 5.3-mile dayhike. Along the way, pass a collier’s pit where charcoal was made for nearby iron furnaces during the 19th century.

Highlights of this 19.8-miler include an overhanging rock ledge at McAfee Knob, spectacular views along Tinker Cliffs, and a ridgewalk above Carvin Cove Reservoir.

Watch hawks and eagles soar thermals above The Pinnacle, Pulpit Rocks, and Hawk Mountain on this 26.5-mile backpacking trip, arguably the most scenic section of the AT in Pennsylvania.

Swimming is not a common word on the AT, but a highlight on this 16.5-mile hike at Griffith Lake. There is a fun rock scramble on Baker Peak too.

This 16.4-mile leg leads to Stratton Mountain--legend says this same mountain is where Denton MacKaye conceived the idea of the Appalachian Trail.

The hotspot on this 21.1-miler is Glastenbury Mountain, a 3,748-foot summit that Native Americans believe is cursed and a place where several people went missing in the mid-1900s.

On this 27.7-mile course into Maine, you'll hike, climb--even scramble hand-over-foot--over glacial leftovers and up the rocky flanks of Goose Eye Mountain in the Mahoosuc Range.

Best done in three days, this 19.6-mile leg traces ridgelines, drops into deep-cut notches, and offers breathtaking views of nearby mountains.

The lofty goal on this 23.5-miler--more than half of which runs above treeline--is Mount Washington, the most notorious and highest peak in New Hampshire. On bluebird days, views stretch for 100-plus miles. Tip: Check the forecast before you go; weather blows in fast.

The windy skyways above this 15.4-mile section attract gliders (migrating birds, paragliders, and some hang gliders). The rocky trail attracts birdwatchers and photographers to several outcrops overlooking tawny farmlands and the Delaware River.

This 19.4-miler is a test in balance and nerve as you pick routes through mind-numbing boulder fields. The payoffs are scenic ridges with 180-degree views and toned calf muscles.

See why thru-hikers nickname this area Rocksylvania. This 13.5-mile leg runs along a knife-edge ridge, then scrambles around sedan-sized boulders, and ends at a refreshing swimming hole in the Lehigh River.

Go from muddy pastures to riverside views to rocky summits on this 26-mile segment.