document_title: List of National Basketball Association career 3-point scoring leaders

question_text: who is leading the nba in 3 pointers

question_tokens: who is leading the nba in 3 pointers

text: Three-point field goals made leaders[edit]

text: This is a list of National Basketball Association players by total career regular-season three-point field goals made.

text:
^

Active NBA player

*

Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

†

Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[3]

§

1st time nominee for Hall of Fame in 2018[4]

text:
Rank

Name

Position(s)

Team(s) played for (years)[5]

Total 3-point field  goals made

Total 3-point field  goals attempted

3-point field goalpercentage

1

Ray Allen*

SG

Milwaukee Bucks (1996–2003) Seattle SuperSonics (2003–2007)Boston Celtics (2007–2012)Miami Heat (2012–2014)

2,973

7,429

.400

2

Reggie Miller*

SG

Indiana Pacers (1987–2005)

2,560

6,486

.395

3

Jason Terry^

SG/PG

Atlanta Hawks (1999–2004)Dallas Mavericks (2004–2012)Boston Celtics (2012–2013)Brooklyn Nets (2013–2014)Houston Rockets (2014–2016)Milwaukee Bucks (2016–present)

2,282

6,010

.380

4

Kyle Korver^

SG/SF

Philadelphia 76ers (2003–2007)Utah Jazz (2007–2010)Chicago Bulls (2010–2012)Atlanta Hawks (2012–2017)Cleveland Cavaliers (2017–present)

2,213

5,130

.431

5

Jamal Crawford^

SG/PG

Chicago Bulls (2000–2004)New York Knicks (2004–2008)Golden State Warriors (2008–2009)Atlanta Hawks (2009–2011)Portland Trail Blazers (2011–2012)Los Angeles Clippers (2012–2017)Minnesota Timberwolves (2017–present)

2,153

6,175

.349

6

Paul Pierce†

SF

Boston Celtics (1999–2013)Brooklyn Nets (2013–2014)Washington Wizards (2014–2015)Los Angeles Clippers (2015–2017)

2,143

5,816

.368

7

Stephen Curry^

PG

Golden State Warriors (2009–present)

2,129

4,880

.436

8

Vince Carter^

SG/SF

Toronto Raptors (1999–2004)New Jersey Nets (2004–2009)Orlando Magic (2009–2010)Phoenix Suns (2010–2011)Dallas Mavericks (2011–2014)Memphis Grizzlies (2014–2017)Sacramento Kings (2017–present)

2,106

5,650

.373

9

Jason Kidd*

PG

Dallas Mavericks (1994–1996, 2008–2012)Phoenix Suns (1996–2001)New Jersey Nets (2001–2008)New York Knicks (2012–2013)

1,988

5,701

.349

10

Joe Johnson^

SG/SF

Boston Celtics (2001–2002)Phoenix Suns (2002–2005)Atlanta Hawks (2005–2012)Brooklyn Nets (2012–2016)Miami Heat (2016)Utah Jazz (2016–2018)Houston Rockets (2018–present)

1,978

5,331

.371

11

Dirk Nowitzki^

PF

Dallas Mavericks (1999–present)

1,918

5,005

.383

12

J. R. Smith^

SG

New Orleans(/Oklahoma City) Hornets (2004–2006)Denver Nuggets (2006–2011)New York Knicks (2011–2015)Cleveland Cavaliers (2015–present)

1,917

5,128

.374

13

Chauncey Billups

PG/SG

Boston Celtics (1997–1998)Toronto Raptors (1998)Denver Nuggets (1999, 2008–2011)Minnesota Timberwolves (2000–2002)Detroit Pistons (2002–2008, 2013–2014)New York Knicks (2011)Los Angeles Clippers (2011–2013)

1,830

4,725

.387

14

Kobe Bryant†

SG

Los Angeles Lakers (1996–2016)

1,827

5,546

.330

15

Rashard Lewis

SF/PF

Seattle SuperSonics (1999–2007)Orlando Magic (2007–2010)Washington Wizards (2010–2012)Miami Heat (2012–2014)

1,787

4,625

.386

16

Peja Stojaković

SF

Sacramento Kings (1999–2006)  Indiana Pacers (2006)  New Orleans(/Oklahoma City) Hornets (2006–2010)  Toronto Raptors (2010–2011)  Dallas Mavericks (2011)

1,760

4,392

.401

17

Dale Ellis

SF/SG

Dallas Mavericks (1983–1986)Seattle SuperSonics (1986–1991, 1997–1999)Milwaukee Bucks (1991–1992, 1999–2000)San Antonio Spurs (1992–1994)Denver Nuggets (1994–1997)Charlotte Hornets (2000)

1,719

4,266

.403

18

Steve Nash*

PG

Phoenix Suns (1996–1998, 2004–2012)Dallas Mavericks (1999–2004)Los Angeles Lakers (2012–2014)

1,685

3,939

.428

19

James Harden^

SG

Oklahoma City Thunder (2009–2012)Houston Rockets (2012–present)

1,647

4,523

.364

20

LeBron James^

SF

Cleveland Cavaliers (2003–2010, 2014–2018)Miami Heat (2010–2014)Los Angeles Lakers (2018–present)

1,616

4,701

.344

21

Jason Richardson†

SG

Golden State Warriors (2001–2007)Charlotte Bobcats (2007–2008)Phoenix Suns (2008–2010)Orlando Magic (2010–2012)Philadelphia 76ers (2012–2015)

1,608

4,344

.370

22

Mike Miller

SF/SG

Orlando Magic (2000–2003)Memphis Grizzlies (2003–2008, 2013–2014)Minnesota Timberwolves (2008–2009)Washington Wizards (2009–2010)Miami Heat (2010–2013)Cleveland Cavaliers (2014–2015)Denver Nuggets (2015–2017)

1,590

3,910

.407

23

Glen Rice

SF

Miami Heat (1989–1995)Charlotte Hornets (1995–1998)Los Angeles Lakers (1999–2000)New York Knicks (2000–2001)Houston Rockets (2001–2003)Los Angeles Clippers (2003–2004)

1,559

3,896

.400

24

Klay Thompson^

SG

Golden State Warriors (2011–present)

1,557

3,691

.422

25

Eddie Jones

SG

Los Angeles Lakers (1994–1999)Charlotte Hornets (1999–2000)Miami Heat (2000–2005, 2007)Memphis Grizzlies (2005–2007)Dallas Mavericks (2007–2008)

1,546

4,147

.373

26

Tim Hardaway

PG

Golden State Warriors (1989–1993, 1994–1996)Miami Heat (1996–2001)Dallas Mavericks (2001–2002)Denver Nuggets (2002)Indiana Pacers (2003)

1,542

4,345

.355

27

Nick Van Exel

PG

Los Angeles Lakers (1993–1998)Denver Nuggets (1999–2002)Dallas Mavericks (2002–2003)Golden State Warriors (2003–2004)Portland Trail Blazers (2004–2005)San Antonio Spurs (2005–2006)

1,528

4,278

.357

28

Mike Bibby

PG

Vancouver Grizzlies (1999–2001)Sacramento Kings (2001–2008)Atlanta Hawks (2008–2011)Washington Wizards (2011)Miami Heat (2011)New York Knicks (2011–2012)

1,517

3,999

.379

29

Manu Ginóbili^

SG

San Antonio Spurs (2002–present)

