The Appalachian Trail isn't your average weekend stroll. Stretching 2,198.4 miles through 14 states, it's a beast that changes yearly as trail crews reshape its path. The trail is for foot traffic only starting in Georgia through the end in Maine, through wilderness most people only see in nature documentaries. It's not for the faint-hearted, clearly. Many backpackers never actually finish the damn thing.
The question isn't how long the trail is. It's how long you'll last on it.
Stretching around 2,200 miles through America's eastern wilderness, the Appalachian Trail stands as a monument to both natural beauty and human determination. The exact length? It changes. Literally every year. In 2023, it measured 2,198.4 miles. Now? Who knows. Trail modifications happen constantly—a whopping 99% has been relocated or rebuilt due to its 1937 inception.
The AT crosses 14 states, from Georgia's Springer Mountain to Maine's Mount Katahdin. Virginia hogs most of it with 550 miles, while West Virginia barely participates with a measly 4-mile section. Talk about playing favorites.
The Appalachian Trail plays geographic favorites—Virginia gets a 550-mile feast while West Virginia makes do with just 4 miles of wilderness.
Hiking this beast means climbing the equivalent of scaling Mount Everest 16 times. Let that sink in. The highest point, Clingmans Dome in Tennessee, reaches 6,643 feet, while the lowest point at Bear Mountain hits just 124 feet above sea level. Weather's unpredictable. Wildlife encounters happen—sometimes charming, sometimes terrifying.
Reflecting on thru-hiking? Good luck. Generally about 25-30% who attempt it actually finish. Northbound hikers complete at a 28% rate, southbound slightly better at 31%.
Daily mileage starts pathetically—8-10 miles per day. Veterans eventually hit 12-20+ miles daily. Progress, people. The trail demands sacrifice. And money. A typical thru-hike costs easily a thousand a month. Successful hikers typically carry no more than 20% of bodyweight in gear to maintain efficiency.
Trail usage has exploded recently. There's been a 78% increase in 2,000-milers since 2000. Since popular films and YouTubers began making videos, everyone wants their YouTube and Instagram moment. Meanwhile, maintenance requires herculean efforts—volunteers logged 241,936 hours in 2014 alone. The trail is marked by approximately 165,000 white blazes that guide hikers along the entire route.
Strategizing helps. Some hikers use "flip-flop" approaches, breaking the journey into non-sequential segments. Smart, given the mental challenge equals the physical one.
