The Appalachian Trail goes through 14 states: Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The official 2026 trail length is 2,197.9 miles [3,537.2 km], from Springer Mountain to Katahdin.
What states does the Appalachian Trail go through in order?
The Appalachian Trail runs through these states from south to north: Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
That south-to-north order is the classic northbound thru-hiker direction, usually called NOBO. Flip it and you have the southbound, or SOBO, order: Maine to Georgia. Same white blazes. Very different rhythm.
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy lists the A.T. as a 14-state trail from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Katahdin in Maine, and the National Park Service also identifies the Appalachian Trail as a National Scenic Trail spanning those 14 states. You can check the official overviews at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s A.T. Basics page and the National Park Service National Scenic Trails page.
| Order | State | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | Southern terminus, steep early climbs, Springer Mountain, Blood Mountain |
| 2 | North Carolina | Big climbs, Nantahala country, high ridges, Smokies approach |
| 3 | Tennessee | Long border miles with North Carolina, balds, ridgeline walking |
| 4 | Virginia | The longest A.T. state, with Grayson Highlands, Shenandoah, and long green tunnels |
| 5 | West Virginia | The shortest A.T. state, but home to Harpers Ferry |
| 6 | Maryland | Short, rolling, historic, and popular with section hikers |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | Long ridges, farm valleys, and famously rocky trail |
| 8 | New Jersey | Boardwalks, ridges, ponds, wildlife, and more views than many hikers expect |
| 9 | New York | Short, punchy climbs, Harriman country, and close brushes with dense civilization |
| 10 | Connecticut | Compact, polished New England hiking with river valleys and wooded hills |
| 11 | Massachusetts | Berkshire walking, Mount Greylock, forests, farms, and small trail towns |
| 12 | Vermont | The Green Mountains, mud season concerns, and shared tread with the Long Trail |
| 13 | New Hampshire | White Mountains, steep grades, exposed ridges, and slow miles |
| 14 | Maine | Remote terrain, lakes, roots, rocks, the 100-Mile Wilderness, and Katahdin |
Where does the Appalachian Trail start and end?
The Appalachian Trail starts at Springer Mountain in Georgia and ends at Katahdin in Maine for northbound hikers.
That is the traditional NOBO direction, and it is the direction most people picture when they think of an A.T. thru-hike. You begin in the southern Appalachians, build your legs through Georgia and the Carolinas, settle into Virginia’s long miles, grind through the Mid-Atlantic, then hit the steep, rugged finale in New Hampshire and Maine.
Southbound hikers do the opposite. They start at Katahdin and hike toward Springer Mountain. That start is wilder, steeper, and less forgiving right out of the gate. Maine does not ease you into anything.
The official length changes as the trail is relocated, detoured, or rebuilt. As of 2026, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy lists the A.T. at 2,197.9 miles [3,537.2 km] on its 2026 official mileage update.
Which Appalachian Trail states are the hardest?
Maine and New Hampshire are usually the hardest A.T. states for terrain.
The northern end of the trail is where the tread gets rough, the climbs get sharper, and your daily mileage often drops. New Hampshire brings the White Mountains, exposed ridgelines, rock scrambles, steep descents, and weather that can turn fast. Maine keeps the pressure on with roots, bogs, slabby climbs, river crossings, and long stretches between easy exits.
That does not mean the southern states are easy. Georgia starts steep enough to surprise overpacked hikers. North Carolina and Tennessee throw you into big elevation changes, high ridges, and the Great Smoky Mountains region. Virginia is less technically brutal than New Hampshire, but it is long enough to wear down your patience.
Think of the difficulty like this:
- Hardest terrain: Maine and New Hampshire
- Hard early wake-up call: Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee
- Hardest mental stretch for many hikers: Virginia, because it lasts so long
- Hardest on feet and ankles: Pennsylvania’s rocky sections
- Hardest weather swings: The high mountains of New England and the southern balds
Which state has the most Appalachian Trail miles?
Virginia has the most Appalachian Trail miles.
Virginia is the long middle act. It takes up a huge chunk of a northbound thru-hike, and that can mess with your head. You cross state lines quickly in a few places on the A.T., then Virginia says, “Settle in.”
But Virginia is not just filler. You get Grayson Highlands and its open country, the Mount Rogers area, the long green folds of southwest Virginia, McAfee Knob, Tinker Cliffs, Shenandoah National Park, and easier resupply options than you will find in the more remote northern states.
For section hikers, Virginia is useful because you can build almost any kind of trip there: a weekend, a week, or a long chunk with trail towns and road crossings spaced in a manageable way.
Which state has the least Appalachian Trail miles?
West Virginia has the least Appalachian Trail mileage.
Small does not mean forgettable. West Virginia gives you Harpers Ferry, one of the most recognized trail towns on the entire A.T. It is also home to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy headquarters area, making it a symbolic halfway-ish landmark for many hikers, even though the exact mathematical halfway point changes with trail mileage.
Harpers Ferry is also a natural place to start or end a section hike. Train access, history, river scenery, and trail culture all stack up in one compact spot. If you want a first taste of the A.T. without committing to a huge mountain section, this area is a smart pick.
Does the Appalachian Trail pass through the same state twice?
No, the Appalachian Trail does not pass through the same state twice in separate sections.
But North Carolina and Tennessee can feel confusing because the trail spends many miles near or along their shared border. You may see signs, maps, and guidebook notes that bounce your attention between the two states. You are still moving north or south along one continuous route.
This border-straddling section is part of the charm. One day you are thinking in Carolina terms, the next in Tennessee terms, and sometimes the ridge does not care what the map says. The mountains came first.