1,495

4,055

.369

30

J. J. Redick^

SG

Orlando Magic (2006–2013)Milwaukee Bucks (2013) Los Angeles Clippers (2013–2017) Philadelphia 76ers (2017–present)

1,464

3,524

.415

31

Michael Finley

SF

Phoenix Suns (1995–1996)Dallas Mavericks (1996–2005)San Antonio Spurs (2005–2010)Boston Celtics (2010)

1,454

3,880

.375

32

Kevin Durant^

SF/SG

Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder (2007–2016)Golden State Warriors (2016–present)

1,433

3,734

.384

33

Wesley Matthews^

SG

Utah Jazz (2009–2010)Portland Trail Blazers (2010–2015)Dallas Mavericks (2015–present)

1,405

3,667

.383

34

Brent Barry

SG

Los Angeles Clippers (1995–1998)Miami Heat (1998)Chicago Bulls (1999)Seattle SuperSonics (1999–2004)San Antonio Spurs (2004–2008)Houston Rockets (2008–2009)

1,395

3,442

.405

35

Antoine Walker

PF

Boston Celtics (1996–2003, 2005)Dallas Mavericks (2003–2004)Atlanta Hawks (2004–2005)Miami Heat (2005–2007)Minnesota Timberwolves (2007–2008)

1,386

4,264

.325

36

Kyle Lowry^

PG

Memphis Grizzlies (2006–2009)Houston Rockets (2009–2012)Toronto Raptors (2012–present)

1,375

3,717

.370

37

Dan Majerle

SG/SF

Phoenix Suns (1988–1995, 2001–2002)Cleveland Cavaliers (1995–1996)Miami Heat (1996–2001)

1,360

3,798

.358

38

Carmelo Anthony^

SF

Denver Nuggets (2003–2011)New York Knicks (2011–2017)Oklahoma City Thunder (2017–present)

1,341

3,861

.347

39

Baron Davis

PG

Charlotte Hornets (1999–2002)New Orleans Hornets (2002–2005)Golden State Warriors (2005–2008)Los Angeles Clippers (2008–2011)Cleveland Cavaliers (2011)New York Knicks (2012)

1,332

4,159

.320

40

Mitch Richmond*

SG

Golden State Warriors (1988–1991)Sacramento Kings (1991–1998)Washington Wizards (1999–2001)Los Angeles Lakers (2001–2002)

1,326

3,419

.388

41

Ryan Anderson^

PF

New Jersey Nets (2008–2009)Orlando Magic (2009–2012)New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans (2012–2016)Houston Rockets (2016–present)

1,315

3,446

.382

42

Trevor Ariza^

SF

New York Knicks (2004–2006)Orlando Magic (2006–2007)Los Angeles Lakers (2007–2009)Houston Rockets (2009–2010, 2014–present)New Orleans Hornets (2010–2012)Washington Wizards (2012–2014)

1,313

3,721

.353

43

Allan Houston

SG

Detroit Pistons (1993–1996)New York Knicks (1996–2005)

1,305

3,247

.402

44

Mike Dunleavy Jr.

SF/SG

Golden State Warriors (2002–2007)Indiana Pacers (2007–2011)Milwaukee Bucks (2011–2013)Chicago Bulls (2013–2016)Cleveland Cavaliers (2016–2017) Atlanta Hawks (2017)

1,304

3,460

.377

45

Terry Porter

PG

Portland Trail Blazers (1985–1995)Minnesota Timberwolves (1995–1998)Miami Heat (1999)San Antonio Spurs (1999–2002)

1,297

3,360

.386

46

Mookie Blaylock

PG

New Jersey Nets (1989–1992)Atlanta Hawks (1992–1999)Golden State Warriors (1999–2002)

1,283

3,816

.336

47

Damian Lillard^

PG

Portland Trail Blazers (2012–present)

1,269

3,447

.368

48

Vernon Maxwell

SG

San Antonio Spurs (1988–1990, 1996–1997)Houston Rockets (1990–1995)Philadelphia 76ers (1995–1996, 2000)Orlando Magic (1998)Charlotte Hornets (1998)Sacramento Kings (1999)Seattle SuperSonics (1999–2000)Dallas Mavericks (2001)

1,256

3,931

.320

49

Clifford Robinson

PF/SF

Portland Trail Blazers (1989–1997)Phoenix Suns (1997–2001)Detroit Pistons (2001–2003)Golden State Warriors (2003–2005)New Jersey Nets (2005–2007)

1,253

3,515

.356

50

Stephen Jackson

SG/SF

New Jersey Nets (2000–2001)San Antonio Spurs (2001–2003, 2012–2013)Atlanta Hawks (2003–2004)Indiana Pacers (2004–2007)Golden State Warriors (2007–2009)Charlotte Bobcats (2009–2011)Milwaukee Bucks (2011–2012)Los Angeles Clippers (2013–2014)

1,252

3,763

.333

text: Progressive list of 3-point scoring leaders[edit]

text: This is a progressive list of 3-point scoring leaders showing how the record has increased through the years.

text:
Team abbreviations

Team(s) listed is the one player was on when he established the record.

BOS
Boston Celtics
HOU
Houston Rockets
ORL
Orlando Magic
SEA
Seattle SuperSonics

CHA
Charlotte Bobcats
IND
Indiana Pacers
PHI
Philadelphia 76ers
TOR
Toronto Raptors

CHI
Chicago Bulls
LAL
Los Angeles Lakers
PHO
Phoenix Suns
UTA
Utah Jazz

CLE
Cleveland Cavaliers
MIA
Miami Heat
SAC
Sacramento Kings
WAS
Washington Wizards

DEN
Denver Nuggets
MIL
Milwaukee Bucks
SAS
San Antonio Spurs
WSB
Washington Bullets

GSW
Golden State Warriors
NYK
New York Knicks
SDC
San Diego Clippers

text:
Progressive 3-point leaders

Season

Year-by-year leader

3P

Active player leader

3P

Career record

3P

Single-season record

3P

Season

1979–80
Brian Taylor000SDC
90
Brian Taylor000SDC
90
Brian Taylor000SDC
90
Brian Taylor000SDC
90
1979–80

1980–81
Mike Bratz000CLE
57
134
134
1980–81

1981–82
Don Buse000IND
73
Joe Hassett000GSW
193
Joe Hassett000GSW
193
1981–82

1982–83
Mike Dunleavy000 SAS
67
194
194
1982–83

1983–84
Darrell Griffith000UTA
91
Darrell Griffith000UTA
154
Darrell Griffith000UTA
91
1983–84

1984–85
92
246
Darrell Griffith000UTA
246
92
1984–85

1985–86
Larry Bird*000BOS
82
Larry Bird*000BOS
267
Larry Bird*000BOS
267
1985–86

1986–87
90
357
357
1986–87

1987–88
Danny Ainge000BOS
148
455
455
Danny Ainge000BOS
148
1987–88

1988–89
Michael Adams000DEN
166
Dale Ellis000SEA
472
Dale Ellis000SEA
472
Michael Adams000DEN
166
1988–89

1989–90
158
568
568
1989–90

1990–91
Vernon Maxwell000HOU
172
Michael Adams000DEN 1990–91000WSB 1991–92
658
Michael Adams000DEN 1990–91000WSB 1991–92
658
Vernon Maxwell000HOU
172
1990–91

