2,200Miles 165Days to Hike
3 MillionAnnual Visitors
165,000White Blazes
The Appalachian Trail (affectionately referred to as the AT) first opened as a continuous trail in 1937. It is marked by iconic white blazes (one about every 70 feet). The actual length changes from year to year as the trail shifts and detours are added or removed. Each year, thousands attempt to hike the entire trail. Of those that finish, it takes an average of 165 days. The AT was the first trail to be named a National Scenic Trail by the National Trails System Act in 1968. Rights of way and government ownership protect more than 99 percent of the trail. The AT is maintained by over 4,000 volunteers.