Appalachian Trail Resources

Like this content? Interested in hiking the Appalachian Trail or other long-distance hiking trails? If so, check out my book of advice for planning a thru-hike, Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail: A Complete Guide. It covers everything you need to know and more than you probably thought to consider.

I wrote a book about how to prepare for an AT thru-hike. As you might imagine, I came across many Appalachian Trail resources in the process. I don’t claim this list is complete, but I believe it is the most comprehensive one online. Regardless of your experience, I’d be surprised if you can’t find something new here to interest you. If you feel I have neglected anything significant, please leave a comment.

Also note that this list used to contain general hiking-related resources as well, but since I have now created a separate list of PCT resources, I decided to keep this one dedicated to AT resources and have created another general hiking resources page. Please check that out to make sure you don’t miss anything that can help you prepare for your thru-hike.

NOTE: All links will open in a new tab or window.

Last Updated: May 15, 2023

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About the Trail

10 famous Appalachian Trail hikers by Laura Moss | Mother Nature Network
21 Appalachian Trail Statistics That Will Surprise, Entertain and Inform You by Zach Davis | REI
21 Fascinating Appalachian Trail Facts by Kenny Howell | The Trek
55 Men, Women and Grandfathers by Peggy Thomson | New York Times
An Appalachian Trail: A Project in Regional Planning by Benton MacKaye
A Privy is a Privy is a Privy, or is it? | Green Mountain Club
A Quick and Dirty Guide to the Appalachian Trail by Paul Mags
AppalachianTrail.com
AppalachianTrail.com is an informational resource devoted to the world’s longest hiking-only trail – the Appalachian Trail. From various wildlife you might encounter on the Trail—to the best movies featuring the AT—we have it covered. You can read other hiker’s stories, discover the highest peaks, famous places and attractions on the Appalachian Trail, and research communities along the way. We strive to be your all-everything reference when planning your AT hike and learning about the history of the trail.
Appalachian Trail Days
Appalachian Trail Shelters by Chris Cage | Greenbelly Meals
A complete list of shelters, an interactive map, coordinates, distances, and all frequently asked questions related to the A.T. shelters.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail | Wikipedia
A.T. Hiking Rates, Section by Section is a statistical look at thru-hikers for the 2001-2010 hiking seasons.
ATC – 2000 miler application form
ATC – Explore by State
ATC – Thru-Hiker Registration Charts
ATC – Permits and Regulations
Cool Places to Stumble Across on the Southern A.T. and Cool Places to Stumble Across on the Northern A.T. by AppalachianTrailClarity
Examining the Thru-Hiker Dropout Rate: Survey Results by Mariposa | The Trek
Explore the Appalachian Trail in 3D with this tool from BACKPACKER. Experience dozens of the A.T.’s best views, peaks, and towns, travel to Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah National Parks, and discover BACKPACKER readers’ favorite spots (share your own and they’ll add it to the map). By the time you get to Katahdin, you may just be ready to lace up your trail runners and quit your job.
Here’s What Happens To Your Body When You Hike The Appalachian Trail by Robert Moor
International Appalachian Trail (IAT) | Wikipedia
Map Of The Appalachian Trail by David “Rainmaker” Mauldin
Permits and fees summary
The 2022 AT Thru-Hiker Survey: General Information | The Trek
This Is What Happens to Your Body on a Thru-Hike
Trail Slang for the Appalachian Trail | WhiteBlaze (Litesmith has a similar list)
What Are the Steepest Climbs on the AT, PCT, and CDT? by Ryan Linn | The Trek
Which Triple Crown Trail is Best: Choosing Your Next Long Hike by Eloise Robbins | The Trek

Trail	Miles	Elevation gain in feet (NOBO)
A.T. (total)	2194.3	474,258
GA & NC	241.5	58635
NC & TN	229.2	54203
Southern VA	259.6	53780
Northern VA	296.1	65346
PA & MD	270.5	37638
NJ, NY & CT	228.2	42169
MA & VT	227.0	48550
NH	175.0	54967
ME	267.2	58970

REF: Miles and elevation gain on PCT vs. CT vs. AT from FarOut and AT website by u/Jazzlike_Ad9434 | Reddit

Advice and Tips

6 Reasons a Flip-Flop Thru-Hike of the Appalachian Trail Is the Right Way To Go by Richard “Crossword” Guenther | The Trek
Appalachian Trail gear lists and surveys | The Trek

Appalachian Trail Maintaining Clubs

ALDHA maintains a spreadsheet of trail maintaining clubs as well.

AT-focused Blogs and Websites

Alan Strackeljahn did a series of posts covering his 1983 hike on the Appalachian Trail FB group. (the link will open the FB group with the search term “Gonzo!s Appalachian Trail journal”).
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Jonathan Clement did a series of posts chronicling his 1974 AT thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail FB group. (the link will open the FB group with the search term “AT Diary Entry”).
Postholer has forums, a planning tool, two mobile apps (one free, one paid), an interactive Google Maps trail map, and journals about the Appalachian Trail.
Reddit Appalachian Trail Subreddit
/r/AppalachianTrail FAQ (Google Doc)
The Hiker Yearbook ($59) is a photographic record of individual Appalachian Trail hikers.
The Trek is a site dedicated to long-distance hiking. Especially useful is the How to Hike the AT 101 Guide, and the various gear lists and surveys.
Trail Days official website
Where Are The Hikers? attempts to predict hiker activity along the Appalachian Trail throughout the year. The visualizations on this site are generated from the locations and dates contained in the Trail Journals entries of Appalachian Trail hikers from 2001-2016. The data is not limited to thru-hikers only; it visualizes all warm bodies on the trail for each day of the year, whether they’re thru, section, or day hikers.

