Timothy Malcolm - Moon Drive & Hike Appalachian Trail: The Best Trail Towns, Day Hikes, and Road Trips In Between

TIMOTHY MALCOLM

The Appalachian Trail is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world, inspiring millions to test its presence and indulge in its beauty. Running continuously for 2,200 miles (3,540 km) from Maine to Georgia, it carves its way through wildflower fields, flowing rivers, and great peaks. Along the way, it tells the story of America.

The Appalachian Trail was conceptualized in 1921 as a way to connect city residents to American farms and wilderness. The Palisades Interstate Park Trail Conferencenow the New York-New Jersey Trail Conferencecreated the first section of the trail, which opened in 1923 with a trailhead at the Bear Mountain Bridge in New York. Hiking or driving up to the bridge today, gazing at the rolling mountains on either side of the mighty Hudson River, you can understand the excitement the trail forefathers felt when completing their section.

Since its completion in 1937, the trail has been a monument to our connection to nature. Almost from the trails creation, people have attempted to hike its entirety without interruption; today, some 3,000 people start thru-hikes each year, weathering the elements and pushing their minds and bodies to the very limits. Their journey wouldnt be the same without the small towns that punctuate the trail, made up of people who may prepare lunch, provide supplies, or offer shelter for the night.

Its this sense of community that has sustained the trail and its surrounding area for more than 80 years. Surprises await modern-day visitors at every stepwhether in the delicious farm-to-table cuisine or the unique craft beerbut the best surprise may be the warm hospitality youll find along the way.

To indulge in the Appalachian Trail is to experience the history of America itself, from the Civil War to Civil Rights. Every Appalachian Trail story is different, but each is distinctly American. Whether youre chasing it all the way from Georgia to Maine or connecting to it from a nearby city, you can blaze your own path on the Appalachian Trail.

The bustling metropolis of Atlanta, with its museums and eccentric neighborhoods, makes a perfect base for a trip through the lower Appalachian Mountains. This region features the wild Nantahala National Forest, home to Appalachian Trail town Franklin, North Carolina, plus the popular Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where millions annually visit to summit Clingmans Dome, the highest point on the Appalachian Trail. Bluegrass, beer, and art reign in exciting and young Asheville, North Carolina.

The Appalachian Trail ambles along a constant ridge in Virginia and West Virginia, primarily through the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park. Stopover cities include Waynesboro, with its laid-back outdoorsy vibe; Front Royal and its Civil War history; and Roanoke, where a neon star rises high above the skyline and beckons lovers of all stripes. Nearby is iconic McAfee Knob, a necessary photo op, and every trail hiker should stop in Harpers Ferry, a historic community thats also home to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

a sign for the Appalachian Trail

Soco Falls near Maggie Valley in North Carolina

the Old Man of the Mountain Memorial in New Hampshire.

Maryland and Pennsylvania

There isnt much of the Appalachian Trail in Maryland, but respites are welcome in Hagerstown and Frederick, the latter an artsy hub with fun dining and drinking spots. The Keystone State is known as Rocksylvania as the trail cuts through tenuous terrain. Hikers will find great backpacking opportunities at Pine Grove Furnace State Park, home to the Appalachian Trail Museum. In Harrisburg, visit the National Civil War Museum and dine at one of several fine restaurants. College town East Stroudsburg and trail towns Duncannon and Delaware Water Gap are not to be missed.

New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut

Visitors to Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area can find marvelous waterfalls and the view from Mount Tammany. The High Point Monument towers above northern New Jersey, while in New York, hikers descend to the lowest point on the Appalachian Trail at the Bear Mountain Bridge. Stopover cities Beacon and Poughkeepsie offer artistic and gastronomical opportunities, and in Connecticut, the charming Kent and quaint Salisbury make excellent day-tripping destinations.

Massachusetts and Vermont

The Appalachian Trail climbs into the New England woods toward Mount Greylock, while along US-7, tourists enjoy the weekender charms of Great Barrington, Stockbridge, and Lenox, home to antiques centers and bistro dining. North Adams and MASS MoCA are necessary stops for art lovers, as are locations celebrating Grandma Moses, Norman Rockwell, and Robert Frost. In Vermont, scale the impressive Mount Equinox and daunting