What are the Appalachian Trail states like by region?
The A.T. breaks naturally into three broad regions: the Southern Appalachians, the Mid-Atlantic, and New England.
These regions help you plan better than state lines alone. Weather, terrain, resupply, crowds, and daily mileage all shift as you move north or south.
Southern Appalachians: Georgia to Tennessee
This is where northbound hikers learn fast. The climbs are real. The shelters can be busy in peak thru-hiker season. Spring weather can swing from warm sun to cold rain with no apology.
Expect green tunnels, high ridges, gaps, balds, and a strong trail community. Your pack weight matters here. So does your ego. Start slower than you want to.
Virginia and the central trail
Virginia is the long haul. It has big highlights, but it also has long wooded stretches where consistency beats drama. The trail often feels more forgiving than the far north, which is why hikers sometimes push bigger days here.
That can be good. It can also be how knees and feet start barking. Do not let smoother tread trick you into hiking yourself into trouble.
Mid-Atlantic: West Virginia to New York
This stretch mixes history, rocks, ridges, farms, road crossings, and quick transitions between wild-feeling woods and busy human corridors. Pennsylvania has a reputation for rocks because, yes, the rocks are real. New Jersey and New York surprise plenty of hikers with good views and tougher climbs than expected.
New England: Connecticut to Maine
New England is where the A.T. tightens the screws. The grades steepen. The footing gets rougher. Mud, roots, rock slabs, ladders, bog bridges, and exposed summits all enter the conversation.
Vermont brings the Green Mountains. New Hampshire brings the Whites. Maine brings the finish line and makes you earn it.
How should you plan a hike through all 14 Appalachian Trail states?
Plan state by state, but think in sections, seasons, and resupply windows.
A full A.T. hike is too big to manage as one vague dream. Break it down. The trail becomes less intimidating when you can see the next town, the next food carry, the next weather window, and the next section of terrain.
- Pick your direction. Northbound gives you a gentler terrain progression. Southbound starts harder and usually with fewer hikers around you.
- Check the current trail length and alerts. The official mileage changes, and storms can close or reroute sections. Start with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s current trail information.
- Study permits and land rules. The A.T. crosses land managed by many agencies. As of November 2026, some areas have special permit, camping, or fee requirements, so use the Appalachian Trail Conservancy permits and fees page before you lock in a plan.
- Match your dates to the mountains. Early spring in the South can be cold and wet. New England has a shorter friendly hiking season. Mud season in Vermont deserves respect.
- Plan food carries. Resupply is easier in some Mid-Atlantic stretches and more serious in remote northern sections.
- Train for downhill hiking. Climbs get the attention, but long descents chew up quads, knees, toenails, and patience.
- Keep your itinerary flexible. Weather, injury, trail closures, and plain old fatigue can change the plan. Build in margin.
What should you pack differently for different Appalachian Trail states?
Your core kit stays similar, but your clothing, insulation, and food strategy should change with region and season.
A Georgia start in March is not the same as a Vermont section in July or a Maine finish in September. The A.T. is one trail, but it is not one climate.
- Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee: Carry reliable rain gear, warm layers, and a sleep system that can handle cold spring nights.
- Virginia: Prepare for longer food carries in some stretches, but enjoy more chances to resupply than in the remote north.
- Pennsylvania: Foot care matters. Tough shoes, careful steps, and blister prevention go a long way on rocky tread.
- New Jersey, New York, Connecticut: Do not underestimate heat, humidity, ticks, and short-but-steep climbs.
- Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine: Bring layers, weather awareness, strong traction, and the patience to hike fewer miles over rougher ground.
Can you section hike the Appalachian Trail by state?
Yes, section hiking the A.T. by state is one of the cleanest ways to break up the trail.
State-by-state section hiking gives you built-in goals. Finish Georgia. Come back for North Carolina. Knock out Maryland over a long weekend. Save Maine for when your legs, schedule, and backcountry skills are ready.
Just do not assume every state takes effort proportional to its size on the map. A short state can still be steep, rocky, hot, crowded, or logistically awkward. A long state can have easier resupply and smoother trail. Plan the actual section, not the outline.
Related reading
- How Long Is the Appalachian Trail? Miles, States and Time
- Where Does the Appalachian Trail Start and End?
- How Long Does It Take to Hike the Appalachian Trail?
- How to Hike the Appalachian Trail: Planning a Thru-Hike
FAQ
How many states does the Appalachian Trail go through?
The Appalachian Trail goes through 14 states. From south to north, they are Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
What are the start and end states of the Appalachian Trail?
The Appalachian Trail starts in Georgia and ends in Maine for northbound hikers. The southern terminus is Springer Mountain, and the northern terminus is Katahdin in Baxter State Park.
Does the Appalachian Trail go through Ohio?
No, the Appalachian Trail does not go through Ohio. It stays east of Ohio and passes through Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Virginia instead.
Does the Appalachian Trail go through the Smoky Mountains?
Yes, the Appalachian Trail passes through Great Smoky Mountains National Park along the North Carolina and Tennessee border. This section is high, scenic, popular, and managed under park-specific rules.
What is the longest state on the Appalachian Trail?
Virginia is the longest Appalachian Trail state. Many thru-hikers spend several weeks crossing it, depending on pace, weather, rest days, and side trips.
What is the shortest state on the Appalachian Trail?
West Virginia is the shortest Appalachian Trail state. It is still a major landmark because Harpers Ferry is one of the best-known trail towns on the entire route.