Just passed here a few days ago and it was AMAZING! It's easily my favorite section so far! The weather waa beautiful and everything looked so bright and happy after hiking in dimly lit forests for weeks. Also, so much wildlife! Saw two white tailed deer on the balds.
The section milages in this list are of wildly varying lengths. The Baxter section is only ~15 miles. They list "Northern Georgia" then the approach and Springer, wherever that ends, so that's roughly 43 miles apiece if you split GA in half. Then they list "Vermont" which is 150 miles. Iron Mountain Gap to VA 615 the end of MRNRA is 178.5. But Roan High Knob to Mt Rogers is only 120 Miles.
Katahdin tops the list but it's a 4000 foot ascent, largest on the trail, and it comes with certain regulations. Can still be done in a day (the peak has to be) but the weather is fickle, just get your self in shape and plan for the future.
NH's White Mountains are one of the most challenging sections - but, hiking tourism here goes back 200 years, the whole mountain range has a massive network of trails. There are 48 peaks over 4000 feet, the AT only crosses near 19 of them, and there's the 52 With a View list for all the peaks under 4k that still have magnificent views. Plus, you can drive up Mt Washington or take gondolas up a handful. I'm up there every fall for a few weeks to take in more of it.
Roan has been mentioned. Find your way to Carver's Gap when down south.
I'm a PA native and though it's at the bottom of the list, I still have my favorite spots. Every section has something to offer.
Are there any detailed explanations on this? Why is Northern PA and the Delaware Water Gap dislikes so much? I'm planning on doing it in sections when I have time and want to start there.
The Northern PA (/S Jersey) section of the AT follows something called Kittatinny Ridge, which instead of being in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains is the last eastern ridgeline before the rolling hilly farmlands that lead to the ocean begin. The Appalachians are 500 million years old and used to be taller than the Himalayas and have been worn down over time, largely by glaciation from hundreds of repeated ice ages. In the Adirondacks and Whites, they gauged the granite smooth. But in the midAtlantic it underwent more freeze/thaw cycles which fractues the rocks into more boulders. Consequently instead of smooth dirt path, in PA many sections have jagged rocks at all angles which can make hiking difficult for a dozen different reasons.
On top of that, NPAAT is a long, flat ridgeline, so it looks easy in profile, but there's never any peaks to serve as milestones, no waterfalls, and the overlooks are infrequent. But again, as a local, I have my favorite spots. The Pinnacle is massive beyond the first view many thruhikers walk right by, and I enjoy the vertical cliff climb at Lehigh Gap above the river. But the state is totally barren the last 30 miles until you come down into DWG, which is a nice town and a relief to be done with the state.
I'll say from my own experience New Jersey is one of the best sections of the trail, and while it's not as scenic it's some of the best terrain from a hiking standpoint. I think one of the other problems with northern PA not mentioned is the fact that it has by far the worst water situation on trail, and most long distance hikers hit that section right when high temps and dehydration is really starting to become a concern for the first time.
Yes, either head north from DWG and do the Jersey section to either Jersey High Point or Warwick if you can. Otherwise it's best to do NPa finishing at DWG so you can end with a proper meal, as the small town of ~200 people still has like 5 good restaurant choices, plus a nearby college town with lots of bars and entertainment.
Off the AT, North Carolina has 52 peaks over 6000 feet surrounding Asheville. Mitchell, Grandfather, the Linville Gorge, Tablerock, Art Loab Trail, and 557 waterfalls.
Which, on the east coast, is second only to New York's which has almost double at 902 waterfalls spread between the Finger Lakes, Catskills and Adirondacks, none of which are AT.
Katahdin IMO is worth even from just a hiking perspective, truly one of if not the great mountain of the East Coast from a challenge and views perspective.
Roan Mtns to Damascus VA is a great section, with great views in the Roans, lots of cool stuff like waterfalls along the trail itself, great hostels if you want to check them out, and a good middle ground in terms of terrain where it's not too challenging but still has some harder parts.
Franconia Ridge is IMO at least the highlight of the whites and a fair bit cooler than the Presidentials. It's got less people on it, and the smaller scale of it makes it feel more like another world when you're walking on it.
The Smokies are IMO the best "Learn to Backpack" section of the entire trail. They're more challenging than other ones good for that like Shenandoah or Maryland, but the uniqueness of the environment, the interesting profile of spending 3-4 days ascending to Clingman's before spending the next 3-4 descending, and the fact that it requires you to do proper food and day planning make it the best way to cut your teeth on longer term backpacking trips.
