Set up a dispersed or low-impact “stealth” campsite only where allowed
(the most abundant opportunities are on US Forest Service lands in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia; in many other areas dispersed camping is prohibited or there may be restrictions. See our Camping Chart below for more details).
Do you have to sleep in shelters on the Appalachian Trail?
Is it safe to sleep in an Appalachian Trail Shelter?
By and large yes
, but the chances of being disturbed by non-hikers staying at the shelter or staying up late increases the closer you are to a road. A lot of hikers avoid these shelters for this reason, but they can be fine during weekday nights.
Where can I sleep on the Appalachian Trail?
Where do you sleep along the Appalachian Trail?
There is an extensive system of campsites and shelters
along the Appalachian Trail. Shelters are built and maintained by local volunteers and usually have a water source and additional campsites nearby.
Can I build a fire on the Appalachian Trail?
Fires or other cooking or heating devices are permitted only in designated campsites or picnic areas
. At Chimney Pond and Davis Pond, open fires are prohibited and only backpack-type stoves are allowed. Camping is allowed only in designated campsites in the park; campsites must be reserved in advance.
How do you poop on the Appalachian Trail?
Do you need a tent on the Appalachian Trail?
It's possible to hike the Appalachian Trail without a tent
.
They're free. So “thru-hikers,” people who walk the full distance in a continuous hike, often leave the tent at home, saving as much as 5 pounds from their backpacks.
What is the average miles per day on the Appalachian Trail?
Most hikers start out slow, averaging
eight to 10 miles a day
. They will eventually work up to 12 to 16 miles a day. Don't worry if you end up doing less some days and more on other days; as long as you set a goal for where you need to be each month, you will survive and successfully complete the trail before winter.
What is the best month to start the Appalachian Trail?
Read why here. To avoid crowds and winter conditions, the optimal time to start a northbound thru-hike is the window
between April 15 and the first week of May
.
Are there toilets on the Appalachian Trail?
The original trail privies were all pit toilets and many of those older pit-style privies remain
. But over time much more eco-friendly versions have been developed by the various trail maintaining clubs. The history of the Appalachian Trail privy is as old as the Trail itself.
Can you hammock camp the Appalachian Trail?
It's possible to hammock camp the Appalachian trail
but it will mean you need to find the perfect trees to hang your hammock each night. If you can't find perfectly distanced tree's and the lean-to's full, you might end up sleeping on the ground some nights.
Where can you tent camp on the Appalachian Trail?
Hikers are required to stay at designated campsites or shelter sites in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina, the Triple Crown/McAfee Knob area of central Virginia, and many areas from Harpers Ferry, West Virginia northward.
How far apart are shelters on the Appalachian Trail?
There are about 260 shelters scattered along the entire length of the 2,190 mile trail. Therefore, on average, there is a shelter located every
8.5 miles
. Sometimes they might be closer together (maybe 5 miles), while other times they might be farther apart (maybe 15 miles).
Can you fish along the Appalachian Trail?
There are hidden fishing spots along the entire A.T. that remain beautiful
because…they're hidden. There was a breathtaking riverbend that could have been my favorite fishing spot on the Trail.
How do you charge your phone on the Appalachian Trail?
You can charge electronics like a phone in two ways on the trail,
by a battery or solar charger or from an outlet in a quick pit stop or overnight stay
. These options give you the ability to carry on for 3-7 days between towns without any loss in device use as long as power use is monitored.
Where can I shower on the Appalachian Trail?
Showers. Showers are rarely available right on the A.T. Hikers usually shower while at
hostels or hotels in towns; less common are campgrounds with shower facilities
. To bathe in the backcountry, carry water 200 feet from the water source in a container and rinse or wash yourself away from streams, springs and ponds.
How often can you resupply on the Appalachian Trail?
Long-distance hikers leave the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) periodically (
typically every 3-5 days
) to resupply in nearby towns. In remote areas, such as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee/North Carolina and the “100 Mile Wilderness” in Maine, hikers may carry food for 6-8 days or more.
Can you bring a gun on the Appalachian Trail?
In general,
ATC discourages the carrying of firearms on the Trail
for the reasons noted below. On federal lands administered by the National Park Service (NPS) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), possession of a firearm must be in compliance with the law of the state in which the federal land is located.
Can you build a shelter on the Appalachian Trail?
In that national and state parks and forests, a well-established process existed for obtaining permission to build a trailside shelter in a given location. But because so much of the Trail passed through private property,
it would then be necessary to obtain permission from landowners to build structures on their land
.
How much water should I bring on the Appalachian Trail?
A general estimate is that hikers will have to carry anywhere
between 1-2 liters
of water. It's unlikely most hikers need to carry more than 2 liters at a time, except in special circumstances. Hikers new to the trail will likely need more water than seasoned backpackers until their bodies adapt to the trail.
What is the hardest part of the Appalachian Trail?
- Southern Maine. nazdar.britches. …
- White Mountains, New Hampshire. whitemountains. …
- The Roller Coaster, Virginia. Mile Marker : 995 Distance : 13.5 miles. …
- Northern Pennsylvania. Mile Marker : 1,150 Distance : Roughly 150 miles. …
- Mt. Katahdin, Maine. …
- Southern Virginia.
Can you hike the Appalachian Trail with no experience?
At 2,190 miles (3,524 km), the Appalachian Trail is no joke. Many people spend countless nights out in the backcountry and take on years training to be able to complete the trail in one go. However, while
it is possible to complete the AT with minimal experience, it's not necessarily recommended.
What is a SoBo hike?
So what is NoBo and SoBo hiking? Simply put, a NoBo hiker is someone who is hiking northbound on a trail, while a SoBo hiker is
hiking southbound
. These terms are commonly used on long-distance trails like the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail.
What is a flip flop thru-hike?
A flip flop thru-hike is
when a hiker starts their hike at a less conventional spot to then return to complete the remainder of the trail
. So, on the Appalachian Trail, instead of starting in Georgia or Maine, you could start somewhere in the middle to head north.
What is the most remote part of the Appalachian Trail?
Savor Maine's wild beauty.
Maine
is often cited as a thru-hiker's favorite state. In some respects, it is the wildest, most remote section of the entire Trail. It also has more lakes than almost the rest of the Trail combined.
