Day Hiking & Backpacking

Backpacking Resources

Multi-day hiking, or backpacking, means camping along the A.T. and hiking from campsite to campsite. Backpacking the A.T. can mean spending one night on the Trail or tackling long sections that take multiple weeks to complete. Those who backpack the A.T. with the intent to complete the entire Trail in more than 12 months are called section hikers. Those who intend to backpack to complete the entire Trail in 12 months or less are called thru-hikers.

Interested in completing the entire Trail? Check out our Thru & Section Hiking pages.

What to Expect on a Multi-Day Hike

While backpacking a part of the A.T. is not as intimidating as thru-hiking, it takes more commitment than day hiking. It requires more preparation, equipment, food, clothing and knowledge of  Trail regulations and backcountry skills. Planning is crucial to a successful multi-day hike, so be sure to check out the essential skills portion of our website.

Expect to get dirty and sweaty, and expect your pack to be heavier than if you were just out for a day. If you’ve never backpacked before, we recommend going out for just one or two nights at first in an area with relatively mild terrain. If possible, stick close to home. We also recommend keeping your daily mileage between trailheads and campsites lower; around five to eight miles. This will give you the chance to experience what its like to carry a full pack for a day while not overextending yourself and risking injury (or risking simply not having fun!).

No matter how long you’re backpacking trip will be, it’s critical to learn some A.T. basics and essential Trail skills to stay safe and leave as little impact on the Trail as possible. We also recommend registering your hike to help reduce overcrowding on the A.T. and receive urgent Trail Alerts.

About Section Hiking

A section hiker completes the A.T. in a series of multi-day trips over a period of years. This method allows hikers to enjoy all the A.T. has to offer without making some of the sacrifices required for a thru-hike. Section hikers are considered 2,000-milers.

Advantages:

• Choose your own pace and mileage.
• See more of the Appalachian countryside and small towns during your travels to and from the A.T.
• Choose your favorite time to enjoy each section, catching spring wildflowers or fall colors, and avoiding crowds, insects and extreme temperatures.
• There’s no need to quit your job to find the time to hike.
• You can spread out expenses over time; there’s no need to save up a big bundle.

Disadvantages:

• If you backpack short sections, you’ll find you’re just getting in good shape as it’s time to go home, and you have to break in each time anew.
• Traveling to and from the A.T. from home multiple times adds to overall expenses.
• Public transportation can be scarce along the A.T. (bus stations and airports can be many miles away from where the hiker begins or ends a trip).

Quick Tip

Although you may tackle the A.T. in any order you wish, we advise that you don’t start with New Hampshire and Maine. These two northern states are much more rugged and challenging than other parts of the Trail and can be difficult for both beginners and veteran hikers.