Appalachian National Scenic Trail
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Appalachian National Scenic Trail at a glance
- Best time
- April–May, September–October
- Trip length
- Multi-day (visit in segments)
- Don't miss
- Visit John Brown's Fort
- Nearby city
- Harpers Ferry, WV
Explore this park
About Appalachian National Scenic Trail
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by private citizens, and completed in 1937, today the trail is managed by the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, numerous state agencies and thousands of volunteers.
2 current NPS alerts
- Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
- Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
Source: National Park Service (as of Oct 27, 2026). Official Appalachian National Scenic Trail page on nps.gov
Weather Information
It is your responsibility to be prepared for all weather conditions, including extreme and unexpected weather changes year-round. As the trail runs from Georgia to Maine there will be different weather conditions depending on your location. For weather along specific sections of the trail and at specific shelters, please refer to
Operating Hours
In general, the Appalachian Trail is open year-round. The northern terminus at Mount Katahdin in Maine is within Baxter State Park, which may be closed in winter months, depending on weather conditions. Particular sections of the Trail, and less-developed roads accessing the Trail, may be closed temporarily for a number of reasons, but otherwise the trail is open.
- MondayAll Day
- TuesdayAll Day
- WednesdayAll Day
- ThursdayAll Day
- FridayAll Day
- SaturdayAll Day
- SundayAll Day
Common questions
Planning Appalachian National Scenic Trail
The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics — check Alerts for live updates.
Reservation rules vary by season and activity for Appalachian National Scenic Trail. See Overview on this page for fees, timed entry, and campground details before you travel.
