The Appalachian Trail is one of the longest continuously marked footpaths on earth, measuring about 2,180 miles in length from its start in northern New England, crossing over 14 states and ending in Georgia. Hiking this trail can be an adventure of a lifetime, with the opportunity to get away from the chaos of modern life as well as the comforts of home. An estimated 3 million hikers walk at least a portion of the trail each year, including day hikers who access it at one of hundreds of different points, as well as \u201cthru-hikers\u201d who walk the entire trail in one long journey, and \u201csection-hikers,\u201d who piece the trail together over time. The trail offers a wide diversity of terrain, but this guide can help you plan your route according to your own skills and interests.<\/p>\n
The northern New England section of the trail, running between central Maine and western New Hampshire, not only offers some of the most rugged hiking conditions, but also includes some of the most spectacular scenery throughout the trail. The 280+ miles of trail in Maine are particularly challenging, with the one-mile stretch of boulders in the western section at Mahoosuc Notch often referred to as the hardest mile. (Side note: Maine is also where you\u2019re most likely to spot moose.) The most isolated portion runs east-northeast from the town of Monson and ends just outside Baxter State Park, known as the \u201cHundred-Mile Wilderness.\u201d It is arguably the wildest section of the trail \u2013 while exceedingly pleasing to the eye, it can be brutal on the body. If you plan to hike here, be sure to be well prepared for the challenging conditions, including lightning strikes, hypothermia, dangerous river fords and falls, which cause the most serious risk to hikers.<\/p>\n\n\t\t