1991–92
162
783
783
1991–92

1992–93
Reggie Miller*000INDDan Majerle000PHO
167
Dale Ellis000 SAS 1992–94000 DEN 1994–97
882
Dale Ellis000 SAS 1992–94000 DEN 1994–97
882
1992–93

1993–94
Dan Majerle000PHO
192
1,013
1,013
Dan Majerle000PHO
192
1993–94

1994–95
John Starks000NYK
217
1,119
1,119
John Starks000NYK
217
1994–95

1995–96
Dennis Scott000ORL
267
1,269
1,269
Dennis Scott000ORL
267
1995–96

1996–97
Reggie Miller*000IND
229
1,461
1,461
1996–97

1997–98
Wesley Person000CLE
192
Reggie Miller*000IND
1,596
Reggie Miller*000IND
1,596
1997–98

1998–99
Dee Brown000TOR
135
1,702
1,702
1998–99

1999–00
Gary Payton*000SEA
177
1,867
1,867
1999–00

2000–01
Antoine Walker000BOS
221
2,037
2,037
2000–01

2001–02
Ray Allen*000MIL
229
2,217
2,217
2001–02

2002–03
201
2,330
2,330
2002–03

2003–04
Peja Stojaković000SAC
240
2,464
2,464
2003–04

2004–05
Quentin Richardson0PHOKyle Korver^00PHI
226
2,560
2,560
2004–05

2005–06
Ray Allen*000SEA
269
Ray Allen*000SEA 2005–07000BOS 2007–12000MIA 2012–14
1,755
Ray Allen*000SEA
269
2005–06

2006–07
Gilbert Arenas00WAS Raja Bell00PHO
205
1,920
2006–07

2007–08
Jason Richardson†000CHA
243
2,100
2007–08

2008–09
Rashard Lewis000ORL
220
2,299
2008–09

2009–10
Aaron Brooks^000HOU
209
2,444
2009–10

2010–11
Dorell Wright†000GSW
194
2,612
Ray Allen*000BOS 2010–12000MIA 2012–14
2,612
2010–11

2011–12
Ryan Anderson^000ORL
166
2,718
2,718
2011–12

2012–13
Stephen Curry^000GSW
272
2,857
2,857
Stephen Curry^000GSW
272
2012–13

2013–14
261
2,973
2,973
2013–14

2014–15
286
Jason Terry^000HOU 2014–16000MIL 2016–18
2,076
286
2014–15

2015–16
402
2,169
402
2015–16

2016–17
324
2,242
2016–17

2017–18
James Harden^000HOU
265
2,282
2017–18

Season
Year-by-year leader
3P
Active player leader
3P
Career record
3P
Single-season record
3P
Season

text: Notes[edit]

text:
Jump up ^ The National Basketball Association did not record 3-point field goals until the 1979–80 season

Jump up ^ "NBA Progressive Leaders and Records for 3-Pt Field Goals". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports-Reference. Retrieved 24 March 2015.

^ Jump up to: a b A player is not eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until he has been fully retired for three calendar years.

^ Jump up to: a b "Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Announces Eligible Candidates for the Class of 2018". Retrieved 29 December 2017.

Jump up ^ American Basketball Association (ABA) teams other than those admitted into the NBA in 1976 are not included; each year is linked to an article about that particular NBA season.

tag: ol


document_title: Appalachian Trail

question_text: where does the appalachian trail cross the hudson river

question_tokens: where does the appalachian trail cross the hudson river

root

text: Appalachian Trail

text: History[edit]

text: The trail was conceived by Benton MacKaye, a forester who wrote his original plan—called "An Appalachian Trail, A Project in Regional Planning"[9]—shortly after the death of his wife in 1921. MacKaye's idea detailed a grand trail that would connect a series of farms and wilderness work/study camps for city-dwellers. In 1922, at the suggestion of Major William A. Welch, director of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, his idea was publicized by Raymond H. Torrey with a story in the New York Evening Post under a full-page banner headline reading "A Great Trail from Maine to Georgia!" The idea was quickly adopted by the new Palisades Interstate Park Trail Conference as their main project.[citation needed]

tag: p

text: On October 7, 1923, the first section of the trail, from Bear Mountain west through Harriman State Park to Arden, New York, was opened. MacKaye then called for a two-day Appalachian Trail conference to be held in March 1925 in Washington, D.C. This meeting inspired the formation of the Appalachian Trail Conference (now called the Appalachian Trail Conservancy) (ATC).[10]

text: A retired judge named Arthur Perkins and his younger associate Myron Avery took up the cause. In 1929, Perkins, who was also a member of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association and its Blue Blazed Trails committee, found Ned Anderson, a farmer in Sherman, Connecticut, who took on the task of mapping and blazing the Connecticut leg of the trail (1929–1933). It ran from Dog Tail Corners in Webatuck, New York, which borders Kent, Connecticut, at Ashley Falls, 50 miles (80 km) through the northwest corner of the state, up to Bear Mountain at the Massachusetts border.[11] (A portion of the Connecticut trail has since been rerouted (1979–1983) to be more scenic, adhering less to highways and more to wilderness, and includes a Ned K. Anderson Memorial Bridge.)[12]

text: Anderson's efforts helped spark renewed interest in the trail, and Avery (who led the charge after Perkins’ death in 1932) was able to bring other states on board. Upon taking over the ATC, Avery adopted the more practical goal of building a simple hiking trail. He and MacKaye clashed over the ATC's response to a major commercial development along the trail's path; MacKaye left the organization, while Avery was willing to simply reroute the trail. Avery reigned as Chairman of the ATC from 1932 to 1952 (he died that same year).[13][citation needed]

text: Avery became the first to walk the trail end-to-end, though not as a thru-hike, in 1936. In August 1937, the trail was completed to Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine, and the ATC shifted its focus toward protecting the trail lands and mapping the trail for hikers.

text: Many of the trail's present highlights were not part of the trail in 1937: Roan Mountain, North Carolina and Tennessee; the Mount Rogers high country, including Grayson Highlands, Virginia; the Pochuck Creek swamp, New Jersey; Nuclear Lake, New York; Thundering Falls, Vermont; and Saddleback Mountain, Maine. Except for places where the Civilian Conservation Corps was brought in (mostly in Shenandoah National Park, the Great Smoky Mountains, and Maine), the original trail often climbed straight up and down mountains, creating rough hiking conditions and a treadway prone to severe erosion. The ATC's trail crews and volunteer trail-maintaining clubs have relocated or rehabilitated miles of trail since that time.[14]

text: In 1936, A 121-day Maine to Georgia veteran's group funded and supported thru-hike was reported to have been completed, with all but three miles of the new trail cleared and blazed, by six Boy Scouts from New York City and their guides.[15] The completed thru-hike was much later recorded and accepted by the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association.[16]

text: In 1938, the trail sustained major damage from a hurricane that went through the New England area. This happened right before the start of World War II and many of the people working on the trail were called to active duty. [17]

text: In 1948, Earl Shaffer of York, Pennsylvania, brought a great deal of attention to the project by publicizing the first claimed thru-hike. The claim was later criticized for the hike's omission of significant portions due to short-cuts and car rides.[18][19][20] Shaffer later claimed the first north-to-south thru-hike, the first to claim to do so in each direction.[21] Chester Dziengielewski was later to be named the first south bound thru-hiker.[18] In 1998, Shaffer, nearly 80 years old, hiked the trail, making him the oldest person to claim a completed thru-hike.[22][23] The first solo woman to complete the hike was 67-year old Emma Gatewood who completed the northbound trek in 1955, taking 146 days. She repeated the achievement two years later.[24]

text: In the 1960s, the ATC made progress toward protecting the trail from development, thanks to efforts of politicians and officials. The National Trails System Act of 1968 designated the Pacific Crest Trail and Appalachian Trail as the first national scenic trails and paved the way for a series of National Scenic Trails within the National Park and National Forest systems.[25] Trail volunteers worked with the National Park Service to map a permanent route for the trail, and by 1971 a permanent route had been marked (though minor changes continue to this day). By the close of the 20th century, the Park Service had completed the purchase of all but a few miles of the trail's span.

