Trail Sections & Milestones
Major Sections (NOBO)
1. Georgia — Mile 0 to ~78.5
Sharp climbs early, Blood Mountain. First state down.
2. Southern North Carolina — Mile ~78.5 to ~165.7
Long ridge walks. You’re officially a real AT hiker.
3. Great Smoky Mountains — Mile ~165.7 to ~241
Highest sustained elevations. Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome) 6,643 ft.
4. Northern NC & Tennessee — Mile ~241 to ~386
Big balds, Roan Highlands. Damascus = Trail Town USA.
5. Southern Virginia — Mile ~386 to ~550
Grayson Highlands, wild ponies. You’re cruising now.
6. Central Virginia — Mile ~550 to ~785
Longest state. Long ridge walks, manageable climbs.
7. Shenandoah National Park — Mile ~785 to ~890
Gentle grades, frequent services. Fast miles. (~101-108 miles through the park)
8. Northern Virginia — Mile ~890 to ~1,025
The Roller Coaster. Short, steep ups and downs.
9. Mid-Atlantic — Mile ~1,025 to ~1,290
Harpers Ferry, rocky PA. Halfway is behind you.
10. NY-NJ Highlands — Mile ~1,290 to ~1,525
Short climbs, frequent towns. States fall fast.
11. Southern New England — Mile ~1,525 to ~1,630
CT and MA. Rolling, humid. You’re in the North.
12. Vermont — Mile ~1,630 to ~1,791
Green Mountains. Mud season. Last ‘easy’ state.
13. White Mountains — Mile ~1,791 to ~1,912
Hardest terrain on AT. Alpine travel. If you finish this, you WILL finish.
14. Maine — Mile ~1,912 to ~2,198
Roots, rocks, ladders. Katahdin is inevitable.
“I’m not hiking 2,197.9 miles—I’m hiking 14 victories.”