Appalachian Trail – 14 states and 3,500 kilometers from Georgia to Maine

HikingStore |19/10, 2026

Hiker with backpack on a rocky forest trail in the Appalachian Mountains

The USA is a country of great distances and many types of hiking. The three classic long-distance trails, collectively known as the Triple Crown, are the Appalachian Trail (AT), the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). The AT goes through forests, over ridges and through communities where it is often possible to replenish food. The PCT and the CDT have different landscapes and logistical challenges. What they have in common is that the planning is often more rule-based than a hike in Swedish mountain terrain.

For Scandinavian hikers, it's especially important to understand permits and camping regulations. The US doesn't have public right of way. You're hiking on a trail and land managed by different authorities and organizations, and the rules can change along the way. Here, we'll go over how to plan your AT, what to expect, and what local requirements you need to check.

Lightweight hiking tent at a forested camp along the Appalachian Trail

Start with time, season, and scope of the trip

The Appalachian Trail stretches from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Katahdin in Maine, passing through 14 states. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy estimates the 2026 length at 2,197.9 miles, or 3,537 kilometers. In practice, the trail is usually described as about 3,500 kilometers. The length changes slightly from year to year as the trail is moved, improved, or remeasured.

A thru-hike typically takes five to seven months. The average is just under six months. This means that the journey requires more than just weeks off: also factor in time for travel, recovery, community errands, and days when weather or injuries stop the hike. Budget for food, lodging, transportation, equipment, and insurance, but avoid locking your plan into cost estimates that can quickly become outdated.

Most hikers choose one of three approaches:

Northbound (NOBO): Start in Georgia and hike north. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy often recommends starting between April 15 and the first week of May to reduce the risk of encountering winter conditions early on the trail. Plan to reach Baxter State Park in Maine by October 15.
Southbound (SOBO): Start at Katahdin in June or July and hike south. This provides a shorter and more challenging weather window; park regulations and seasonal closures also affect the start.
Flip-Flop: Split the trip and change the starting point or direction to better follow seasonal weather and spread out the load on the trail. Check that the chosen route works with local regulations and permits.

You don't have to hike the entire trail. A section hike is a great way to get to know the AT and is what most hikers do. Ask yourself: do you want to do a long expedition, or is it a specific region and a few weeks of hiking that you're after?

Terrain and stages: plan according to daily form, not just kilometers

The AT often goes through forests and over hilly ridges. It is not a continuous alpine route, but that does not mean that it is easy to walk. Rocky steps, roots and steep climbs mean that the distance is sometimes slow. A daily plan should therefore take into account altitude, surface, water and where you can spend the night – not just an imagined number of kilometers.

The trail uses miles. It is worth getting used to the measurements and having map material that works even without mobile coverage. Good maps and trail information are available, but they do not replace your own planning. Check current trail announcements and closures before departure and during the trip.

The AT is the most heavily hiked of the three Triple Crown trails. During the spring peak season, some starting points and overnight accommodations can be crowded. For many, meeting other hikers is part of the experience, but the crowds require flexibility. Voluntary registration on ATCamp helps trail managers spread out start dates and monitor traffic. It is not a reservation and does not guarantee a spot in a shelter.

Permit: no single rule for the entire trail

There is no single AT permit that runs from Georgia to Maine. The trail does pass through areas with its own regulations, and permits or reservations are required in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Shenandoah National Park, and Baxter State Park, among others. The regulations depend on where you are staying and the type of hike you are doing.

The Great Smoky Mountains have specific backcountry permits and overnight camping regulations. Shenandoah has its own backcountry camping requirements. At the north end of the trail, Baxter State Park requires a free Long-Distance Hiker Permit for all AT hikers, regardless of direction and whether you are hiking the entire trail or just a portion. The permit must be picked up in person at the Katahdin Stream Campground ranger station before attempting to climb Katahdin.

Do your own research for each state, park, and management area. Start with ATC's permit overview and then check the information directly with the relevant authority. ATCamp is voluntary and never replaces the required permits.

Accommodation and food: plan logistics in advance

There are hundreds of shelters along the AT, often simple windbreaks with limited capacity. Many are free and first-come, first-served, but local regulations apply and some overnight stays require a fee, reservation, or that you follow special conditions. Some parks have strict requirements for where you can sleep. Don't expect a shelter to always be available.

Many combine shelters with tents, hostels, motels and rest days in communities. Also plan your resupply strategy : where will you buy food, how far will you need to carry it and is there a reason to send a package to a specific location? Don't let a general plan become rigid. The trail, opening hours and personal needs can change the plan.

Water from streams and springs may be contaminated. Carry a working method of purifying water and use it consistently. Local bear regulations also apply when storing food. Do not bring food into the tent in bear areas. Use a bear bag, suspension system or bear-proof container according to the regulations in force on that particular stretch. Bear canister requirements vary between areas; check them before departure and before each major section.

Equipment: prioritize protection, sleep, and a functioning carrying system

The weather changes along the trail. The southern parts can be hot and humid, while the higher elevations in the south and northern parts can bring cold nights, rain and snow early or late in the season. Hypothermia is a real risk even when the trail is not through high mountains. Bring layers that will work when you get wet and cold, and have rain cover readily available.

Hiker in rain poncho on a wet forest trail in the Appalachian Mountains

A long trip makes the weight of your pack noticeable, especially in hilly and rocky terrain. But lighter is not automatically better if it means you're freezing, sleeping poorly or lacking reliable rain protection. Start with what your equipment needs to handle in your planned season and in the areas where you'll be spending the night.

The backpack should fit your body and hold the actual pack – including food and water between refill points. See HikingStore's range of hiking backpacks , tents and mountain hiking packing lists as a starting point to compare your equipment needs. The most important question is not whether each item is ultralight, but whether the whole thing works in the rain, cold and tired legs.

Trekking pole on a rocky and rooty hiking trail in green forest

What distinguishes AT from Swedish mountain hiking?

In Sweden, the right of way is an important part of outdoor life. In the US, you can't assume you can camp wherever you want. Follow designated trails, use permitted overnight sites, and check the rules for the land you are on. Permits, reservations, and registrations are part of the planning, rather than something to solve when you arrive.

Even the distances require a different way of thinking. The Kungsleden stages do not automatically provide a good template for AT. Plan in miles, but let water, campsites, terrain and opportunities to replenish food determine the daily goal. It is also a trail with significantly more hikers than most Swedish mountain routes during certain periods. Flexibility when staying overnight is therefore part of the safety margin.

Safety and final checks before takeoff

Weather changes, cold, and fatigue will affect your decisions. Have offline maps and a plan for how to get help if you need to cancel. The emergency number in the US is 911. Make sure your travel insurance specifically covers medical care and possible evacuation; medical care in the US can be very expensive if something goes wrong.

Before you set off, check current trail status, weather, fire and bear regulations, permits, and camping requirements for each section of the route. Read the ATC's Basic Information , Baxter State Park's AT Hiker Rules , the Great Smoky Mountains Permit System , and the National Park Service's Appalachian Trail information . A well-thought-out plan leaves room for change as weather, regulations, or your body dictates.

The AT opens the US part of our World's Hiking Trails series. The next article takes us to the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs through completely different landscapes and requires a different kind of seasonal and logistical planning.

Meta description: Plan the Appalachian Trail with information on season, NOBO and SOBO, permits, accommodation, food, equipment and safety for Scandinavian hikers.