text: Extensions[edit]

text: The International Appalachian Trail is a 1,900-mile (3,100 km) extension running northeast from Maine into New Brunswick and Quebec's Gaspé Peninsula, where it ends at Forillon National Park. It is a separate trail and not an official extension of the Appalachian Trail.[26] Other branches are designated in parts of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and along the western shore of Newfoundland, to the northern end of the Appalachian Mountain range, where it enters the Atlantic Ocean, near L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site. The route has since been extended to Greenland, Europe, and Morocco.[27]

text: Although the Appalachian Trail ends in Georgia, the Appalachian Mountains continue south to Flagg Mountain in Alabama.[28] In 2008, the Pinhoti National Recreation Trail in Alabama and Georgia, which terminates at Flagg Mountain, was connected to the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail via the Benton MacKaye Trail. Promoters of the Southern extension refer to MacKaye's statement at the 1925 conference that the Georgia to New Hampshire trail should, in the future, extend to Katahdin, and "then to Birmingham, Alabama". As of March 2015[update], The Pinhoti Trail terminates at the base of Flagg Mountain, near Weogufka in Coosa County, 50 miles (80 km) east of Birmingham.[29][30] In 2010, the Alabama state legislature formed the Alabama Appalachian Mountain Trail Commission to provide state resources for trail improvements, although officially designating Pinhoti as part of the Appalachian Trail would require an act of the United States Congress.[31]

text: The 8.8-mile (14.2 km) Appalachian Approach Trail begins at Amicalola Falls State Park's visitor center and ends at Springer Mountain.[32] Because Springer Mountain is in a remote area, the Approach Trail is often the beginning of North bound thru-hike attempts. Much of the Approach Trail was originally built as part of the Appalachian Trail, before the southern terminus was relocated from Mount Oglethorpe to Springer Mountain.

text: Flora and fauna[edit]

text: The Appalachian Trail is home to thousands of species of plants and animals, including 2,000 rare, threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant and animal species.[33]

text: Animals[edit]

text: The American black bear (Ursus americanus), among the largest animals along the Appalachian Trail, rarely confronts people.[34] The black bear is the largest omnivore that may be encountered on the trail, and it inhabits all regions of the Appalachians.[35] Bear sightings on the trail are uncommon, except in certain sections, especially Shenandoah National Park and portions of New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts sections, where bear populations have increased steadily since 1980; confrontations are rarer still.[34] Other hazards include venomous snakes, including the Eastern timber rattlesnake and copperhead, which are common along the trail. Both snakes are generally found in drier, rockier sections of the trail; the copperhead's range extends north to around the New Jersey–New York state line, while rattlesnakes are commonly found along the trail in Connecticut and have been reported, although rarely, as far north as New Hampshire.[36] Other large mammals commonly sighted include deer;[37] elk, reintroduced in the Smoky Mountains; and moose, which may be found in the vicinity of Massachusetts and northward.[38]

text: Small mammal species that inhabit along the trails are beaver, squirrel, river otter, chipmunk, porcupine, bobcat, two species of fox, boar, woodchuck, raccoon, and coyote. Bird species that reside in the trails are wild turkey, ruffed grouse, mourning dove, raven, two species of eagle, wood duck, three species of owl, and three species of hawk as well as warblers.

text: For most hikers, the most persistent pests along the trail are ticks, mosquitos, and black flies along with the mice that inhabit shelters.[39]

text: Plants[edit]

text: Plant life along the trail is varied. The trail passes through several different biomes from south to north, and the climate changes significantly, particularly dependent upon elevation. In the south, lowland forests consist mainly of second-growth; nearly the entire trail has been logged at one time or another. There are, however, a few old growth locations along the trail, such as Sages Ravine straddling the Massachusetts-Connecticut border and atop higher peaks along the trail on either side of the same border, the Hopper (a glacial cirque westward of the trail as it traverses Mt. Greylock in Massachusetts), and "The Hermitage", near Gulf Hagas in Maine. In the south, the forest is dominated by hardwoods, including oak and tulip trees, also known as yellow poplar.[40] Farther north, tulip trees are gradually replaced by maples and birches. Oaks begin to disappear in Massachusetts. By Vermont, the lowland forest is made up of maples, birch and beech, with colorful foliage displays in September and October.[37] While the vast majority of lowland forest south of the White Mountains is hardwood, many areas have some coniferous trees as well, and in Maine, these often grow at low elevations.[40]

text: There is a drastic change between the lowland and subalpine, evergreen forest, as well as another, higher break, at tree line, above which only hardy alpine plants grow.[40] The sub-alpine region is far more prevalent along the trail than true alpine conditions. While it mainly exists in the north, a few mountains in the south have subalpine environments, which are typically coated in an ecosystem known as the Southern Appalachian spruce-fir forest. Southern ranges and mountains where sub-alpine environments occur include the Great Smoky Mountains, where sub-alpine environments only begin around 6,000 feet (1,800 m) in elevation, Roan Highlands on the North Carolina-Tennessee border, where sub-alpine growth descends below 6,000 feet (1,800 m), and Mount Rogers and the Grayson Highlands in Virginia, where there is some alpine growth above 5,000 feet (1,500 m). Appalachian balds are also found in the Southern highlands, and are believed to occur due to fires or grazing in recent centuries, or in some cases due to thin, sandy soils.[41] Several balds are sprouting trees, and on some, the National Forest service actually mows the grasses periodically in order to keep the balds free of trees.[citation needed]

text: Topography[edit]

text: No sub-alpine regions exist between Mount Rogers in Virginia and Mount Greylock in Massachusetts, mainly because the trail stays below 3,000 feet (910 m) from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Mount Greylock. Mount Greylock, however, has a large subalpine region, the only such forest in Massachusetts, extending down to 3,000 feet (910 m), which in the south would be far from the sub-alpine cutoff. This is especially low because Greylock is exposed to prevailing westerly winds, as the summits along its ridgeline rise approximately 200 to 650 feet (61 to 198 m) higher than any other peak in Massachusetts. Farther north, several peaks in Vermont reach into the sub-alpine zone, the bottom of which steadily descends as one proceeds northward, so that by the White Mountains in New Hampshire, it often occurs well below 3,000 feet (910 m). At Mount Moosilauke, which summits at 4,802 feet (1,464 m), the first alpine environment on the trail is reached, where only thin, sporadic flora is interspersed with bare rocks. Between the two regions is the krummholz region, where stunted trees grow with their branches oriented away from the winter's prevailing northwest wind, thus giving the appearance of flags (they are often called "flag trees"). This region resembles lowland terrain hundreds of miles north in Canada. It also contains many endangered and threatened species. The trail has been rerouted over New Hampshire's Presidential Range so the Appalachian Mountain Club can protect certain plant life. The alpine cutoff in the Whites is generally between 4,200 and 4,800 feet (1,300 and 1,500 m). Mountains traversed by the A.T. above treeline include Mount Moosilauke, several miles along the Franconia Range and along the Presidential Range. In the Presidentials, the trail climbs as high as 6,288 feet (1,917 m) on Mount Washington and spends about 13 miles (21 km) continuously above treeline, in the largest alpine environment in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains.

