The famous Appalachian Trail stretches roughly 2,190 miles from Georgia to Maine. The trail has a rich history, including its surprising inception as a rural community before becoming the hiking trail we know it to be today. Visitors travel from around the world to explore this beautiful and wild part of the United States.
Spanning fourteen states, completing a hike through the entirety of the Appalachian Trail is no small feat. The first person to walk the entire trail was Earl Shaffer in 1948. Most travelers, however, opt for hiking portions of the Appalachian Trail as opposed to enduring the brutal task of hiking the entire thing. With thousands of miles of trail, it can be tough to decide which sections of the trail to visit. Below is a helpful list of the ten most beautiful hiking locations along the Appalachian Trail.
10 Tumbling Waters Trail, Georgia
This stunning section of the Appalachian Trail is the perfect spot to visit if you want to see rushing waterfalls. Tumbling Waters Trail also contains lush green forests, wildflowers, and mushrooms, and is home to plenty of wildlife. This trail is also dog-friendly, as long as dogs are on a leash.
The best time to hike this trail is March-October. Visit in the spring to see the blooming flowers, or opt for a fall hike to take in the stunning fall foliage.
- Location: 34.651,-84.608, Ellijay, GA 30540
- Length: 3.3 miles
9 Bear Mountain, Connecticut
If you want to access the Appalachian Trail from the state of Connecticut, consider hiking through Bear Mountain. This trail is longer than Tumbling Waters, with this 6.1-mile hike taking about three and a half hours to complete. Bear Mountain is the tallest peak in Connecticut, with an elevation of over 2,000 ft. The dwarf pines, wildflowers, and vibrant fall colors are all main draws to this trail. Bear Mountain is also a popular spot for backpacking, camping, and rock climbing.
- Location: 42.04470°N / 73.4553°W
- Length: 6.1 miles
8 Bear Mountain Loop Trail, New York
Another Bear Mountain trail along the Appalachian Trail worth visiting is located in the state of New York. Fall is the best time to visit Bear Mountain, with colorful trees lining the cliffs and crisp autumn air. April-November is the best time to visit this trail.
Bear Mountain Loop Trail is unique in that a portion of the trail overlaps with the Appalachian Trail, but there is also the option to veer off on totally different paths.
- Location: Palisades Parkway or Route 9W North, Bear Mountain, NY 10911
- Length: 3.8 miles
7 Mount Cammerer, North Carolina
Looking for a long hike along the Appalachian Trail that offers stunning views? Opt for exploring Mount Cammerer in North Carolina. Some visitors enjoy the challenge of completing this 12 miles hike in one day, while others choose to camp overnight and stretch their hike of Mount Cammerer into a two-day expedition.
The incredible views are worth the trek. Mount Cammerer offers 360° views of the Smoky Mountains, as well as the Pigeon River Valley and Gatlinburg.
- Location: Mt Cammerer, North Carolina 28785
- Length: 12 miles
6 Max Patch On The Appalachian Trail, North Carolina
Another beautiful Appalachian Trail hiking location in North Carolina is Max Patch. One thing that makes this trail so lovely is the lack of tourists. Max Patch is a lesser-known trail, offering more solitude and privacy when hiking. View lovely mountain meadows, wildflowers, wild berries, and tall grass on this walk.
- Location: Max Patch Rd, Hot Springs, NC 28743
- Length: 1.5 miles
- Important rules: Opens an hour before sunrise and closes an hour after sunset; no camping or fires; no groups larger than ten people.
5 100 Mile Wilderness, Maine
If you are looking to take in the beauty of the Appalachian Trail from further north, 100 Mile Wilderness in Maine offers breathtaking views and a lush hiking trail. Be aware. However, this hike is not for the faint of heart. It is, after all, a 100-mile hike! The 100 Mile Wilderness trail typically takes visitors 6-9 days to complete. This is the perfect trek if you are looking to enjoy the fall foliage, pine forests, fishing spots, and mountaintop lakes.
- Location: 349 Pleasant St, Monson, ME 04464
- Length: 100 miles
4 McAfee Knob, Virginia
Virginia also offers up some incredible Appalachian Mountain hiking trails, one of which is McAfee Knob. This area is perfect for photo ops, as it is one of the most photographed Appalachian Mountain locations! The trail also offers up beautiful limestone rock ledges and stellar views of the Catawba Valley, Tinker Cliffs, and Roanoke Valley. This hike typically takes visitors four hours to complete.
- Location: Catawba Valley Dr, Catawba, VA 24070
- Length: ~8 miles (visitors can opt to make the hike longer or shorter)
3 Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
Another spectacular Virginia trail is Shenandoah Valley. If you are looking for a lengthy Virginia hike, this trail stretches for 90 miles. When walking this path, keep your eyes peeled for black bears and other wildlife.
- Location: North Entrance- 21073 Skyline Drive, Front Royal, Virginia 22630
- Length: 90.1 miles
The neat thing about Shenandoah is that there are lots of smaller hikes within the 90-mile trail you can complete. One popular hike is Tanners Ridge Road, a 2.1-mile trail featuring tall trees, roots, and greenery.
- Location: Tanners Ridge Overlook, Stanley, VA 22851
If you need a break from hiking, Shenandoah Valley offers a wide variety of other outdoor activities, including hot air ballooning and water tubing.
2 The Presidential Range, New Hampshire
New Hampshire’s Presidential Range offers breathtaking scenery and the highest mountains in Northeast America. This unique range of mountains includes Mount Adams, Mount Clay, Mount Franklin, Mount Jackson, Mount Jefferson, and more.
Hikers really embrace the harsh elements of nature while on this trail, with winds whipping up to 230 miles per hour! Other natural features of the Presidential Range include clear ponds, rocky terrain, and lovely wildflowers. Dogs are allowed on this trail but must be kept on a leash at all times.
- Location: Presidential Range, Sargent’s Purchase, NH 03846
- Length: 53.7 miles
1 Smoky Mountains, Tennessee And North Carolina
Both the Smoky Mountains and Appalachian Trail are popular sites in the US, but some people might not realize these two natural beauties overlap. Over 70 miles of the Appalachian Trail runs through the Smoky Mountains. It typically takes hikers one week to complete this portion of the Appalachian Trail.
Like Shenandoah Valley, the Smoky Mountains are home to many bears. Hikers are advised to properly dispose of trash and avoid approaching bears in order to keep both hikers and bears safe. Aside from wildlife, the other natural beauty in the area includes breathtaking ridges, mountain ranges, fir trees, and foggy vapor.
- Location: National Park, Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, NC 37738
- Length: 71.3 miles