The Appalachian Trail is a hiker’s paradise, stretching more than 2,000 miles across 14 states. It’s a journey that offers a unique blend of natural beauty, physical challenge, and a sense of history.
Believe it or not, the Appalachian Trail isn’t a fixed length. Changes in the trail’s layout, reroutes for environmental reasons, and other modifications mean that the trail’s official length changes almost every year.
The Appalachian Trail is a haven for wildlife. As you hike, you might encounter animals ranging from black bears and white-tailed deer to salamanders and over 200 species of birds.
Many people assume that the trail’s highest point would be in the rugged White Mountains of New Hampshire. However, it’s actually Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, standing at 6,643 feet.
While the Appalachian Trail offers some breathtaking views, that wasn’t its primary purpose. Benton MacKaye, the trail’s founder, envisioned it as a place for people to escape from industrial society and reconnect with nature.
Age is just a number on the Appalachian Trail. The oldest person to thru-hike the trail in one season was Lee Barry, who completed his journey at the age of 82.