text: The segments of the trail through Pennsylvania are so rocky that hikers refer to the region as "Rocksylvania".[42] These small rocks—the result of erosion that has worn away the dirt along the trails—can be tough to walk on for extended periods of time without proper hard-soled shoes.

text: In Maine, the trail extends into even harsher environments, and sub-alpine and alpine growth descends to lower elevations. Alpine growth in the state ranges from around 2,500 feet (760 m) in the Mahoosuc Range to below 1,000 feet (300 m) in parts of the Hundred-Mile Wilderness,[43] where nearly every area higher than 1,000 feet (300 m) is evergreen forest. These forests include more species of evergreen, as well. In addition to the white pine, spruce and hemlock prevalent further south, Maine has many cedar trees along the trail. Near the northern terminus, there are even some tamarack (larch), a coniferous, pine-needled deciduous tree, which provides displays of yellow in the late fall after the birches and maples have gone bare. The hemlocks in Maine are also notable, as the woolly adelgid, which has ravaged populations further south, has not come into the state yet, and may be unable to make it so far north due to the cold climate.

text: Maine also has several alpine regions. In addition to several areas of the Mahoosuc Range, the Baldpates and Old Blue in southern Maine have alpine characteristics despite elevations below 4,000 feet (1,200 m). Saddleback Mountain and Mount Bigelow, further north, each only extend a bit above 4,000 feet (1,200 m), but have long alpine areas, with no tree growth on the summits and unobstructed views on clear days. From Mount Bigelow, the trail extends for 150 miles (240 km) with only a small area of alpine growth around 3,500 feet (1,100 m) on the summit of White Cap Mountain. Mount Katahdin, the second largest alpine environment in the eastern United States, has several square miles of alpine area on the flat "table land" summit as well as the cliffs and aretes leading up to it. Treeline on Mount Katahdin is only around 3,500 feet (1,100 m). This elevation in Massachusetts would barely be a sub-alpine region, and, south of Virginia, consists of lowland forest. This illustrates the drastic change in climate over 2,000 miles (3,200 km).

text: Despite the alpine environments well below 5,000 feet (1,500 m) in New Hampshire and Maine, some higher places farther south are not alpine. Examples include Wayah Bald in North Carolina 5,342 feet (1,628 m) and Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park 6,643 feet (2,025 m).

text: Hiking the trail[edit]

text: Bicycles are prohibited from most of the trail, except for the sections which follow the C&O Canal in Maryland and the Virginia Creeper Trail in Virginia. Horses and pack animals are prohibited except horses on the C&O Canal and in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.[44] Several short segments of the trail, in towns and scenic natural areas, were built to ADA accessibly standards for wheelchair use.[45]

text: Navigation[edit]

text: Throughout its length, the AT is marked by white paint blazes that are 2 by 6 inches (5 by 15 cm). Side trails to shelters, viewpoints and parking areas use similarly shaped blue blazes. In past years, some sections of the trail also used metal diamond markers with the AT logo, few of which survive.

text:
Original 1930 ATC copper marker from a tree in New Jersey

An old metal diamond marker beside the trail in Maine

A typical white AT blaze along the trail in Pennsylvania

An example of a side-trail blue blaze, from Mount Greylock in Massachusetts

Markers on Wayah Bald where the Bartram Trail meets the AT

tag: ul

text: Lodging and camping[edit]

text: Most hikers carry a lightweight tent, tent hammock or tarp.[46] The trail has more than 250 shelters and campsites available for hikers.[47] The shelters, sometimes called lean-tos (in Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut), huts (in Shenandoah National Park), or Adirondack shelters, are generally open, three-walled structures with a wooden floor, although some shelters are much more complex in structure. Shelters are usually spaced a day's hike or less apart, most often near a water source (which may be dry) and with a privy. They generally have spaces for tent sites in the vicinity as the shelters may be full.[1] The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) operates a system of eight huts along 56 miles (90 km) of New Hampshire's White Mountains.[37] These huts are significantly larger than standard trail shelters and offer full-service lodging and meals during the summer months. The Fontana Dam Shelter in North Carolina is more commonly referred to as the Fontana Hilton because of amenities (e.g. flush toilets) and its proximity to an all-you-can-eat buffet and post office.[47][48] Several AMC huts have an extended self-service season during the fall, with two extending self-service seasons through the winter and spring.[49] The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club maintains trail cabins, shelters, and huts throughout the Shenandoah region of Virginia.[37]

text: Shelters are generally maintained by local volunteers. Almost all shelters have one or more pre-hung food hangers (generally consisting of a short nylon cord with an upside-down tuna can suspended halfway down its length) where hikers can hang their food bags to keep them out of the reach of rodents. In hiker lingo, these are sometimes called "mouse trapezes."[50]

text: In addition to official shelters, many people offer their homes, places of business, or inns to accommodate AT hikers. One example is the Little Lyford Pond camps maintained by the Appalachian Mountain Club. Inns are more common in sections of the trail that coincide with national parks, most notably Virginia's Shenandoah National Park.[51]

text: Trail towns[edit]

text: The trail crosses many roads, thus providing ample opportunity for hikers to hitchhike into town for food and other supplies. Many trail towns are accustomed to hikers passing through, and thus many have hotels and hiker-oriented accommodations.[1] Some of the most well-known trail towns are Hot Springs, North Carolina; Erwin, Tennessee; Damascus, Virginia; Harpers Ferry, West Virginia; Duncannon, Pennsylvania; Port Clinton, Pennsylvania; Wingdale, NY; Kent, Connecticut; Salisbury, Connecticut; Great Barrington, Massachusetts; Hanover, New Hampshire; Lincoln, New Hampshire; Gorham, New Hampshire and Monson, Maine. In the areas of the trail closer to trail towns, many hikers have experienced what is sometimes called "trail magic,"[52] or assistance from strangers through kind actions, gifts, and other forms of encouragement.[53] Trail magic is sometimes done anonymously.[54] In other instances, persons have provided food and cooked for hikers at a campsite.

