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| Trail History and Description |
The southern Appalachian Mountains are ancient mountains. Once as tall and rugged as the Alps, these ancient mountains have been changed by the hand of geologic time. Today they are cloaked in a dense mantel of diverse vegetation; oak, hickory, and hemlock; rhododendron, laurel, wildflowers and ferns. These mountains are home to the bear, turkey, and salamander.
The Appalachian Trail (A.T.) is more than 2,175-mile long footpath stretching through 14 eastern states from Maine to Georgia. Conceived in 1921 and first completed in 1937, it traverses the wild, scenic, wooded, pastoral, and culturally significant lands of the Appalachian Mountains.
The A.T. Hiking Trail is enjoyed by an estimated 4 million people each year. It is within a day's drive of 2/3rds of the U.S. population. People of all ages and abilities enjoy short walks, day hikes, and long-distance backpacking journeys. It offers a variety of opportunities for viewing spectacular scenery, for exploring, for adventure, for exercise, for nature study, and for renewal. |
| Operating Hours & Seasons |
| In general, the A.T. is open continuouly year-round. The northern terminus at Katahdin is within Baxter State Park, which may be closed in winter months, depending on weather conditions. Particular sections of the Trail, and less-developed roads accessing the Trail, may be closed temporarily for a number of reasons. Detailed information is available from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. |
| Fees & Reservations |
| You do not need a permit to walk the A.T., but overnight camping permits are required in some areas. There are no fees required to hike the A.T., and generally, no reservations are required or accepted at trail shelters or overnight sites. However, there are fees for vehicle parking in some areas and there are fees at some overnight sites. Specific information is available from ATC. |
| Directions to Trail |
Getting to the A.T. by Car
More than 500 public roads cross the Appalachian Trail, and there are trailhead parking areas at or near many of these crossings. The map of the A.T. provides information on the location of the Trail. More detailed information, including maps and trail guidebooks, is available from ATC at (304) 535-6331 or www.appalachiantrail.org |
| Interesting Appalachian Trail Facts |
| The total length of the Appalachian Trail is more than 2,175 miles. The Trail was designed, constructed, and marked in the 1920's and 1930's by volunteer hiking clubs brought together by the volunteer-based, nonprofit Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC). |
| Approximately three to four million visitors hike a section of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail each year. |
| Threats from commercial development and concern for recreational opportunities prompted Congress to pass the National Trails System Act in 1968. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail was the first trail to fall under this new act. |
| The Appalachian Trail evolved from the 1921 proposals of Massachusetts regional planner Benton MacKaye to preserve the Appalachian crests as a wilderness belt - a retreat from urban life. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy was formed in 1925 and focused on the hiking aspect of MacKaye's vision. |
| More than 6,000 individual volunteers contribute more than 195,000 hours each year towards the protection, maintenance, and promotion of the Appalachian Trail. |
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Check These Out:
 GA Appalachian Trail Map Trail Safety Tips
GA National Parks
NPS Augusta Sites
NPS Coastal Sites |