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Books

You can find a version of this list on my Amazon reading list. For a handful of other books not listed here, with personal reviews, check out Books for Hikers.

A Road More or Less Traveled: Madcap Adventures Along the Appalachian Trail by Stephen Otis, Colin Roberts, et al.
A Season on the Appalachian Trail: An American Odyssey by Lynn Setzer
A Walk for Sunshine by Jeff Alt
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson
Appalachian Hiker: Adventure of a Lifetime by Edward B. Garvey
Appalachian Odyssey: A 28-Year Hike on America’s Trail by Jeffrey H. Ryan
Appalachian Trail Happiness by Michael “Rev” Kane
Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike Planner by David Lauterborn
Appalachian Trials by Zach Davis
As Far As the Eye Can See: Reflections of an Appalachian Trail Hiker by David Brill
AT Last: an Appalachian Trail Trek by “That Older Couple” by Brenda & Charlie Quesenberry
AWOL On the Appalachian Trail by David “AWOL” Miller
Backpacking with Jesus: “Its not Always about the Hike, But more about the Journey” by Stephen D. Dean
Balancing on Blue: A Thru-Hiking Adventure on the Appalachian Trail by Keith Foskett
Becoming Odyssa by Jennifer Pharr Davis
Between a Rock and a White Blaze: Searching for Significance on the Appalachian Trail by Julie Urbanski
Blind Courage by Bill Irwin
Breakfast with Salamanders: Seasons On The Appalachian Trail by Alan Richardson
Chicas on the Appalachian Trail: Women-Specific Tips for Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail and Conversations with Badass Women Hikers by Jen Beck Seymour
Dancing with the Mountains: Alzheimer’s, Angels, and the Appalachian Trails: A Journey of Spirit by Paul Travers
Dead Men Hike No Trails by Rick McKinney
Discovering the Appalachian Trail: A Guide to the Trail’s Greatest Hikes by Joshua Niven and Amber Adams Niven
Free Outside: A Trek Against Time and Distance by Jeff Garmire
Grandma Gatewood’s Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail by Ben Montgomery
Hear the Challenge – Hike the Appalachian Trail: A mental, physical, and informational prep to hiking the AT by Kyle Rohrig
Hiker Trash: Notes, Sketches, and Other Detritus from the Appalachian Trail by Sarah Kaizar (Author), Nicholas Reichard (Photographer)
Hiking the Appalachian Trail (2 volume set) by James R.Hare
Hiking Through: One Man’s Journey to Peace and Freedom on the Appalachian Trail by Paul Stutzman
Hitch’s Story by Paul Pierpoint
How the WILD EFFECT Turned Me into a Hiker at 69: An Appalachian Trail Adventure by Jane Congdon
How to Hike the Appalachian Trail: A Comprehensive Guide to Plan and Prepare for a Successful Thru-Hike by Chris Cage
How To Hike The A.T.: The Nitty-Gritty Details of a Long-Distance Trek by Michelle Ray
In Beauty May She Walk: Hiking the Appalachian Trail at 60 by Leslie Mass
In the Real World I Hike: Transformation of Purpose and Self in Five Million Easy Steps by Michael “SY” Sisemore
I Quit My Job and Hiked the Appalachian Trail by Michael “Mountain Goat” Falduto
Just Passin’ Thru: A Vintage Store, the Appalachian Trail, and a Cast of Unforgettable Characters by Winton Porter
Katahdin: Hiking the Appalachian Trail with Reckless Abandon by Mr Kevin E Newsome
Katahdin or Bust: Increasing Your Odds of Enjoying Hiking and Backpacking by Gail Hinshaw
Last Man to Katahdin by Rick Savard
Long-Distance Hiking: Lessons from the Appalachian Trail by Roland Mueser
Lost on the Appalachian Trail by Kyle Rohrig
Mud, Rocks, Blazes: Letting Go on the Appalachian Trail by Heather “Anish” Anderson
My Appalachian Trial I: Three Weddings and a Sabbatical by Steve Adams
My Appalachian Trial II: Creaking Geezer, Hidden Flagon by Steve Adams
No Parents No Horses No Bedtime by Tucker Atwood (Rosebud) (2019 AT memoir) (Read an excerpt)
Northbounders: 2,186 Miles of Friendship by Karen Lord Rutter
On The Beaten Path: An Appalachian Trail Pilgrimage by Robert Alden Rubin
On the Trail with Chappy Jack: Devotions for the Path You’re On by Jack Layfield
Only When I Step On It: One Man’s Inspiring Journey to Hike The Appalachian Trail Alone by Peter Conti
Outbreak In The Woods: Thru-Hiking During a Worldwide Pandemic by Ryan Michael Beck
Painted Blazes: Hiking the Appalachian Trail with Loner by Jeffrey “Loner” Gray
Platinum-Blazing the Appalachian Trail: How to Thru-hike in 3-Star Luxury by Bruce (“RTK”) Matson
Rethinking Life on the Appalachian Trail: The 2008 Thru-hike of “Rethinker” by Gary Bond
