Must see blue blaze trails

[fredmugs]

The Gulf Hagas in the 100-mile wilderness is nice.
I also heard the Mau-Har was cool, but as the hiker who owns the B&B in town said, "It's a bitch."
If you're not a purist, you'll probably enjoy the VA Creeper trail more than the AT there. Lots of PUDs, no views, while the Creeper is flat and follows the river.

+1 for Gulf Hagas. I did Mau-Har SOBO and it wasn't hard at all and I saw a rattler. Creeper Trail is cake for sure. I only did the very end before Damascus heading SOBO cuz it was a monsoon.

[fertilizer]

The Jump off and Charlie's Bunion in the Smokies a few miles North of Newfound Gap.

[gratefultrails]

Where would I get these AT maps? I have the Awol guide book but there is no blue blaze info in there

[springerfever]

The Boulevard trail over to Mt Leconte is spectacular ridge walking and there is an AT shelter if you decide to overnight. Trail is on the left just before reaching Icewater Spring shelter.

I would highly recommend Mt. Cammerer even in the fog...it is that unique!

[johnnybgood]

Bearfence Loop Trail, in the central section of Shenandoah Nat'l Park is a challenging rock scramble to great views.

[Rock Lobster]

Sherburne Pass Trail that takes you to the front door of the Inn at the Long Trail....and avoids a 1 mile roadwalk to the Inn.

+1

Also, I hear that Long Trail is a nice blue blaze if you've got the time...

[wcgornto]

Where would I get these AT maps? I have the Awol guide book but there is no blue blaze info in there

Link to full AT map bundle.

https://www.atctrailstore.org/catalo...d=190&compid=1

You can also buy them for one or more specific states rather than all at once.

[gollwoods]

in the smokies just before you get to icewater shelter a few feet up the boulevard trail there is asign for the jump off. .5 mi to a magnificient view. I would leave the pack at icewater then go see it.

[bigcranky]

Most official AT maps are decent. Note that National Geographic sells larger maps that cover more miles and IMHO are much better than most of the official maps. Not sure you can cover the whole trail with them, but they are out there.

Just past Mt Rogers, the Pine Mountain Trail is a two-mile trail that cuts off ~8 miles of AT, but it stays up high on the ridgeline. It's a popular loop hike for weekenders with the AT from Grayson Highlands -- I'd be tempted to do the loop as part of a thru-hike (take the PMT, then the AT sobo, then the PMT again - it's obvious on a map.)

[Meriadoc]

Kimsey Creek Trail is a nice detour of Standing Indian just into North Carolina out of Deep Gap, and you can even pop into the campground to buy goodies from the camp store before hiking on and hooking back up with the AT.

I love the KCT, but if you take that instead of the AT you'll miss Standing Indian Mtn and Albert Mtn and that would be a shame.

What Max Patch said. Also, when I was at the campground three weeks ago, there was nothing for sale. I'm not sure if that is going to continue or if it was just because it is early in the season for them. They are geared toward the RV and car camping, so their season was just starting in April.

Side trails to not miss:
Any trail to a bald, but particularly Siler's Bald just north of Winding Stair Gap
Charlies Bunion in the Smokies just north of Newfound Gap
Mt. Cammerer in the Smokies
Spy Rock in VA

[4shot]

Just past Mt Rogers, the Pine Mountain Trail is a two-mile trail that cuts off ~8 miles of AT, but it stays up high on the ridgeline. It's a popular loop hike for weekenders with the AT from Grayson Highlands -- I'd be tempted to do the loop as part of a thru-hike (take the PMT, then the AT sobo, then the PMT again - it's obvious on a map.)

I believe that the Pine mountain trail is also the name of the trail that will take you from the AT directly into Gorham, NH. It forks off just past one of the huts (name escapes me). It saves the hassle of getting to the notch and hitching back to town. as I understand it, it used to be the original AT anyways.I know this is outside the scope of where the OP is hiking this summer and it's really not a "must see" but it does eliminate a hitch into town.

[MuddyWaters]

dontcha know blue blazes are heresy here.

just stare at your feet and keep walking the whiteblazed path
its all that "counts"

even if you miss the best views, falls, or areas of interest

[rickb]

dontcha know blue blazes are heresy here.

just stare at your feet and keep walking the whiteblazed path
its all that "counts"

even if you miss the best views, falls, or areas of interest

You may have a different experience than me, but 30 years after the fact most of the individual "sights" along and off the AT faded in their importance long ago. That's not to say one should not go visit them if so inspired, but rather to suggest that its very OK not to see everything.

The one blue-blaze that I think might really stand out for a lifetime is the Knife's edge on Katahdin, but few thru hikers take it -- or even walk out it and back.

[johnnybgood]

dontcha know blue blazes are heresy here.

just stare at your feet and keep walking the whiteblazed path
its all that "counts"

even if you miss the best views, falls, or areas of interest

Hooray for boring ! I've done far more blueblazing than whiteblazing.

Now that I admitted that I feel much better...