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Day Hiking

Ready to begin exploring the Appalachian Trail? Here’s everything you need to know to plan your next (or first) day hike.


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Learning about day hikes on the A.T.

A day hike on the Appalachian Trail can be a vigorous hike to an amazing destination or a wonder-filled nature walk. It can be easy or challenging. Here are things to consider and a variety of approaches.

The Basics

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How do I find great day hikes?

Learn what resources can help you find the perfect hike, from websites and apps to books and maps.

Find a hike

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When is a good time to go?

Find out what season, time of day, and day of the week are best for hiking the A.T.

When to go

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What do I need to bring?

Use this handy day hiking checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything important.

Day Hiking Checklist

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Preparing for your A.T. hike

What you need to know before hitting the Trail, including the gear to bring.

Day hike preparation

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Getting to the Trail

See all 200+ parking locations along the entire A.T. on the ATC interactive map, and find transportation options for getting to the Trail.

Interactive Map

Transportation Options

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On the hike

How to navigate the A.T. and stay safe and healthy on your next adventure.

Hiking Tips

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Safety on the A.T.

Learn about the hazards you may face when hiking the Appalachian Trail and how to best prepare for a safe, healthy hike.

LEARN MORE

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14 State Challenge

The 14-State Challenge is a great way to visit some of the A.T.’s most iconic places in bite-sized pieces. It can be done on family vacations, when you’re traveling on business, or whenever wanderlust strikes.

Tour the Trail

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Report an Incident

While the Appalachian Trail is a relatively safe place to visit, that does not mean that there are not potential dangers while you are hiking or camping. If you see something, say something — this will help us keep the A.T. as safe as possible for our visitors.