Returning to Katahdin: A Thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail by Bruce (“RTK”) Matson
Sauntering Thru: Lessons in Ambition, Minimalism, and Love on the Appalachian Trail by Cody James Howell PhD
Sir Fob W. Pot’s Journey to Katahdin (Volume 1, Volume 2) by Steve Johnson
Skywalker: Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Walker
Sojourn in the Wilderness: A Seven Month Journey on the Appalachian Trail by Kenneth Wadness
Sole Searching on the Appalachian Trail by Sam Ducharme
Stumbling Thru: Hike Your Own Hike by A. Digger Stolz
Stumbling Thru: Keepin’ On Keepin’ On by A. Digger Stolz
Tales from the Trail: Stories from the Oldest Hiker Hostel on the Appalachian Trail by Sherry Blackman
Take a Thru-Hike: Dixie’s How-To Guide for Hiking the Appalachian Trail by Jessica “Dixie” Mills
Take the Path of Most Resistance: How the Appalachian Trail Saved Me from the Sixties and Taught Me Everything You Need to Know by David Hiscoe
Ten Million Steps: Nimblewill Nomad’s Epic 10-Month Trek from the Florida Keys to Québec by M. J. Eberhart
The Adventures of the Barefoot Sisters: Book 1: Southbounders by Lucy Letcher and Susan Letcher
The Adventures of the Barefoot Sisters: Book 2: Walking Home by Lucy Letcher and Susan Letcher
The Appalachian Trail: A Biography by Philip D’Anieri
The Appalachian Trail: Backcountry Shelters, Lean-Tos, and Huts by Sarah Jones Decker
The Appalachian Trail: Calling Me Back to the Hills by Earl Shaffer
The Appalachian Trail: Celebrating America’s Hiking Trail by Brian King and Bill Bryson
The Appalachian Trail Food Planner: Second Edition: Recipes and Menus for a 2,000-Mile Hike by Lou Adsmond
The Appalachian Trail Hiker: Proven Advice for Hikes of Any Length by Victoria and Frank Logue
The Appalachian Trail Reader by David Emblidge
The Appalachian Trail Workbook for Planning Thru-Hikes (Official Guides to the Appalachian Trail) by Christopher Whalen
The Don’s Brother Method: How I Thru-Hiked the Appalachian Trail and Rarely Slept in the Woods by Mike Stephens
The Good Hike: A Story of the Appalachian Trail, Vietnam, PTSD, and Love by Tim Keenan
The Path: Hiking the Appalachian Trail in 8 Steps by Craig Stiver
The Things You Find on the Appalachian Trail: A Memoir of Discovery, Endurance and a Lazy Dog by Kevin Runolfson
The Thru-hikers Planning Guide by Dan “Wingfoot” Bruce
The Trail by Meika Hashimoto
The Trail Is Ours: A Father and Son’s Appalachian Trail Thru-hike by Scott C. Durkin
The Trail is the Teacher: Living and Learning on the Appalachian Trail by Clay Bonnyman Evans
The Unlikely Thru-Hiker by Derick Lugo
The Unseen Trail: The Story of a Blind Hiker’s Journey on the Appalachian Trail by Michael O. Hanson
Then the Hail Came by George Steffanos (online book)
There Are Mountains to Climb: An Inspirational Journey by Jean Deeds
Three Hundred Zeroes: Lessons of the heart on the Appalachian Trail by Dennis R. Blanchard
Through Hiker’s Eyes: A Journey Along the Appalachian Trail: Part One: Springer Fever by Lawrence Alexander
Trail Magic by Louis R Agoston Jr.
Thru: An Appalachian Trail Love Story by Richard Judy
Thru Hiking The Appalachian Trail: 100 Tips, Tricks, Traps and Facts by Jen Beck Seymour and Greg Seymour
Trailside Guide: Hiking and Backpacking by Karen Berger
Unlost: A journey of self-discovery and the healing power of the wild outdoors by Gail Muller
Waking Up On the Appalachian Trail: A Story of War, Brotherhood, and the Pursuit of Truth by N. B. Hankes
Walking on the Wild Side: Long-Distance Hiking on the Appalachian Trail by Kristi M. Fondren
Walkin’ On The Happy Side of Misery: A Slice of Life on the Appalachian Trail by J.R. “Model-T” Tate
Walkin’ with the Ghost Whisperers: Lore and Legends of the Appalachian Trail by J. R. “Model-T” Tate
Walking North: A Family Walks the Appalachian Trail by Mic Lowther
Walking the Appalachian Trail by Larry Luxenberg
Walking to Maine: A Scoutmaster’s Journey on the Appalachian Trail by Glenn Justis
Walking with Spring by Earl Shaffer
We’re Off to See the Wilderness, the Wonderful Wilderness of Awes: A Hiker’s 2000-Mile Adventure by M.E. “Postcard” Hughes
When You Find My Body by D. Dauphinee
Where’s the Next Shelter? by Gary Sizer
Whistler’s Walk: The Appalachian Trail in 142 Days by William Monk
Wildflowers of the Appalachian Trail by Leonard M. Adkins (Author), Joe Cook (Photographer), Monica Sheppard (Photographer)
ZOBY: Small Dog, Big Adventures: On The Appalachian Trail by Tonya “Monarch” Lonsbury