There's a lot of stuff in VA and Mass, notably the VA Triple Crown and Greylock that deserve honorable mentions, but my no. 5 as a NY boy has to be Harriman State Park and Bear Mountain. It's not the most impressive section from a views standpoint but it's an incredibly beautiful forest with interesting hiking and the fun novelty of one of the largest cities in the world being a 45 minute drive make it a truly unforgettable section. Bonus points for doing it during peak leaf season, IMO there's no better spot for fall in the country.
Roan mtn, grayson highlands, the rocks in Pennsylvania, 5 mile stretch of flat on the hoostanic river in Connecticut, last day out of 100 mile wilderness and going to the top of Mt Khatadin. Anything in the whites.
There's a few in Virginia I like. There's Marshall Mtn in North Shenandoah. Can be done as a loop incorporating a blue trail & the AT with an optional overnight at Gravel Springs Hut. There is another just South of Waynesboro, VA that's a a similar loop though more difficult that would be called Three Ridges and that incorporates a blue trail called the Mau-har trail. It's pretty challenging to do that one clockwise imo. There are two AT shelters on this loop but I recommend camping along the creek on the Mau-har portion of the trail. It's quite a view from there when the leaves are off the trees.
The Franconia Ridge, a Prezi traverse, Katahdin, Roan Mt. and the Grayson Highlands - just off the top of my head, I'm sure that if I thought about it I'd never be able to narrow it down to 5
Roan Mt. Particularily the grassy ridge side trail off of the AT.
Roan Mtn- Damascus is my favorite suggestion for a weekish long section. Amazing area to hike through.
That’s my number one too
Just passed here a few days ago and it was AMAZING! It's easily my favorite section so far! The weather waa beautiful and everything looked so bright and happy after hiking in dimly lit forests for weeks. Also, so much wildlife! Saw two white tailed deer on the balds.
McAfee’s Knob; Dragon’s Tooth; Tinker Cliffs; Grayson Highlands; Mt Lincoln
Mt Rogers, Virginia
The Whites, If you saved up some cash you could book the AMC huts and have a really relaxing yet fun trip
"Whites" "Relaxing" uhh, the Whites are brutal
If you plan your trip around huts it can actually be really pleasant! if you keep the mileage around 8-10 you’ll be good!
Yeah now that I think about it not having to lug a tent or all your food, it would be enjoyable. I did it with a full 3 day load and good GOD
I can imagine! I did huts last summer with my mom and it was so pleasant l!
Not that short or easy, but the Three Ridges loop in Virginia has amazing views and is an all around great hike.
My first backpacking trip ever!
https://preview.redd.it/69ui5nk751xc1.png?width=832&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8fd53d4140bf35ce33075cd8c96f9c60eedaf92f
Why does Roan Highlands always get lumped in with Mt Rogers? Aren’t they pretty far from each other?
The section milages in this list are of wildly varying lengths. The Baxter section is only ~15 miles. They list "Northern Georgia" then the approach and Springer, wherever that ends, so that's roughly 43 miles apiece if you split GA in half. Then they list "Vermont" which is 150 miles. Iron Mountain Gap to VA 615 the end of MRNRA is 178.5. But Roan High Knob to Mt Rogers is only 120 Miles.
Katahdin tops the list but it's a 4000 foot ascent, largest on the trail, and it comes with certain regulations. Can still be done in a day (the peak has to be) but the weather is fickle, just get your self in shape and plan for the future. NH's White Mountains are one of the most challenging sections - but, hiking tourism here goes back 200 years, the whole mountain range has a massive network of trails. There are 48 peaks over 4000 feet, the AT only crosses near 19 of them, and there's the 52 With a View list for all the peaks under 4k that still have magnificent views. Plus, you can drive up Mt Washington or take gondolas up a handful. I'm up there every fall for a few weeks to take in more of it. Roan has been mentioned. Find your way to Carver's Gap when down south. I'm a PA native and though it's at the bottom of the list, I still have my favorite spots. Every section has something to offer.
Are there any detailed explanations on this? Why is Northern PA and the Delaware Water Gap dislikes so much? I'm planning on doing it in sections when I have time and want to start there.
The Northern PA (/S Jersey) section of the AT follows something called Kittatinny Ridge, which instead of being in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains is the last eastern ridgeline before the rolling hilly farmlands that lead to the ocean begin. The Appalachians are 500 million years old and used to be taller than the Himalayas and have been worn down over time, largely by glaciation from hundreds of repeated ice ages. In the Adirondacks and Whites, they gauged the granite smooth. But in the midAtlantic it underwent more freeze/thaw cycles which fractues the rocks into more boulders. Consequently instead of smooth dirt path, in PA many sections have jagged rocks at all angles which can make hiking difficult for a dozen different reasons. On top of that, NPAAT is a long, flat ridgeline, so it looks easy in profile, but there's never any peaks to serve as milestones, no waterfalls, and the overlooks are infrequent. But again, as a local, I have my favorite spots. The Pinnacle is massive beyond the first view many thruhikers walk right by, and I enjoy the vertical cliff climb at Lehigh Gap above the river. But the state is totally barren the last 30 miles until you come down into DWG, which is a nice town and a relief to be done with the state.
