![]() Assuming a pace of 6 to 8 miles per day, it takes 13 to 15 days to walk the whole segment one way and 26 to 30 days to start and end in the same location. The trail spends about 100 miles in the park, so you can hike part or all of this length and double back, or use connecting trails inside and adjacent to the park to loop back to your starting point. ![]() In Virginia, Shenandoah National Park harbors lush deciduous forests and incredible mountaintop views within easy driving distance of Washington, D.C. These include Great Smoky Mountains National Park ($4 per person, per night, and 20 maximum per person), Shenandoah National Park (free), and Baxter State Park (also free, but backcountry camping fees may apply) along the trail. Fees and Permit RequirementsĬertain parks along the Appalachian Trail require backcountry permits for overnight visitors. But the entire trail is beautiful and surprisingly accessible, so you don’t have to commit six months of your life to a 2,200-mile through-hike. The AT, as it’s known, stretches from Georgia’s Springer Mountain to Maine’s Mount Katahdin.Įvery year, thousands of through-hikers assemble at Springer Mountain and March and begin the long slog up to Maine, where they end – if they’re lucky – by mid-October. One of the oldest long trails in the U.S., the Appalachian Trail is the quintessential long-distance hike. If you’re fit enough to handle an extended period of exertion like the idea of trekking through beautiful, quiet landscapes with few other human occupants and don’t mind a sleeping bag and tent at night, consider taking a long-distance hike for your next vacation. And since trail accommodations are typically rustic campsites and shelters that cost less than budget hotels and motels, the experience may not cripple your wallet. ![]() There are probably a few, including some you’ve never heard of, within easy driving distance of your hometown. ![]() It helps that many long-distance trails and trail networks run close to major cities. One of the healthiest and most affordable ways to do this is to embark on a long-distance hike, taking advantage of the tens of thousands of miles of hiking and multi-use trails crisscrossing the United States’ vast wilderness areas. But I’m also a big believer in disconnecting from the daily grind occasionally, spending a few days, a week, or even longer away from the pressures and temptations of the modern world. I’m always looking for ways to lead a healthier, happier life, whether it’s making sensible changes to my eating habits or finding time to fit a workout into my day. ![]()
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