Dogs

Thru-Hiker Dogs is a Facebook group for those planning to hike with their dog
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy has a useful page that covers issues concerning dogs on the trail
Hiking with Fido by Tom Grenell
So you think you want to thru-hike by Steve Lund | Backcountry
Dogs and The Smokies: What You Need to Know by Stacia Bennett | The Trek

Facebook Groups

Each year will have at least one thru-hiker class group so search for your year and join (try “Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers Class of 20XX”).

Other Facebook groups:

ATC
ALDHA
Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail Europe
Appalachian Trail Hostels, Lodges, and B&Bs
Appalachian Trail – Hostels – Lodges – B&B’s – Hot Spots
Appalachian Trail – Loud, Proud & in Color
Appalachian Trail Motivation Page
Appalachian Trail Section-hikers
Appalachian Trail Thru Hiking Food
Appalachian Trail: Women’s Group
AT Hiker Supporters (for parents and supporters of thru-hikers)
Trail Days Ride Board (for rides to and from Damascus, VA for Trail Days and to offer rides)

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Guidebooks, Maps and Apps

There are two Appalachian Trail guides used by the vast majority of all thru-hikers: AWOL (paper, PDF) and FarOut (mobile app). I list those below, but there are others that might interest you as well. For other resources that cover multiple long-distance trails, see my general hiking resources page.

2023 AT Hiking Information. Hostels, Shuttles, Permits, and Much More! by Hoosier Hikes | Reddit
ALDHA Thru Hiker’s Companion is the only official ATC guidebook for thru-hikers, section-hikers and day-hikers on the Appalachian Trail. It contains a mountain’s worth of information and data on shelters, water sources, town services, and other hiker-oriented facilities along the trail. The information is compiled and published every year by ALDHA volunteers—many of them long-traveled veterans of the A.T.—with valuable input from the staff of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. It contains up-to-the-minute knowledge of the A.T. from current hikers and trail maintainers and provides essential information on hiker-oriented services on and near the trail.
Price: A PDF version is included with ALDHA membership ($10) or you can order a print version for $14.95
Appalachian National Scenic Trail (APPA) Interactive Webapp
This webapp shows the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and primary features associated with it. It includes the treadway, associated side trails, parking areas, shelters, campsites, privies, scenic vistas, and Trail Club sections along the Appalachian Trail. The primary intent is to serve as a general reference tool for the public.
Appalachian Trail Conservancy Guides and Maps
Appalachian Trail Database (the “ATDB”) is a geographical dictionary collecting trail mileage, position, and elevation for over 500 A.T. Waypoints, including: Trail Shelters, Post Offices, Features, and Hostels. You can use the database as an aid for detailed planning of A.T. section and thru hikes or simply to browse Appalachian Trail features and resources. (NOTE: I believe this was last updated in 2006)
Appalachian Trail Data Book consolidates the most basic information from 11 detailed official guide books into a lightweight table of distances between major Appalachian Trail shelters, road-crossings, and features. It is divided according to the guidebook volumes and updated each December to account for Trail relocations, new (or removed) shelters, and other changes. In addition to codes for lodging, food, water, and other essentials, the Data Book is keyed to both the individual guidebook sections and to the separate maps.
Price: $6.95
Appalachian Trail Elevation Profile Map Sets (pocket profile, 0.14 oz. | 4 g each map)
Price: $80.82 for entire set
Appalachian Trail Interactive Map | The Trek
Appalachian Trail Mileage Chart by Dwhike | SummitPost
This is a listing of points of interest along the trail with their NOBO mile number. The information comes from 2009, so it is quite outdated. What makes it still worth consideration is that (1) it is free and (2) there are links to many of the points of interest that provide unique content about them from SummitPost.
The A.T. Guide (still called AWOL’s Guide but AWOL sold it) is the most popular guidebook on the Appalachian Trail. It has all the info you need for hikes of any length on the A.T., and is especially strong for town information (including maps of the main towns you will pass or come close to along with hostel, restaurant, resupply, and shuttle options for each). It also lists a profile (including elevations) of the entire trail and lists all shelters. There are two versions, NOBO and SOBO, and you can buy hard copy, loose leaf, and PDF versions. For more information, check out Follow Bigfoot’s YouTube review of it.