text: Hazards[edit]

text: The Appalachian Trail is relatively safe. Most injuries or incidents are consistent with comparable outdoor activities. Most hazards are related to weather conditions, human error, plants, animals, diseases, and hostile humans encountered along the trail.[55]

text: Many animals live around the trail, with bears, snakes, and wild boars posing the greatest threat to human safety. Several rodent- and bug-borne illnesses are also a potential hazard. In scattered instances, foxes, raccoons, and other small animals may bite hikers, posing risk of rabies and other diseases. There has been one reported case (in 1993) of hantavirus (HPS), a rare but dangerous rodent-borne disease affecting the lungs. The afflicted hiker recovered and hiked the trail the following year.[55] The section of the trail that runs through the Mid-Atlantic and New England states has a very high population of deer ticks carrying Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, and corresponds to the highest density of reported Lyme Disease in the country.[55]

text: Poison ivy is common the length of the trail, and more plentiful in the South.[1]

text: The weather is another major consideration of hikers on the trail. Hiking season of the trail generally starts in mid-to-late spring, when conditions are much more favorable in the South. However, this time may also be characterized by extreme heat, sometimes in excess of 100 °F (38 °C). Under such conditions, hydration is imperative. Light clothing and sunscreens are a must at high elevations and areas without foliage, even in relatively cool weather.[55] Farther north and at higher elevations, the weather can be cold, characterized by low temperatures, strong winds, hail or snow storms and reduced visibility. Prolonged rain, though not typically life-threatening, can undermine stamina and ruin supplies.[56] In March 2015, a hiker was killed on the trail in Maryland when a large tree blew over and fell onto him.[57]

text: Violent crime, including murder, has occurred on the trail in a few instances. Most have been crimes by non-hikers who crossed paths relatively randomly with the AT hiker-victims. The official website of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy points out that the number of violent crimes is extremely low when compared against the number of people (3 to 4 million) who hike on the trail every year.[58]

text: The first reported homicide on the trail was in 1974 in Georgia.[59] In 1981, the issue of violence on the Appalachian Trail received national attention when Robert Mountford, Jr. and Laura Susan Ramsay, both social workers in Ellsworth, Maine, were murdered by Randall Lee Smith.[60] Another homicide occurred in May 1996, when two women were abducted, bound and murdered near the trail in Shenandoah National Park. The primary suspect was later discovered harassing a female bicycler in the vicinity,[61] but charges against him were dropped, and the case remains unsolved.[62]

text: Human error can lead to casualties as well. In July 2013, 66-year-old lone hiker Geraldine Largay disappeared on the trail in Maine. She got very lost and survived 26 days before dying. Her remains were found 2 years later in October 2015.[63] In October 2015, a hiker visiting from England was killed on the trail by falling while taking photos at the Annapolis Rocks overlook in Maryland.[64]

text: Trail completion[edit]

text: Trail hikers who attempt to complete the entire trail in a single season are called "thru-hikers"; those who traverse the trail during a series of separate trips are known as "section-hikers". Rugged terrain, weather extremes, illness, injury, and the time and effort required make thru-hiking difficult to accomplish. Per 2014 estimates around 2700 hikers attempted to thru-hike the trail.[3]

text: Historically, only about 10% to 15% of those who make the attempt report to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy that they completed it.[65] However, since 2001, the number of people starting out in Georgia to do a thru-hike (or at least registering to do so) has dropped considerably, yet the number of people reporting that they have completed a thru-hike has remained approximately the same. This has resulted in an apparent increase in the completion rate to 29% (as of 2006).

text: The Appalachian Trail is usually thru-hiked south to north (that is, Georgia to Maine) rather than vice versa. Hikers typically begin in March or April and finish in late summer or early to late fall of that year.

text: A thru-hike generally requires five to seven months, although some have done it in three months, and several trail runners have completed the trail in less time. Trail runners typically tackle the AT with automobile support teams, without backpacks, and without camping in the woods.

text: Thru-hikers are classified into many informal groups. "Purists" are hikers who stick to the official AT trail, follow the white blazes, except for side trips to shelters and camp sites. "Blue Blazers" cut miles from the full route by taking side trails marked by blue blazes. The generally pejorative name "Yellow Blazers," a reference to yellow road stripes, is given to those who hitchhike to move either down or up the trail.

text: Most thru-hikers walk northward from Georgia to Maine, and generally start out in early spring and follow the warm weather as it moves north.[1] These "north-bounders" are also called NOBO (NOrthBOund) or GAME (Georgia(GA)-to-Maine(ME)), while those heading in the opposite direction are termed "south-bounders" (also SOBO or MEGA).[66][67]

text: Part of hiker subculture includes making colorful entries in logbooks at trail shelters, signed using pseudonyms called "trail names".[6]

text: The Appalachian Trail Conservancy gives the name "2000 Miler" to anyone who completes the entire trail. The ATC's recognition policy for "2000 Milers" gives equal recognition to thru-hikers and section-hikers, operates on the honor system, and recognizes blue-blazed trails or officially required roadwalks as substitutes for the official, white-blazed route during an emergency such as a flood, forest fire, or impending storm on an exposed, high-elevation stretch.[68] As of 2010, more than 11,000 people had reported completing the entire trail.[69] About three-quarters of these are thru-hikers.[69]

text: The Appalachian Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, and the Pacific Crest Trail form what is known as the Triple Crown of long-distance hiking in the United States.[7][8] In 2001, Brian Robinson became the first one to complete all three trails in a year.[70] In 2015, Heather Anderson (trail name "Anish") became the first woman to hold the unsupported record on the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail simultaneously.[71]

text: Speed records[edit]

text: Fastest known times for self-supported attempts (meaning no vehicle or crew support, implying carrying a heavy backpack):

text:
Joe McConaughy completed the trail northbound, on August 31, 2017 in 45 days, 12 hours and 15 minutes.[72][73]
Heather Anderson completed the trail, southbound, on September 24, 2015, in 54 days, 7 hours and 48 minutes.[71]

text: Fastest known times for supported attempts (the athletes travel light, relying on a crew support with food, shelter, medical treatment, etc.):

text:
Karl Meltzer, southbound, on September 18, 2016, in 45 days, 22 hours, and 38 minutes.[74][75]
Scott Jurek, northbound, from late May to mid-July 2015, in 46 days, 8 hours, and 7 minutes.[76]

text: Age records[edit]

text: On October 26, 2017, Dale "Grey Beard" Sanders became the oldest person to hike the entire Appalachian Trail at age 82.[77]

text: Route[edit]

text: The trail is currently protected along more than 99% of its course by federal or state ownership of the land or by right-of-way. The trail is maintained by a variety of citizen organizations, environmental advocacy groups, governmental agencies and individuals. Annually, more than 4,000 volunteers contribute over 175,000 hours of effort on the Appalachian Trail, an effort coordinated largely by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) organization. In total, the AT passes through eight national forests and two national parks.[47]

text: In the course of its journey, the trail follows the ridge line of the Appalachian Mountains, crossing many of its highest peaks, and running, with only a few exceptions, almost continuously through wilderness. The trail used to traverse many hundreds of miles of private property; currently 99% of the trail is on public land.[78]

text: Georgia[edit]

text: Georgia has 75 miles (121 km) of the trail, including the southern terminus at Springer Mountain at an elevation of 3,782 feet (1,153 m).[79] At 4,461 feet (1,360 m), Blood Mountain is the highest point on the trail in Georgia. The AT and approach trail, along with many miles of blue blazed side trails, are managed and maintained by the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club. See also: Georgia Peaks on the Appalachian Trail.

text: North Carolina[edit]

text: North Carolina has 95.7 miles (154.0 km) of the trail, not including more than 200 miles (320 km) along the Tennessee Border.[80] Altitude ranges from 1,725 to 5,498 feet (526 to 1,676 m). The trail enters from Georgia at Bly Gap, ascending peaks such as Standing Indian Mountain, Mt. Albert, and Wayah Bald. It then goes by Nantahala Outdoor Center at the Nantahala River Gorge and the Nantahala River crossing. Up to this point, the trail is maintained by the Nantahala Hiking Club. Beyond this point, it is maintained by the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club. 30 miles (48 km) further north, Fontana Dam marks the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.[81]

text: Tennessee[edit]

text: Tennessee has 71 miles (114 km) of the trail,[82][83] not including more than 200 miles (320 km) along or near the North Carolina Border.[84] The section that runs just below the summit of Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is along the North Carolina and Tennessee border and is the highest point on the trail at 6,643 feet (2,025 m). The Smoky Mountains Hiking Club (Knoxville, TN) maintains the trail throughout the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Davenport Gap. North of Davenport Gap, the Carolina Mountain Club (Asheville, NC) maintains the trail to Spivey Gap. Then the remaining Tennessee section is maintained by the Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club (Kingsport, TN).

