Having spent my entire childhood in
north Georgia and east Tennessee, at 17 I was presumptuous enough to think I knew the Appalachians. I had spent countless days exploring their rivers and trails. I loved their slopes and their swimming holes, their draws and ridges that undulated endlessly across the landscape. Then I moved to New Hampshire for college. The first time I saw the White Mountains soaring skyward from Franconia Notch on I-93, I felt like I was in a completely foreign land. There was no way that these sharp, imposing peaks could be part of the same range that hugged my hometown.

From those craggy granite peaks to the clear lakes of Maine and the picturesque pastures of Virginia, the Appalachians encompass many diverse landscapes, and the Appalachian Trail traverses them all. This variety is one of my favorite things about the A.T. Each section of Trail feels unique, and there are always new adventures to be had.

But because of this richness, planning a trip on the A.T. can be daunting — it’s like 2,190 destinations in one. How do you decide what section to hike? What state, even? And once you’ve settled on a destination, the questions have only begun. What do you need to bring? Do you need a permit? Will the Trail be overrun with summer campers singing their way down the mountain, or will you find the peace and quiet you desire? Well, worry no more. Consider this your guide to help you start planning your dream A.T. vacation.

April

Although the first half of April is unpredictable, the end of April is generally a pretty good bet for some warmer days and wild blooms along the A.T. in Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. If you’d like to meet some aspiring thru-hikers, you’ll encounter a smattering mostly walking north. A few dozen will start their journey around the time of the fourth annual Flip Flop Festival in the A.T. Community of Bolivar-Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, on April 28– 29. Check out the festival, then hike south to help disperse traffic. Winter conditions can persist anywhere along the Trail this month, so be sure to pack some extra non-cotton layers in your pack and stick to lower elevations. As with any hike in the Appalachians, don’t forget your rain jacket and pack cover or trash bag to waterproof your pack. If you decide to camp along the A.T. in Shenandoah National Park, you’ll need to acquire a free backcountry permit at a visitor center or entrance station. Some facilities may not be open for the season yet. In Maryland, you’re required to stay at designated sites overnight. Avoid hiking in New England (it’s still winter there) and in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and southern Virginia — high numbers of northbound thru-hikers and spring breakers searching for warmth make these states awfully crowded this month, which can make for an uncomfortable experience when you have to share a shelter site with dozens of other hikers.

May

While the A.T. passes within an easy drive of several major cities in the mid-Atlantic, it feels surprisingly wild as it traverses beautiful river valleys, gentle ridges, bogs, and wetlands. The Trail meanders at relatively low elevations through these states, so it’s best to explore them before summer brings heat and humidity. Wear light-colored clothing that has been treated with permethrin (you can spray it on clothing you already own, buy pre-treated clothing, or send your clothing away to be factory treated), and check yourself at least daily for ticks, because these states are home to high concentrations of the disease carriers. Camping is only allowed at designated overnight sites in New Jersey, and New York, and restrictions vary widely in Pennsylvania, so you’ll need to plan your days wisely. Virginia becomes increasingly busy this month as northbound thru-hikers continue their journeys, and it’s still not quite time to hike in New England. The end of winter there simply ushers in the start of mud season, when trails range from unpleasant to impassible.

June

Now that the wave of northbound thru-hikers has moved through, June is the perfect time to visit the Southern Appalachians. The high-elevation balds that dot this region provide beautiful views of the surrounding forests and towns, and picturesque waterfalls often await those willing to take short detours off the Trail. The A.T. Community of Roan Mountain, Tennessee, hosts their world-famous Rhododendron Festival just down the mountain from the A.T. on June 16 – 17, where you can experience this quintessential Appalachian flora in all its splendor. The month of June can get hot and humid at any elevation in the Southeast, so bring plenty of water and refill whenever you get the chance, being sure to treat and/or filter your water. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) recommends using a bear canister to store your food along the entire length of the Trail, and proper food storage and bear awareness are especially important in the South. Bear-human interactions have become significantly more frequent in this region in recent years.