AWOL also offers 12, 15 and 18 miles per day plans that you can downloading as Excel spreadsheets (and which I have included in my Appalachian Trail Planning, Resupply & POI Google spreadsheet)
Price: $15.95 for paper or loose-leaf, $13.45 for PDF.
Gaia GPS Smartphone App can replace a standalone GPS device.
Price: $20 per year (follow Adventure Alan’s link and get 20% off).
Google Maps of Appalachian Trail
FarOut Guides (formerly called Guthook) is a fantastic mobile and Web app. If you download the maps, it works offline with GPS (which you can toggle on and off while using and which turns off when you close the app or your phone). It also occasionally updates the content whenever you are connected to data (auto update is a setting to toggle). Different icons are used to indicate points of interest (called waypoints, e.g., full, half full, or empty water drop to signify the presence of water and how reliable the source is). You can choose which sections and which types of maps as well as comments and photos to download, so if your phone is memory constricted this can help. There are three types of maps available: topo (three sources to choose from), Google street (street, satellite, terrain, or hybrid), and USGS offline satellite. The Google option will also show useful things off the trail, which is helpful for when you plan to go into town if you won’t have mobile data working. You can also register a free account which will let you add comments, but this is not required. There are so many useful features (e.g., ability to toggle between map view, an elevation profile map, and a list view of all or selected waypoints) that you might want to see online reviews to get a better feel for them. Follow Bigfoot has a useful video review of the Guthook app as does Michael K Davis. Finally, note that both versions are good, but iOS has better features than the Android version.
Price: The app itself is free but you must pay for the trail contents, either by section (there are nine total) or for slightly less money ($60) you can buy the entire trail as a bundle (recommended). One big plus is that updates are free forever. The approach trail is included for free so you can play with it to see how the app works before you decide to purchase. Note that there is usually one or two significant sales (20-25% off) each year so if you are planning ahead, monitor the FB groups or signup for their newsletter to hear about these sales.
Hanover (NH) and Norwich (VT) Appalachian Trail Hiker’s Guide
National Geographic – Trails Illustrated Appalachian Trail and Wall maps
Price: 13 A.T. section maps @ $14.95 each or the complete bundle for $149.95; wall map of the entire trail for $16.95.
Noam Gal’s offline maps for use with the Backcountry Navigator or OruxMaps apps.
Postholer Appalachian Trail Pocket Maps and Trail GPS App
Price: The Android app and trails is $9.99; there are three paper map volumes – southern A.T. ($32.86), central A.T. ($30.98), and northern A.T. ($32.86)
Postholer interactive Google Maps trail map
Postholer Wall app is designed to communicate trail information in a very timely manner. Features include: Water Reports (send water reports while you’re standing at the source), Trail Reports (send a trail report so the folks who maintain the trail can respond promptly), and Trail Chatter (find out what your hiking buddies are up to, regardless of their place on the trail).
NOTE: I am not sure how this is different from their paid Android app.
Spotted on Trail (iOS, Android) is an app guidebook on the flora and fauna that live along the Pacific Crest Trail and Appalachian Trail. There are mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, trees, and flowers. Included, are summaries of each species and the app allows you to document where you were when you found the species. [REF]
WhiteBlaze Pages is a newer guidebook, around since 2017. It looks to be similar to the ALDHA Companion and the A.T. Guide.
Price: $10 (PDF $5).
Wikitrail.org is a project to create a free, complete, and up-to-date guide for the Appalachian Trail, including a Google map of the trail, a distance calculator, a planning tool, and lists of towns, trailheads, resupply points, and maildrop locations.

Hiker Reports and Analysis

Below are online summaries or analysis of thru-hikes I have come across. If you know of others, please let me know.

2015 thru-hike summary Infographic by Sara “Stretch” Duoma
2017 thru-hike stats and expenses by Ounce
2019 Thru-hike summary Google spreadsheet by Adam Boggs (Storm Chaser)
Analyzing My Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike — Expenses and Statistics by Jeff Blum
Here’s What Happens To Your Body When You Hike The Appalachian Trail by Robert Moor | BuzzFeed
How much I spent on my thru-hike by u/Ok_Tailor_5382 | Reddit
Shane O’Donnell shared a Facebook note with a detailed breakdown of his 2015 costs and mileage averages.
The 2021 AT Hiker Survey: General Information by Joal and Jenny | The Trek
The Hard and Fast Numbers of the Appalachian Trail by Carl Stanfield | The Trek
Top Tents and Shelters on the Appalachian Trail: 2022 Thru-Hiker Survey | The Trek
WhiteBlaze user map man did a detailed statistical analysis of thru-hikers that includes a breakdown of the average number of days to get through various sections. It’s a bit dated, but still informative.

Hostels, Hotels and Shelters

A Complete List of Appalachian Trail Hostels: 2021 Edition | The Trek
ALDHA Map of AT Hostels, Lodging & Outfitters (with contact info and directions)
ALDHA Map of A.T. Shelters
Appalachian Trail Hostels
Appalachian Trail Shelters
Hostels Along the Appalachian Trail – NOBO
Map of AT hostels
WhiteBlaze Appalachian Hostel listing

NOTE: I have included lodging options in my Appalachian Trail Resupply & POI spreadsheet.

Insurance

See the general hiking resources page for a few options that aren’t specific to the A.T.

The Hike Safe Card ($25 for an individual, $35 for a family) covers search and rescue in The Whites Mountain in NH, one of the more dangerous sections of the trail.

