Starting out Fresh

Tennessee has 71 miles (114 km) of the trail, not includingmore than 200 miles (325 km) along or near the North Carolina Border. Thesection that runs just below the summit of Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky MountainsNational Park is along the North Carolina and Tennessee border and is thehighest point on the trail at 6,643 feet (2019 m). The Smoky Mountains HikingClub (Knoxville, TN) maintains the trail throughout the Great Smoky MountainsNational Park to Davenport Gap. North of Davenport Gap, the Carolina MountainClub (Asheville, NC) maintains the trail to Spivey Gap. Then there mainingTennessee section is maintained by the Tennessee Eastman Hiking &CanoeingClub (Kingsport, TN).


The Pocosin cabinalong the trail in Shenandoah National Park Virginia Virginia has 550 miles(885 km) of the trail, including about 20miles (32 km) along the West Virginiaborder. With the climate, and the timing of northbound hikers, this section iswet and challenging because of the spring thaw and heavy spring rainfall.Substantial portions closely parallel the Blue Ridge Parkway and, in ShenandoahNational Park, the Skyline Drive. Parts of the trail near the Blue RidgeParkway and the Skyline Drive are often considered the best for beginnerhikers. In the southwestern portion of the state, thetrail goes within one halfmile of the highest point in Virginia, Mount Rogers, which is a short side-hikefrom the AT

West VirginiaWestVirginia has 4 miles (6 km) of the trail,not including about 20 miles (32 km)along the Virginia border Here the trailpasses through the town of HarpersFerry, headquarters of the Appalachian TrailConservancy. Harpers Ferry isconsidered the "psychological midpoint"of the AT

MarylandMaryland has41 miles (66 km) of the trail, withelevations ranging from 230 to 1,880 feet(70–570 m).Hikers are required tostay at designated shelters and campsites. Thetrail runs along the C&OCanal Towpath route for 3 miles (4.8 km).

PennsylvaniaPennsylvania has 229 miles (369km) of thetrail. The trail extends from the Pennsylvania - Maryland line at PenMar, atiny town straddling the state line, to the Delaware Water Gap, atthePennsylvania - New Jersey border. The Susquehanna River is generallyconsideredthe dividing line between the northern and southern sections ofthePennsylvania AT, and Pine Grove Furnace State Park the halfway point oftheentire AT.
The AT passes through St. Anthony's Wilderness, which is thesecond largest roadless area in Pennsylvania and home to several coal miningghost towns, such as Yellow Springs and Rausch Gap.





Sunfish Pond on the Appalachian trail in New Jersey. NewJerseyNew Jersey is home to 72 miles (116 km) of the trail. The trail entersNew Jersey from the south on a pedestrian walkway along the Interstate 80bridge over the Delaware River, ascends from the Delaware Water Gap to the topof Kittatinny Ridge in Worthington State Forest, passes Sunfish Pond, continuesthrough Stokes State Forest and eventually reaches High Point State Park, thehighest peak in New Jersey (a side trail is required to reach the actual peak).It then turns in a southeastern direction along the New York border for about30 miles (48 km), passing over long sections of boardwalk bridges over marshyland, then entering Wawayanda State Park and then the Abram S. Hewitt StateForest just before entering New York near Greenwood Lake.



Black bear activity along the trail in New Jersey increasedrapidly starting in 2001. Hence, metal bear-proof trash boxes are in place atall New Jersey shelters.





Island Pond, Harriman State Park New YorkNew York's 88 miles(142 km) of trail contain very little elevation change compared to otherstates.From south to north, the trail summits many small mountains under 1,400feet (430 m) in elevation, its highest point in New York being Prospect Rock at1,433 feet (438 m), and only 3,000 feet (800 m) from the border with NewJersey. The trail continues north, climbing near Fitzgerald Falls, passingthrough Sterling Forest, and then entering Harriman State Park and BearMountain State Park. It crosses the Hudson River on the Bear Mountain Bridge,the lowest point on the entire Appalachian Trail at 124 feet (38 m). It thenpasses through Fahnestock State Park, and continues northeast and crosses theMetro-North Railroad's Harlem Line. This track crossing is the site of the onlytrain station along the trail's length. It enters Connecticut via the PawlingNature Reserve. The section of the trail that passes through Harriman and BearMountain State Parks is the oldest section of the trail, completed in 1923. Aportion of this section was paved by 700 volunteers with 800 granite-slab stepsfollowed by over a mile of walkway supported by stone crib walls with boulderslining the path. The project took four years, cost roughly $1 million, and wasofficially opened in June 2010



ConnecticutConnecticut's 52 miles (84 km) of trail liealmost entirely along the ridges to the west above the Housatonic River valley.