Theodore Roosevelt Presidential LibraryPublic Lands Directory

Alerts and conditions

Park Closure List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene

Many closures remain on the Trail following Hurricane Helene's devastation. This will remain true for the foreseeable future. Visit the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) website for an up-to-date list of closures. OBSERVE ALL CLOSURES. Stay safe!

Read the full alert

Caution Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia

Human-habituated bears have been frequently spotted in the McAfee Knob Area. Allowing bears access to human food or garbage causes it to lose its fear of humans. Follow all food storage regulations, use provided food lockers and never feed a bear.

Read the full alert

Overview

The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by private citizens, and completed in 1937, today the trail is managed by the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, numerous state agencies and thousands of volunteers.

From the National Park Service

History

The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.

What to see and do

Activities

  • Astronomy
  • Stargazing
  • Camping
  • Backcountry Camping
  • Compass and GPS
  • Orienteering
  • Guided Tours
  • Self-Guided Tours - Walking
  • Hands-On
  • Citizen Science
  • Volunteer Vacation
  • Hiking
  • Backcountry Hiking
  • Front-Country Hiking
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Snowshoeing
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Birdwatching

Browse hiking, biking and paddling routes on AllTrails

Plan your visit

Hours

Appalachian National Scenic Trail: In general, the Appalachian Trail is open year-round. The northern terminus at Mount Katahdin in Maine 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, but otherwise the trail is open.

Getting there

There are many points of access along the Appalachian Trail, whether it is by car, train, bus or plane. For more detailed directions, please refer to the "Directions" section of our park webpage.

Visitor centers

Weather

It is your responsibility to be prepared for all weather conditions, including extreme and unexpected weather changes year-round. As the trail runs from Georgia to Maine there will be different weather conditions depending on your location. For weather along specific sections of the trail and at specific shelters, please refer to: http://www.atweather.org/

Phone: 3045356278

Whose lands these are

These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.

Photos

The Appalachian Trail runs across a mountain ridge line with views to the horizon of mountain range.
Appalachian Trail · Photo Credit: ATC
A white blaze marks a tree in the foreground, with a man and child walking away on the wooded trail.
The Infamous White Blaze of the A.T. · Photo Credit: ATC/Matthew Davis
A snowy winter view from the A.T. overlooking snowy mountains and clouds in the distance.
Winter on the A.T. · Photo Credit: ATC/Greg Walter

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