Mail Drop and Resupply

ALDHA has a useful A.T. Mailing Label page that provides an easy way to create mailing labels for many of the locations along the Appalachian Trail (post offices and hiker hostels). Simply fill out your return address and select a location and a separate window will popup containing the completed mailing label. Print out the window (right click) and you’ve created your mailing label. The organization also maintains a Google map with all the post offices and resupply locations.
AppalachianTrailClarity offers a Stamp of Approval on Maildrops (PDF) for knowing your maildrop options (mile markers, addresses, links, are included) and also a PDF listing of Major Resupply Points Along the Appalachian Trail (includes northbound mile markers, links, phone numbers, etc.). There are also other useful articles for getting the most out of your A.T. experience (don’t-miss places, food menu, FAQ, hygiene tips, etc.).
AT Resupply FAQs: Shopping Strategies, Nutrition Tips, and More by Brian Garner | The Trek
Google Map of Resupply locations (Gold = on trail, Green = 1-2 miles off trail, Blue = 3+ miles off trail)
Ideas for an Inexpensive Thru-hike (Hiker Advice) by weathercarrot | WhiteBlaze. Written in 2003 so probably of limited value but worth checking out for how to think about planning.
John Michael Chapman (Johnny Appleseed), a 2019 thru-hiker, made a detailed Appalachian Trail Resupplies 2019 document (original, editable version).
Joyful Rambler (Moon Pie) offers a copy of the spreadsheet she created for her 2018 thru-hike, with nine different resupply box destinations (including addresses).
The A.T. Guide has a list of post offices along the trail.
The Trek has a couple of useful mail drop resources. One is a listing of their suggested places to send and the other is just a full listing of all places you can send.
WhiteBlaze has a couple of useful resupply resources, including a Resupply Locations List, a Resuppling within one miles from the Appalachian Trail for a thru hike post that lists various resupply points along the trail, with those lying within 1 mile of the trail highlighted, and the fairly famous Re-Supply Information (2007) by Jack “Baltimore Jack” Tarlin.

NOTE: I have included resupply options from these sources in my Appalachian Trail Resupply & POI spreadsheet.

USPS? While you probably have heard about USPS Priority Mail shipping for mail drops, Shane O’Donnell has written a detailed tutorial titled USPS Regional Rate Boxes For Hiking Dummies that can often save money compared to Priority Mail if you live on the East Coast.

Miscellaneous Articles and Resources

7 Things I Absolutely Hated About Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail by Kelly Floro | The Trek
10 Fantastic Hiker Traditions on the Appalachian Trail by Kenny Howell | The Trek
A Guide to Backpacking the AT via Mass Transit from NYC: Harpers Ferry to Maine by u/blipsonascope | Reddit
Alex Petrovnia has a fascinating Twitter thread about the geological wonder of the Appalachian mountains
American Classic: Hiking the Appalachian Trail by Michael Lanza | Backpacker
In this ultimate guide to the country’s favorite footpath, you’ll find our picks for the best hiking and camping, and a complete plan for thru-hikers. Plus, meet a man who has made it his job to help AT hikers.
Exit Interview: I Was a Black, Female Thru-Hiker on the Appalachian Trail by Sarah Laskow | Atlas Obscura
Fresh Ground Leapfrog Café – Just a simple North Carolina country boy trying to encourage, motivate, feed, or give a ride to hikers (also see “Trail Angel Spotlight: Fresh Ground and his Leapfrog Cafe”).
Gender Differences among long distance Backpackers: A prospective study of Women Appalachian Trail Backpackers by David R Boulware, M.D. | NIH
Gimme Shelter: The Pros & Cons of Sleeping in Shelters on the Appalachian Trail by Stubbs | The Trek
How the AT Works: What DOES a Maintainer Do? by Cosmo | The Trek
How to Thru Hike the Appalachian Trail: A 101 Guide | The Trek
Is the Appalachian Trail’s Iconic Shelter System Obsolete? by Kelly Floro | The Trek
Lightning Safety on the Appalachian Trail | ATC
Looking back: Thru-Hiker’s Handbook by Dan Bruce by Paul Mags
Shelter Etiquette on the AT by Maggie Wallace at The Trek.
SoBo Vs. NoBo Thru Hikers: The Tiny Differences and The Immense Similarities by Carlie Gentry | The Trek
The Appalachian Trail Passport
The Case for Bear Canisters on the Appalachian Trail by Cosmo | The Trek
The Sobo’s guide to Baxter and Katahdin by Teej
Walking Off Grief on the Appalachian Trail by Gunnar Lundberg | Catapult
What is it Like to Sleep in an Appalachian Trail Shelter? by Philip Werner | SectionHiker

Appalachian Trail Whites 1024x768 - Appalachian Trail Resources

Movies and TV Programs

There are many movies and television programs about the Appalachian Trail. Here are some that either I have seen and enjoyed personally or seen recommended by others.

