Is the AT "the longest hiking-only footpath in the world" as ATC claims?

[Starchild]

Title says it all, here is the link:

https://appalachiantrail.org/explore/

I know the PCT and CDT are longer, but are they hiking only footpaths? I thought they were. Perhaps they are playing with commas, though there is no other such trail, so they would also be the shortest trail between MA and GE.

Full sentence quote: The Appalachian Trail is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world, ranging from Maine to Georgia.

[Slo-go'en]

The PCT allows pack animals like horses and the CDT has sections traveled by mountain bikes. So, I would rate the claim as TRUE

[Mike Goodman]

and GE is headquartered in MA, so it's Really a short walk.

[Lone Wolf]

bikes, horses and hikers share a part of the AT out of Damascus

[HeartFire]

There are a few sections of the AT through the Smokies that allow horses.

[HooKooDooKu]

There are a few sections of the AT through the Smokies that allow horses.

Yeah, about half the trail thru GSMNP allows horses.
The sections that don't allow horses include the initial climb from Fontana to just past Shuckstack fire tower, the segment that goes up and over Thunderhead, and Silers Bald to Pecks Corner.
But of all my years hiking GSMNP, I don't think I've ever seen a horse on the AT.
The main places I've encountered horses in GSMNP are the various trails around Cades Cove (including the trails along Laurel Creek Rd leading to Cades Cove), Noland Creek Trail, Deep Creek Trail, and Big Creek Trail.

[Slugg]

Yeah, about half the trail thru GSMNP allows horses.
But of all my years hiking GSMNP, I don't think I've ever seen a horse on the AT.

Funny, I’ve only hiked the AT section once and I saw a group of 4 or 5 horses on trail. (Blasting music over a speaker.). I was pretty surprised, didn’t realize they were allowed at the time.

[Seatbelt]

I suppose any trail that has a road walk would disqualify it from being "footpath only"?? As for horses, they have feet don't they? Just sayin.

[Odd Man Out]

A mile or so of the AT follows the C&O Canal which is also a bike path.

[Starchild]

A mile or so of the AT follows the C&O Canal which is also a bike path.

And the creeper trail out (N) of Damascus.

[Slo-go'en]

Still, even with those few exceptions, the vast majority of the AT miles are hiking only so I think the longest-hiking-only-footpath claim can be considered accurate.

[Alligator]

Both the PCT and the CDT are generally designed for both hiker and equestrian use. It's been reported that the PCT has been ridden completely by a few equestrians.


ATC Policy on Horses and Pack Animals

[JNI64]

Interesting concept, tackling the PCT on the back of a 800lb sherpa horse.

[illabelle]

and GE is headquartered in MA, so it's Really a short walk.

Clever response!

[Traveler]

Under 16 U.S. Code 1244 - National scenic and national historic trails, the AT would indeed be the longest footpath by code in the US. I cannot find any other trail with the "footpath" designation by Congress. Where it rates against other trails in the world I cannot say, though I doubt few if any have an official designation as a "footpath" by their national governments.

(a)Establishment and designation; administrationNational scenic and national historic trails shall be authorized and designated only by Act of Congress. There are hereby established the following National Scenic and National Historic Trails:(1)The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, a trail of approximately two thousand miles extending generally along the Appalachian Mountains from Mount Katahdin, Maine, to Springer Mountain, Georgia. Insofar as practicable, the right-of-way for such trail shall comprise the trail depicted on the maps identified as “Nationwide System of Trails, Proposed Appalachian Trail, NST–AT–101–May 1967”, which shall be on file and available for public inspection in the office of the Director of the National Park Service. Where practicable, such rights-of-way shall include lands protected for it under agreements in effect as of October 2, 1968, to which Federal agencies and States were parties. The Appalachian Trail shall be administered primarily as a footpath by the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture.

[4eyedbuzzard]

Is the AT "the longest hiking-only footpath in the world" as ATC claims?

Many of the uphill parts always seem to be.

[peakbagger]

In some cases the ATC seems to have policy to keep the AT as a roadwalk compared to a hiking trail. I tried to interest ATC folks for several years to reroute the AT off of US RT2 and 90% of the length of North Road in Shelburne. The reroute is viable, much of it on state and protected land with the balance on undevelopable private land but the informal comments I have gotten from ATC representatives over the years is that it is not a high visibility project. I got one to admit that if some other group was willing to expend the time and resources to do the work that they might be interested in facilitating the transfer. He also made the comment about high visibility being a priority. He claimed that a relo like this just would not get the level of press coverage that they desire when taking on a project.

North Road has no shoulder to speak of while RT2 does have partial break down lane although its got a lot of east west truck traffic especially during hiking season.

I gave up over a decade ago when I no longer had the occasion to run into ATC folks.

[somers515]

. . . I tried to interest ATC folks for several years to reroute the AT off of US RT2 and 90% of the length of North Road in Shelburne. The reroute is viable, much of it on state and protected land with the balance on undevelopable private land but the informal comments I have gotten from ATC representatives over the years is that it is not a high visibility project. I got one to admit that if some other group was willing to expend the time and resources to do the work that they might be interested in facilitating the transfer. . . .

Peakbagger I'm curious to hear more about your proposed reroute to get the AT mostly off of Route 2/North Road. How would you cross the Androscoggin? If the ATC implemented your proposal would you still come out at the Rattle River hostel?

[Deacon]

Personally, I think a little road walking is a welcome break from the constant woods. The North Road walk isn’t all that far.


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