July

Those of us who are familiar with the Appalachians know that it gets hot in July. The higher elevations of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine stay a bit cooler this month, and their many lakes, creeks, and swimming holes provide welcome relief. Always exercise caution when swimming in natural bodies of water, and don’t swim alone. Maine’s many river crossings can be dangerous, especially after rain, so know your limits, remember to unbuckle your pack before crossing, and when in doubt — don’t cross. Never cross the Kennebec River on foot; the water can rise rapidly, and the ferry is the official route of the A.T. There are many summer camps and other groups who hit the Trail this month, so registering your hike using the ATC’s A.T. CAMP tool becomes especially important so you can avoid crowded campsites. And if you head to Maine’s Baxter State Park, be sure to do your research into the special rules and regulations there before your trip.

August

August is a wonderful time to experience summer in New England. The forest is lush, the days are long and, if you’re lucky, you may even experience the first crisp nights signaling that fall is soon to come. Just four miles from the Trail, the A.T. Community of Manchester, Vermont, knows how to celebrate summer in style. The Vermont Challenge bike race, the Green Mountain Bluegrass and Roots festival, sidewalk sales, and a fly fishing festival all hit town this month, so enjoy some classic New England charm and spend a night or two in town recuperating after your hike. Many college orientation groups will test their new classmates on the steep trails of northern New England this month, so stick to Connnecticut, Massachusetts, and southern Vermont unless you want to be kept awake by the sounds of get-to-know-you games played long into the night. Remember that camping is only allowed at designated overnight sites in Connecticut and Massachusetts, and these states also have restrictions on campfires. If you venture south of New England this month, bring more water than you think you’ll need; you’re likely to encounter dry water sources and persistent heat.

September

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the country, with almost 11.4 million visitors in 2017. A.T. hikers who visit the park in September, however, have a good chance of sharing stretches of Trail with few other people. Kids are back in school, leaf peepers won’t show up in droves until October, and most southbound thru-hikers haven’t made it quite this far yet. One group you may run into is the ATC’s Rocky Top Trail crew, so be sure to thank this merry band of volunteers for all their hard work. In the Smokies, camping on the A.T. is only allowed at designated shelters and campsites. Visit the park website to get a general backcountry permit in order to camp on the A.T. and other trails in the park. The A.T. stays mainly on high elevation ridges here, so you may see some early fall color, and you’ll need lots of layers and a three-season sleeping bag. In large part because of the high numbers of visitors and bears, the animals are particularly problematic in the Smokies. Before your go, read up on what to do if you see a black bear, and remember to properly store your food and all scented items, even small ones like lip balm, toothpaste and sunscreen — bears have a much stronger sense of smell than humans do. Bear canisters remain the most animal-resistant way to store food. A.T. campers who are carrying bear canisters in the Smokies should hang them on the cables provided at each shelter, as required by park regulations.

October

While many people flock to New England, Shenandoah National Park, and western North Carolina to see fall foliage, the mountains of central and southwest Virginia put on a spectacular show of their own. The Mountain Day festival in the A.T. Community of Buena Vista, Virginia, which takes place October 13, highlights traditional Appalachian culture and generally coincides with peak color in the region. Elevations above 4,000 feet, common along the A.T. in Tennessee and North Carolina, often get below freezing this month. So, while it may seem counterintuitive, it’s best to stay north of Marion, Virginia, unless you enjoy and are prepared for some serious cold-weather backpacking. If the summer was dry, October can bring dry springs and high fire danger along much of the Trail, so be prepared to carry extra water, stay up-to-date on local fire restrictions and, as always, completely douse any allowable campfires you choose to build before you leave.

Before heading out on a hike, check the ATC Trail Updates page at appalachiantrail.org/updates to learn of any Trail closures or Trail conditions you need to be aware of.

And there you have it! While it’s certainly possible to backpack in the winter, conditions along the length of the A.T. can be unpredictable and even dangerous in the winter months, which is why I’ve only made trip suggestions from April to October. And remember — the ATC has a plethora of great information about planning any length of hike in any season on their website. Happy trails!

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