2000 Miles to Maine (2004)
A Walk in the Woods (2015)
Appalachian Impressions (2005)
Appalachian Trail – The Beaten Path (2011)
Appalachian Trail Documentary: Hike Your Own Hike (2016, YouTube)
Appalachian Trail Thru Hike 2019: Togs (2019, YouTube)
Barbarian Utopia: Encounters on the Appalachian Trail by Thaddeus Lamar (2014, DVD only)
Beauty Beneath the Dirt (2012)
Dirty South Bounders (2013)
Five Million Steps (1987, YouTube)
Flip Flop Flippin’ (I and II) (2014)
Flow: A Journey Through Culture and History on the Appalachian Trail by Alex Bentley (2015, YouTube)
Getaway: The Appalachian Trail Documentary (2017, YouTube)
Hiking the Appalachian Trail Movie Documentary by BikeHikeSafari (2018, YouTube)
Into the Wild: My Journey on the Appalachian Trail by Julia Sheehan (2019, YouTube)
Karl Meltzer: Made to Be Broken
Ultrarunner Karl Meltzer has long dreamed of setting the speed record for crossing America’s Appalachian Trail. Now he sets out for his third and final attempt to run the 2,188 miles (3,523 km) in less than 46 days, 8 hours, 6 min. (Watch for free online)
National Geographic: Appalachian Trail (2009, available on YouTube as of this writing)
North to Katahdin (1992)
Operation Northbound (2018, YouTube)
Paul’s Boots by REI (2016, YouTube)
Southbounders (2005)
STRINGBEAN – Appalachian Trail FKT Documentary (2017, YouTube)
The AT Experience by Andrew “Reptar” Forestell (2015)
The Ghost explores Heather Anderson’s personal journey from unknown hiker to the holder of some of the most coveted records in the hiking world. | Vimeo
The Green Tunnel (A six month journey along the 2,200 mile long Appalachian Trail, condensed and reinterpreted into five minutes of stop-motion).
The Long Start to the Journey by Chris “Frost” Gallaway (2015)
The Oldest Thru-Hiker (2018, PBS)
Thru Story: A Season on the Appalachian Trail by Shane “Jester” O’Donnell
Trail Angels on the A.T. (Windows to the Wild | PBS)
It takes months to hike the 2,190 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Host Will Lange meets “trail angels” whose generosity is legendary among hikers.
Trail of Trust (2012, PBS)
Trailside: Make Your Own Adventure (Facebook fan page) was the longest running outdoor “how-to” adventure series on Public Television. Produced by New Media, this is arguably their best: Thru-hiking The Appalachian Trail. Shown in Season 3 over two episodes (8 and 9), it tracks the progress of several Thru-hiker in 1995.
NOTE: you can find an introduction video, the episode on hiking the White Mountains , and one of the AT episodes on YouTube, but finding the second episode seems to be a chore (buying old VHS copies on eBay may be the best option).
TREK – A Journey on the Appalachian Trail (2003)
Walking Home – Appalachian Trail Documentary (2017, YouTube)
Walking Off the War (2013, PBS)
Walking with Freedom (2005)

On-Trail Tips and Resources

AMC Thru-Hiker Pass program is a special pass that gets you 50% off all but your first night in a campground in the Whites and includes two free baked goods and a bowl of soup at the AMC huts, plus a 10% discount on supplies at the AMC stores. Used wisely it more or less pays for itself. Just mention that you are a thru-hiker when you pay a caretaker for your first night and you’ll receive the pass for free. I have heard that sometimes a hut won’t bother to mark your pass when you get the freebie so you can possibly get more than intended. That wasn’t the case for me and I personally wouldn’t have felt comfortable doing that but HYOH.
ATC Incident Reporting (include links to the A.T. Incident Report Form and the Bear Incident Report Form). While the Appalachian Trail is a relatively safe place to visit, that does not mean that there are no potential dangers while you are hiking or camping. If you see something, say something — this will help keep the A.T. as safe as possible.
AT Thru-Hike Tracking Info is a Google spreadsheet that I created to help you easily track your progress and your expenses. Just enter a few fields of information each night in camp and at the end you will have a lot of interesting statistics available to summarize your hike (they are automatically calculated so you don’t need to do any extra work).
Basic Advice For Newbies by The Solemates (Jacob L. Cartner) | WhiteBlaze
Datto’s AT Thru-Hiking Tips is really long and dated (he hiked in 2000) but there are tons of useful gems in this document (the most useful of which I have included in this book).
Great trail tricks and Words of Wisdom for hiking the Appalachian Trail by Moxie00 & Doctari | Whiteblaze
The Appalachian Trail State by State Overview: Highlights, Hiker Tips, Maps, and More by Kelly Floro | The Trek

Organizations and Advocacy Groups

Amicalola Falls State Park
Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) has a lot of useful information on their website, including a page to explore the trail by state or via an interactive map and a voluntary thru-hike registration.
Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association (ALDHA)
Baxter State Park
National Park Service (Great Smoky Mountains, Shenandoah)