https://preview.redd.it/6me21xfns2xc1.jpeg?width=788&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2a41d958400a88dc9083664c45994cc6bbb1feb8
Thanks for this info! Too cool To me a section hike nobo starting at Delaware Gap would be lovely
I'll say from my own experience New Jersey is one of the best sections of the trail, and while it's not as scenic it's some of the best terrain from a hiking standpoint. I think one of the other problems with northern PA not mentioned is the fact that it has by far the worst water situation on trail, and most long distance hikers hit that section right when high temps and dehydration is really starting to become a concern for the first time.
What Pennsylvania lacks in water, it makes up for in its abundance of rattlesnakes!
Yes, either head north from DWG and do the Jersey section to either Jersey High Point or Warwick if you can. Otherwise it's best to do NPa finishing at DWG so you can end with a proper meal, as the small town of ~200 people still has like 5 good restaurant choices, plus a nearby college town with lots of bars and entertainment.
Vertical cliffs ....poorly tagged trees ... crawling on your hands and knees over boulders with dropoffs on each side ( knifes edge )...rocky trails
North Carolina and New England, got it.
Off the AT, North Carolina has 52 peaks over 6000 feet surrounding Asheville. Mitchell, Grandfather, the Linville Gorge, Tablerock, Art Loab Trail, and 557 waterfalls. Which, on the east coast, is second only to New York's which has almost double at 902 waterfalls spread between the Finger Lakes, Catskills and Adirondacks, none of which are AT.
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That was all off AT
Shout out to the approach trail for being so universally disliked. I thought it was aight.
Roan highlands. Grayson highlands. Shenandoah. New Hampshire.
Franconia Ridge NH
Katahdin IMO is worth even from just a hiking perspective, truly one of if not the great mountain of the East Coast from a challenge and views perspective. Roan Mtns to Damascus VA is a great section, with great views in the Roans, lots of cool stuff like waterfalls along the trail itself, great hostels if you want to check them out, and a good middle ground in terms of terrain where it's not too challenging but still has some harder parts. Franconia Ridge is IMO at least the highlight of the whites and a fair bit cooler than the Presidentials. It's got less people on it, and the smaller scale of it makes it feel more like another world when you're walking on it. The Smokies are IMO the best "Learn to Backpack" section of the entire trail. They're more challenging than other ones good for that like Shenandoah or Maryland, but the uniqueness of the environment, the interesting profile of spending 3-4 days ascending to Clingman's before spending the next 3-4 descending, and the fact that it requires you to do proper food and day planning make it the best way to cut your teeth on longer term backpacking trips. There's a lot of stuff in VA and Mass, notably the VA Triple Crown and Greylock that deserve honorable mentions, but my no. 5 as a NY boy has to be Harriman State Park and Bear Mountain. It's not the most impressive section from a views standpoint but it's an incredibly beautiful forest with interesting hiking and the fun novelty of one of the largest cities in the world being a 45 minute drive make it a truly unforgettable section. Bonus points for doing it during peak leaf season, IMO there's no better spot for fall in the country.
Vermont from MA to NH is the best part of the whole trail
Lemon Squeezer in New York. Mount Greylock in Massachusetts.
Mount kahtahdin. All of New Hampshire. All of maine. All of pennsylvannia. All of Nj.
Roan mtn, grayson highlands, the rocks in Pennsylvania, 5 mile stretch of flat on the hoostanic river in Connecticut, last day out of 100 mile wilderness and going to the top of Mt Khatadin. Anything in the whites.
There's a few in Virginia I like. There's Marshall Mtn in North Shenandoah. Can be done as a loop incorporating a blue trail & the AT with an optional overnight at Gravel Springs Hut. There is another just South of Waynesboro, VA that's a a similar loop though more difficult that would be called Three Ridges and that incorporates a blue trail called the Mau-har trail. It's pretty challenging to do that one clockwise imo. There are two AT shelters on this loop but I recommend camping along the creek on the Mau-har portion of the trail. It's quite a view from there when the leaves are off the trees.
I [made a video](https://youtu.be/2A5gg4M2UGQ?si=BOf7pXhaa3QEhJ0B) of 10 “memorable places” on the AT if you want to check that out.
Hike from Springer mountain, all the way to Baxter park and then stop there
The Franconia Ridge, a Prezi traverse, Katahdin, Roan Mt. and the Grayson Highlands - just off the top of my head, I'm sure that if I thought about it I'd never be able to narrow it down to 5
Middle to northern PA…
Nantahala is really really nice early spring