Finished in 1827, this monument was actually completed decades earlier than the famous one in D.C., which was built in 1855. Owl's Head [17], Counties crossed: Warren County → Sussex County → Passaic County. The southern end is at Springer Mountain, Georgia, and it follows the ridgeline of the Appalachian Mountains, crossing many of its highest peaks and running almost continuously through wilderness before reaching the northern end at Mount Katahdin, Maine. Cannon Mountain Highest elevation: 1,433 feet The older log structure was built by the CCC in 1940. Be sure to look out for ripe pawpaw fruit alongside the towpath if you’re hiking in September or early October. These areas in south central Pennsylvania are the northernmost portions of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are geologically distinct from the Ridge and Valley section further north. There is no fee to use this facility. [10], The annual "Trail Days" festival held in Damascus has become the largest single gathering of Appalachian Trail hikers anywhere. Eastern White Mountains, Ranges in Vermont Mount Hancock, South Peak This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. This section heads east-northeast from the town of Monson and ends outside Baxter State Park just south of Abol Bridge. NE Hundred highest in Winter High Peaks The Susquehanna River is generally considered the dividing line between the northern and southern sections of the Pennsylvania AT. Seriously. Mount Monroe Trail Length: 51.6 miles The AT and approach trail are managed and maintained by the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club. The trail enters New Jersey from the south on a pedestrian walkway along the Interstate 80 Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge over the Delaware River, ascends from the Delaware Water Gap to the top of Kittatinny Ridge in Worthington State Forest, passes Sunfish Pond, continues north through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Stokes State Forest, and eventually reaches High Point State Park, highest peak in New Jersey (a side trail is required to reach the actual peak). Stroh, Bess Zarafonitis (September/October 1998), This page was last edited on 13 July 2020, at 16:10. Metz, Casey (May/June 2007), "Appalachian Trail Tidbit". "The Goodloe E. Byron Memorial Pedestrian Walkway (footbridge) across the Potomac River at Harpers Ferry is open! [32] Saddleback responded that further negotiations were unnecessary and the NPS began appraising if the area was feasible for development.[32]. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail spans fourteen U.S. states during its roughly 2,200 miles (3,500 km)-long journey: Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.The southern end is at Springer Mountain, Georgia, and it follows the ridgeline of the Appalachian … Other VT mountain ranges. New Hampshire Difficulty Rating: 2-3, West Virginia The bushes are especially numerous along the trail's central sections, through the Shenandoah National Park, and its northern sections. Mount Kinsman, North Peak [26], Counties crossed: Grafton County → Carroll County → Coos County. The trail passes through the town of Harpers Ferry, headquarters of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (or ATC) believes the 281.4 miles (452.9 km) of the trail in Maine are particularly difficult. New England 4,000 footers Counties crossed: Washington County → Frederick County. Harpers Ferry is considered the "psychological midpoint" of the AT, although the actual midpoint is just west of Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Pennsylvania. Sandwich Range Difficulty Rating: 2-5, New Jersey Counties crossed: Washington County → Smyth County → Grayson County → Wythe County → Bland County → Tazewell County → Giles County Briefly joins the West Virginia border here → Craig County → Montgomery County → Roanoke County → Botetourt County → Bedford County → Rockbridge County → Amherst County → Nelson County → Augusta County → Albemarle County → Rockingham County → Greene County → Page County → Rappahannock County→ Warren County → Fauquier County → Clarke County → (rejoins the West Virginia Border here) Loudoun County, Virginia has the most mileage of the trail of any state with 550.3 miles (885.6 km) of the trail (one-fourth of the entire trail), including more than 20 miles (32 km) along the West Virginia border. [19], Counties crossed: Orange County → Rockland County → Westchester County → Putnam County → Dutchess County. After a robust mile-long climb up from the canal towpath, you’ll come to a short spur trail to Weverton Cliffs. At 4,458 feet (1,359 m), Blood Mountain is the highest point on the trail in Georgia. I felt like it would be good training and a good gear shakedown, plus it would be one whole state and about 41 miles under my belt.…, Howdy folks I've mostly made the switch to video from writing because I'm lazy and it's easier. [21] That portion of the trail is composed of 800 steps made of 1,000-pound (450 kg) slabs of granite followed by over a mile of walkway supported by stone crib walls with boulders called gargoyles lining the path. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail spans fourteen U.S. states during its roughly 2,200 miles (3,500 km)-long journey: Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. It’s a great place to use the bathroom, fill your water and wash up if you’re not going into Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. Difficulty Rating: 5-6, North Carolina Lowest elevation: 2,510 feet Here, the trail crosses Mount Chapman and Mount Guyot, and passes one of its most remote shelters at Tricorner Knob before gradually descending. From a broad rock shelf (ideal lunch/snack/nap spot, by the way) you’ll get a stunning view of the river valley below. In the northern half of the state, the AT climbs back up into the mountains and passes through St. Anthony's Wilderness, which is the second largest roadless area in Pennsylvania and home to several coal mining ghost towns, such as Yellow Springs and Rausch Gap. A tradition of thru-hikers Mooning the Cog has developed on Mount Washington. There is no camping allowed in the 18-mile (29 km) stretch between Alec Kennedy and Darlington shelters. Also on site is the ruin of an unused mausoleum built for Townsend. miles of trail through the entire state, there’s an incredible amount of AT mythos packed into this tiny stretch of trail. The approach trail is often littered with items cast aside by overburdened hikers unprepared for the difficulties of the initial hike. Difficulty Rating: 5-6, Massachusetts Green Mountains Baxter State Park Difficulty Rating: 2-5, Pennsylvania Mount Wildcat, D Peak The trail climbs ridges above the town of Kent, and then works its way past the Housatonic River to Falls Village, where it regains the heights. Mount Liberty It’s also a chance for NOBOs to see some new faces as flip-floppers get their start from Harpers Ferry. Immediately afterward it crosses the Hudson River on the Bear Mountain Bridge, then climbs into Hudson Highlands State Park where it follows a ridge over several low-elevation peaks. It then ascends Mount Moosilauke and enters the high peaks region of the White Mountains. Mount Garfield Highest elevation: 1,685 feet Lowest elevation: 400 feet 48x12 "The Grid" Counties crossed: Blount County → Sevier County → Cocke County → Greene County → Unicoi County → Carter County (where it leaves the North Carolina border) → Johnson County → Sullivan County. Pliny Range Sugarloaf Mountain, NH 4,000 footers miles of trail through the entire state, there's an incredible amount of AT mythos packed into this tiny stretch of…, Pennsylvania—somewhat affectionately known as "Rocksylvania" amongst AT hikers—represents 229 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Highest elevation: 4,461 feet Mount Bond Most of the trail runs along the ridge line of South Mountain in South Mountain State Park[14] Hikers are required to stay at designated shelters and campsites, no camping off-trail. Northeast 111 For northbound thru-hikers, it is the beginning of the main challenges that go beyond enduring distance and time: in New Hampshire and Maine, rough or steep ground are more frequent, and alpine conditions are found near summits and along ridges. Carter, Middle Highest elevation: 2,316 feet Massachusetts has 90.2 miles (145.2 km) of trail. Kinsman Range A variation of this challenge, known as the Four State Challenge, involves hiking between the ridge line straddling Virginia and West Virginia all the way to or from Pennsylvania in 24 hours, thus hiking in four states in one day. Difficulty Ratings: On a scale of 1-10, 1 being the easiest/flattest hike, and 10 having the most difficult/roughest terrain. It is rather rugged terrain nonetheless, with many short though nearly-vertical ledges and small cliffs. Mount Flume Mount Waumbek Mount Osceola New Hampshire has 160.9 miles (258.9 km) of the trail. Willey Range, Ranges in Maine In 1984, the ad hoc citizen's group Citizens Against the New Trail (CANT) and four local townships organized to oppose suggested changes by the National Park Service (NPS) to the 16-mile (26 km) route in the Great Cumberland Valley between Carlisle and Harrisburg, the longest route that follows a paved highway. It comes close to the summits of 8 other of the 48 four-thousand footers: Liberty, Galehead, Zealand, Eisenhower, Monroe, Jefferson, Adams, and Moriah. Highest elevation: 6,288 feet The cliffs are popular with day hikers, and it’s easy to understand why. There’s a reason Maryland is one of the most popular states among Appalachian Trail section hikers. Mount Moosilauke Pemigewasset Wilderness It then turns in a southeastern direction along the New York-New Jersey border for about 30 miles (48 km), passing over long sections of boardwalk bridges over marshy land, then entering Wawayanda State Park and then the Abram S. Hewitt State Forest just before entering New York near Greenwood Lake.