Permits

Planning and Preparation Resources

Appalachian Trail Planning, Resupply, & POI is a Google spreadsheet I created, which aggregates different data sources and spreadsheets I have come across in my research. I have tried to make all of the disparate but useful information available in one place. I have also done extensive work to manually update a lot of the information that was a bit outdated. The goal is not to replace the fantastic guides and apps that already exist, but rather to offer a different format for viewing existing as well as new information.
Appalachian Trail Distance Calculators. There are two of these and both allow you to easily calculate the walking distance between two points along the Appalachian Trail. One is from Wikitrail.org, a project to create a free, complete and up-to-date guide for the world’s long-distance hiking trails, and the other is from Mike Calabrese, Randy Rowell, and Steve Shuman. Both will show you selected waypoints between your two selected destinations but the Wikitrail option is more mobile-friendly.
Appalachian Trail Elevation Profiles. The FarOut app has a very useful elevation profile feature that will show you the total ascent and total descent for whatever section is displayed on the screen. You cannot simply enter a starting and ending point but with some manual dexterity you can accomplish the same thing. Alternatively, the already mentioned Appalachian Trail Distance Calculator includes estimated ascent and descent amounts. If you don’t mind using older data (1998-2011), WhiteBlaze member map man also put together an analysis of AT elevation gain and loss by section and fellow WhiteBlazer Odd Man Out took that data and put it into a spreadsheet.
AT Hiking Rates, Section by Section by map man | WhiteBlaze
This is an old (2001-2010) analysis of how long it takes to hike various sections of the A.T. The study is limited to northbound thru-hikers (NOBOs) who completed their hike in one hiking season.
Determine your AT Thru-Hike Budget! by Joe Biasi offers up eight questions that will give you a rough idea of your budget. The cool thing about this Google Doc tool is not its accuracy but the fact that you get to see other people’s responses broken down graphically.
Hiking Plans. The A.T. Guide site has hiking plans for 12 miles, 15 miles, and 18 miles per day (with associated Excel spreadsheet downloads; last updated 2011 but still useful as a guide).
Hiking the Appalachian Trail: Getting the Best Mobile Phone Service by Jeff Blum
Postholer’s Appalachian Trail (AT) Planner is designed to help you dynamically create a realistic hiking plan based on your hiking style.
The Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike Checklist by Kelly Floro | The Trek
The Thruhiking Papers by Spirit Eagle (Jim and Ginny Owen) is not a “thru-hikers manual” but rather a collection of thoughts and feelings about the realities of thru-hiking the A.T.
WikiTrail Appalachian Trail planner is an attempt to sketch-out how your hike might look. Enter your start date, estimated time needed to get into trail shape, how often you plan to take a zero day, your average hiking speed, and the number of hours you plan to hike each day.

Podcasts

I include a longer list of general hiking-related podcasts on my general hiking resources page.

Mighty Blue on the Appalachian Trail

Regulations and Restrictions along the trail

ATC – Camping Regulations on the A.T. outlines camping regulations in different areas on the A.T. If a specific area has imposed regulations on dispersed camping, those regulations are likely a safety effort, a conservation effort, or both.
Camping regulations in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area of New Jersey

Trail Angels

Fresh Ground Leapfrog Café is a famous trail angel that travels up and down the trail feeding hungry hikers and sometimes providing rides.
Miss Janet is a longtime trail angel.
TrailAngelList.org: Appalachian Trail

Transportation and Parking Options

The following online sites offer lists of shuttle providers along the trail.

Acorn Trail Guides
ALDHA A.T. Trailhead Parking: Map (with optional directions), Excel (with locations and waypoints), and PDF (with locations and waypoints)
Appalachian Trail Parking/Access
ATC Shuttle, Parking, and Transportation Info
Georgia Appalachian Trail Club
How to Get To Springer Mountain by Maggie Slepian | The Trek
Map of Trailhead Parking Along the Appalachian Trail
WhiteBlaze Appalachian Trail Shuttle Providers List

The A.T. Guide (AWOL) and the A.T. Thru-Hikers’ Companion both include shuttle providers, though they are not an online resource. Likewise, though not listed in any organized fashion, the FarOut App does list some providers, either explicitly or via the comments feature.

Weather Resources

I include a longer list of weather tools on my general hiking resources page.

Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trail Weather (atweather.org) (Web and Android only)
Due to the spotty, slow, and unreliable cell signal in the Appalachian mountains, Pat Jones had a tough time getting weather forecasts with data hungry commercial weather applications. He created Appalachian Trail Weather to use an extremely small amount of data (less than 1kB) in order to pull back a fast, accurate forecast with as little battery drain as possible. Simply enter your current mile location and get the closest 7 shelters to your location. Click on the shelter you wish to get the current and future forecast for that location. Sort by State, or view all shelters in one list.
Appalachian Trail Weather (The Appalachian Trail Database)
Appalachian Trail Weather offers charts pertaining to average low and high temps, average precipitation, and hours of daylight along the Appalachian Trail, courtesy of Rainmaker and Swinky.
Trail weather was created to provide a way of seeing current and future weather conditions along the entire Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Pacific Crest Trail, whereas most existing trail weather sites only provide forecasts for one location at a time. Because of that, the site is very data-heavy and is not recommended for hikers on the trail looking for local weather conditions (it’s better for looking ahead and planning).

YouTube Channels and Videos

This isn’t even close to a comprehensive list and I’m sure there are some great ones I am unaware of. But, here are the channels and videos I have enjoyed, found useful or get mentioned often in online groups. A useful tip for channels is to click on the Playlists tab, as the better ones have organized their various videos by theme (e.g., backpacker basics, Appalachian Trail, favorite A.T. towns, etc.).