text: Virginia[edit]

text: Virginia has 550.3 miles (885.6 km) of the trail (one-fourth of the entire trail) including more than 20 miles (32 km) along the West Virginia border.[85] With the climate, and the timing of northbound thru-hikers, this section is wet and challenging because of the spring thaw and heavy spring rainfall.[86] Substantial portions of the trail closely parallel Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park and, further south, the Blue Ridge Parkway.[85] The Appalachian Trail Conservancy considers as excellent for beginning hikers a well-maintained 104 miles (167 km) section of the trail that the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed in Shenandoah National Park. Climbs in this section rarely exceed 1,000 feet (300 m).[14][85] In the southwestern portion of the state, the trail goes within one half mile of the highest point in Virginia, Mount Rogers, which is a short side-hike from the AT.

text: West Virginia[edit]

text: West Virginia has 4 miles (6.4 km) of the trail, not including about 20 miles (32 km) along the Virginia border.[87] Here the trail passes through the town of Harpers Ferry, headquarters of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Harpers Ferry is what many consider to be the mental midpoint of the entire A.T., although the actual midpoint is further north in southern Pennsylvania. (The exact midpoint moves due to trail rerouting.)[88]

text: Maryland[edit]

text: Maryland has 41 miles (66 km) of the trail, with elevations ranging from 230 to 1,880 feet (70 to 573 m).[89] Most of the trail runs along the ridgeline of South Mountain in South Mountain State Park.[90] Hikers are required to stay at designated shelters and campsites. The trail runs through the eastern edge of Greenbrier State Park. This can serve as a luxurious stop point for a hot shower and a visit to the camp store. The trail runs along the C&O Canal Towpath route for 3 miles (4.8 km). Hikers will also pass High Rock, which offers extensive views and is also used as a hang-gliding site.[91] The section ends at Pen Mar Park, which sits on the border of Maryland and Pennsylvania.

text: Pennsylvania[edit]

text: Pennsylvania has 229.6 miles (369.5 km) of the trail.[92] The trail extends from the Pennsylvania – Maryland line at Pen Mar, a tiny town straddling the state line, to the Delaware Water Gap, at the Pennsylvania – New Jersey border. The Susquehanna River is generally considered the dividing line between the northern and southern sections of the Pennsylvania AT. South of the Susquehanna, the trail passes through Pine Grove Furnace State Park. The Pennsylvania section of the trail north of the Susquehanna, from Duncannon until the Delaware Water Gap, is noted for its eroded and rocky terrain which can slow hiking.[93]

text: New Jersey[edit]

text: New Jersey is home to 72.2 miles (116.2 km) of the trail.[94] The trail enters New Jersey from the south on a pedestrian walkway along the Interstate 80 bridge over the Delaware River, ascends from the Delaware Water Gap to the top of Kittatinny Mountain in Worthington State Forest, passes Sunfish Pond (right), continues north through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Stokes State Forest and eventually reaches High Point State Park, the highest peak in New Jersey (a side trail is required to reach the actual peak). It then turns in a southeastern direction along the New York border for about 30 miles (48 km), passing over long sections of boardwalk bridges over marshy land, then entering Wawayanda State Park and then the Abram S. Hewitt State Forest just before entering New York near Greenwood Lake. In New Jersey the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference maintains and updates the Appalachian Trail.

text: Black bear activity along the trail in New Jersey increased rapidly starting in 2001. Hence, metal bear-proof trash boxes are in place at all New Jersey shelters.

text: New York[edit]

text: New York's 88.4 miles (142.3 km) of trail contain very little elevation change compared to other states.[95] From south to north, the trail summits many small mountains under 1,400 feet (430 m) in elevation, its highest point in New York being Prospect Rock at 1,433 feet (437 m), and only 3,000 feet (910 m) from the border with New Jersey. The trail continues north, climbing near Fitzgerald Falls, passing through Sterling Forest, and then entering Harriman State Park and Bear Mountain State Park. The lowest point on the entire Appalachian Trail is in the Bear Mountain Zoo 124 feet (38 m). It crosses the Hudson River on the Bear Mountain Bridge. It then passes through Fahnestock State Park, and continues northeast and crosses the Metro-North Railroad's Harlem Line. This track crossing is the site of the only train station along the trail's length. It enters Connecticut via the Pawling Nature Reserve. The section of the trail that passes through Harriman and Bear Mountain State Parks is the oldest section of the trail, completed in 1923. A portion of this section was paved by 700 volunteers with 800 granite-slab steps followed by over a mile of walkway supported by stone crib walls with boulders lining the path.[6] The project took four years, cost roughly $1 million, and was officially opened in June 2010.[6] The project was done by the New York–New Jersey Trail Conference. The New York–New Jersey Trail Conference maintains and updates the Appalachian Trail in New York.

text: Connecticut[edit]

text: Connecticut's 52 miles (84 km) of trail lie almost entirely along the ridges to the west above the Housatonic River valley.[96]

text: The state line is also the western boundary of a 480 acres (190 ha) Connecticut reservation inhabited by Schaghticoke Indians. Inside it, the AT roughly parallels its northern boundary, crossing back outside it after 2,000 feet (610 m). The trail proceeds northward through the Housatonic River valley and hills to its west, veering northwesterly and, at Salisbury, ascending the southern Taconic mountains, at Lion's Head affording a view northeasterly towards Mt. Greylock and other points in Massachusetts, and at Bear Mountain, reaching over 2,000 feet (610 m) in elevation for the first time since Pennsylvania and yielding views across the Hudson River valley to the Catskills and across the broad expanse of the Housatonic valley and the Berkshire and Litchfield Hills to the east. Just north of Bear, the trail, as it crosses into Massachusetts, descends into Sages Ravine, a deep gorge in the eastern Taconic ridgeline which is home to a fragile old growth forest. As the trail crosses the brook in the ravine, it leaves the area maintained by the Connecticut section of the Appalachian Mountain Club.

text: Massachusetts[edit]

text: Massachusetts has 90 miles (140 km) of trail.[97] The entire section of trail is in western Massachusetts' Berkshire County. It summits the highest peak in the southern Taconic Range, Mount Everett (2,604 feet (794 m)), then descends to the Housatonic River valley and skirts the town of Great Barrington. The trail passes through the towns of Dalton and Cheshire, and summits the highest point in the state at 3,491 feet (1,064 m), Mount Greylock. It then quickly descends to the valley within 2 miles (3.2 km) of North Adams and Williamstown, before ascending again to the Vermont state line. The trail throughout Massachusetts is maintained by the Berkshire Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club.

