Easiest Section Hikes for a Family

[tcookseyjr]

I section hiked while in college and made it a little past Harpers Ferry. I now have a son and my wife and I would like to section hike the AT as a family over the next 18 years. I work for Delta Air Lines so we can begin and end almost anywhere. If you were hiking with a small child where would you begin and what sections would be best to hike while Thomas is small. Thank all of you for sharing your knowledge for myself and others.

For the Family,
Toney, Jess, and Thomas

[Alligator]

Small children can't hike very far, so as a general recommendation, I will suggest the southern part of the AT as that is closest to you. Until the child gets bigger, you will be returning often to near your previous trip. Small children can't hike very far as compared to an adult. A rough guide is about a mile per day. If you were to do that on the north end, the extra travel time will add up exponentially.

[Ethesis]

You can do the Inn to Inn hikes in Virginia and Massachusetts.

https://www.appalachiantrail.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/inn-to-inn-hikes-on-the-a-ta99ad66668ce6efcb07bff000057c13a.pdf?sfvrsn=0

really an easy start for kids.

[Ethesis]

We have friends with autistic children who do Georgia and mix tents and shuttles to hostels, etc every year.

[GoldenBear]

Hike lodge to lodge, or campground to campground, within Shenandoah National Park.

What I particularly favor about this area, for beginning hikers, is that you are never far from civilization. Have a problem, afraid you're lost, just want to quit? Simply walk towards the cars you hear on Skyline Drive, and you're fine.

Yes, it's not true wilderness hiking -- but for newbies, that's the POINT. No worries about difficulties allows you to build confidence for later hikes.

[bigcranky]

I think the easiest section of the AT is the entire state of West Virginia. :)

Seriously though, I do think it's much, much easier to start at the beginning, hike, then come back and pick up again where you left off. Having little bits of sections to "fill in" later is a royal PITA. Ask me how I know this. :( So I'd start at Springer, it's not a bad section at all. It's also the case that you'll be flying into and out of the same airport on your hikes, and probably for the first several years -- what takes a week to walk takes an hour or two to drive.

How old is the kid? Ours was hiking a couple of miles on days hikes when she was two, and did her first 8 mile overnight loop at 4. She carried her own water, a fleece sweater, a rain shell, some snacks, and a teddy bear. I carried a super heavy 4-person dome tent, and all her actual gear. That hike went well, and at 5 we started overnights at Mt Rogers, and she did her first "real" section hike a month after turning 7, the 17-mile two-night section of the AT between Elk Garden and Fox Creek. So there's a big difference between a two year old, and a second-grader. :)

Good luck. Taking kids out on the trail is a lot of fun (and also a lot of work).

[tcookseyjr]

Thank all of you so much. I'm sorry for the delay in this reply. Thomas is 18 mos and loves to mix walking and riding in his pack. We are still some time away from mileage, but everyone's wisdom is greatly appreciated and will go into planning our first years together on the trail.