Hiking the entire Appalachian Trail in multiple sections over a period of years is a great way to experience everything the Trail has to offer and can have advantages over a thru-hike.

You can walk at whatever pace you choose during the season that appeals to you most. You can enjoy spring wildflowers or fall colors on every section-hike. You can also plan your hikes to avoid bugs, crowds of other hikers, and extremes in cold and hot weather.  And, you’ll get to see more of the Appalachian countryside as you travel to and from the Trail for each section.

Other considerations for section-hiking include the expense of time and money to travel to and from the Trail time and again for scheduled hikes. You’ll also have to get back in backpacking shape each time you go out.

Section hiking doesn’t require that you take the drastic measures sometimes necessary to thru-hike—you won’t have to quit your job or sell your house to carve out six months and finance the trip.  You can spread the expenses—and the pleasures—of hiking the Trail over decades.

The biggest challenge for section-hikers is arranging transportation. Public transportation is often scarce along the Trail itself. The nearest bus station may be 10, 20, or more miles away from the beginning and end of your hike. Airports and train stations could be even further.  However, along the Trail there is an informal network of people who provide shuttle service for a fee. These service providers range from outfitters with commercial licenses to individuals with private vehicles asking only a donation. Find more information on public transportation and shuttle service providers.

A popular method of arranging transportation on a section-hike is to drive one vehicle and park at the end your hike, and then arrange a shuttle to the start of your hike. That way, you will have your car waiting for you where you finish.  You won’t have to worry about making appointed deadlines at trailheads, where pay phones are scarce and cell phone reception is often unreliable. And, you aren’t tied to a strict end-of-hike schedule.

Be careful where and how you park your vehicle. Although vandalism is infrequent or rare in most places along the Trail, it can occur anywhere. Visit the Getting to the Trail page to find information on deterring vandalism and avoiding trouble spots.

When you complete the A.T. and report your hike to ATC, you will earn the designation of “2,000-miler,” the name given to anyone who walks the Trail’s entire length, whether in sections or a thru-hike.