text: Vermont[edit]

text: Vermont has 150 miles (240 km) of the trail.[98] Upon entering Vermont, the trail coincides with the southernmost sections of the generally north/south-oriented Long Trail. It follows the ridge of the southern Green Mountains, summitting such notable peaks as Stratton Mountain, Glastenbury Mountain, and Killington Peak. After parting ways with the Long Trail at Maine Junction, the AT turns in a more eastward direction, crossing the White River, passing through Norwich, and entering Hanover, New Hampshire, as it crosses the Connecticut River. The Green Mountain Club maintains the AT from the Massachusetts state border to Route 12. The Dartmouth Outing Club maintains the trail from VT Route 12 to the New Hampshire state line.

text: New Hampshire[edit]

text: New Hampshire has 161 miles (259 km) of the trail.[99] The New Hampshire AT is nearly all within the White Mountain National Forest. For northbound thru-hikers, it is the beginning of the main challenges that go beyond enduring distance and time: in New Hampshire and Maine, rough or steep ground are more frequent and alpine conditions are found near summits and along ridges. The trail reaches 17 of the 48 four-thousand footers of New Hampshire, including 6,288-foot (1,917 m) Mount Washington, the highest point of the AT north of Tennessee and most topographically prominent peak in eastern North America. The trail passes within half a mile of 7 additional 4000-footer peaks in the Whites. Entering the alpine zone on the summit of Mount Pierce, from the south, the trail continues in alpine or near-alpine scrub continuously along the high Presidential ridge until descending the southeast flank of Mount Madison into the Great Gulf Wilderness over 12 miles northward. This region is subject to extremes of weather with little natural shelter and only occasional man-made shelter from the elements. Though greatest from November to May, the threat of severe and cold conditions in the Presidentials and across the New Hampshire Section is present year-round and requires hikers' careful attention to weather forecasts and planning, provisions and gear. The Dartmouth Outing Club maintains the AT from the Vermont border past Mount Moosilauke to Kinsman Notch, northwest of Woodstock, New Hampshire, Randolph Mountain Club maintains 2.2 miles from Osgood Trail near Madison Hut to Edmands Col, with the AMC maintaining the remaining miles through the state.

text: Maine[edit]

text: Maine has 281 miles (452 km) of the trail. The northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail is on Mount Katahdin's Baxter Peak in Baxter State Park.

text: In some parts of the trail in Maine, even the strongest hikers may only average 1 mile per hour (1.6 km/h), with places where hikers must hold on to tree limbs and roots to climb or descend, which is especially hazardous in wet weather.[100] The western section includes a mile-long (1.6 km) stretch of boulders, some of which hikers must pass under, at Mahoosuc Notch, sometimes called the trail's hardest mile.

text: Although there are dozens of river and stream fords on the Maine section of the trail, the Kennebec River is the only one on the trail that requires a boat crossing. The most isolated portion of the Appalachian Trail, known as the "Hundred-Mile Wilderness", occurs in Maine. It heads east-northeast from the town of Monson and ends outside Baxter State Park just south of Abol Bridge.[101]

text: Park management strongly discourages thru-hiking within the park before May 15 or after October 15.[102]

text: The AMC maintains the AT from the New Hampshire state line to Grafton Notch, with the Maine Appalachian Trail Club responsible for maintaining the remaining miles to Mt. Katahdin. The international extension, called the International Appalachian Trail begins at Mt. Katahdin.

text: Major intersections[edit]

text: Listed from south to north.

text: Southern terminus: Springer Mountain, Georgia

text:
US 76 in Northeast Georgia
 US 64 near Nantahala River, North Carolina
  US 19/US 74 near Fontana Lake, North Carolina
 U.S. Route 441 along the North Carolina/Tennessee state line
 I-40 along the North Carolina/Tennessee state line
  US 25/US 70 in Hot Springs, North Carolina
  I-26/US 23 along the North Carolina/Tennessee state line
 US 19W along the North Carolina/Tennessee state line
 US 19E near Roan Mountain, Tennessee
 US 321 at Watauga Lake, Tennessee
 US 421 near South Holston Lake, Tennessee
 SR 16 near Sugar Grove, Virginia
 US 58 in Damascus, Virginia
 I-81 near Marion, Virginia
  I-77/U.S. Route 52 near Wytheville, Virginia
 US 460 in Pearisburg, Virginia
 I-81 near Roanoke, Virginia
 US 501 along the James River in Virginia
 US 60 near Buena Vista, Virginia
 I-64 near Waynesboro, Virginia
 US 250 near Waynesboro, Virginia
 U.S. Route 33 in Shenandoah National Park
 US 211 near Luray, Virginia
 US 522 near Front Royal, Virginia
 I-66 in Front Royal, Virginia
  US 17/US 50 near Waterloo, Virginia
 US 340 in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
 US 340 in Sandy Hook, Maryland
  I-70/US 40 near Hagerstown, Maryland
 US 30 near Fayetteville, Pennsylvania
 I-76 in Middlesex Township, Pennsylvania
 US 11 in Middlesex Township, Pennsylvania
 I-81 in Middlesex Township, Pennsylvania
  US 11/US 15 in Duncannon, Pennsylvania
  US 22/US 322 in Duncannon, Pennsylvania
 I-81 near Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania
 I-476 near Slatington, Pennsylvania
 I-80 along the Pennsylvania/New Jersey state line
 US 206 near Frankford Township, New Jersey
 I-87/New York State Thruway near Harriman, New York
   US 6/US 9W/US 202 near Fort Montgomery, New York
 Us 9 near Garrison, New York
 Taconic State Parkway near Shenandoah, New York
 I-84 near Whaley Lake, New York
 US 7 near Falls Village, Connecticut
 US 44 near Salisbury, Connecticut
 US 7 near Great Barrington, Massachusetts
 I-90 near Lee, Massachusetts
 US 20 near Lee, Massachusetts
 US 4 near Rutland, Vermont
 I-89 near West Hartford, Vermont
 US 5 in Norwich, Vermont
 I-91 in Norwich, Vermont
  I-93/US 3 near Franconia, New Hampshire
 US 302 in the White Mountain National Forest
 NH 16 at Pinkham Notch in the White Mountain National Forest
 US 2 near Gorham, New Hampshire
 US 201 in Caratunk, Maine

text: Northern terminus: Mount Katahdin, Maine

text: Management[edit]

text: The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (originally, Appalachian Trail Conference) and the National Park Service oversee the entire length of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail via memorandums of understanding with other public agencies through whose land the trail runs, including the U.S. Forest Service. national parks, national forests, the Tennessee Valley Authority, state parks, and others, who help administer portions of the trail corridor. The estimated annual contribution of volunteer services for trail upkeep is $3 million.[103]

text: Use in research[edit]

text: The Appalachian Trail has been a resource for researchers in a variety of disciplines. Portions of the trail in Tennessee were used on a study on trail maintenance for the trail's "uniform environmental conditions and design attributes and substantial gradient in visitor use."[83] Beginning in 2007, various citizen groups, including the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the American Hiking Society, began a study to monitor environmental changes that have resulted from higher ozone levels, acid rain, smog, and other air quality factors.[104] Such research has been supported by the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Cornell University, the National Geographic Society, and Aveda Corporation.[104]

text: Behavioral studies have also been conducted on hikers themselves. A 2007 study on hikers found that most persons hike the trail "for fun and enjoyment of life and for warm relationships with others" and that "environmental awareness, physical challenge, camaraderie, exercise, and solitude" were chief results among hikers.[105] Since the highest single demographic of thru-hikers are males between the ages of 18–29, one informal study sought to find the correlation between this group and male college drop-outs.[106]