2,000-Miler Application

Submit your application to be recognized by the ATC as a “2,000-miler,” having completed a hike of the entire Appalachian Trail.

Section hikers and thru-hikers who complete the entire A.T. can report their journeys to us by filling out the 2,000-miler application. Those who submit their applications will be added to our roster of 2,000-milers and will receive a certificate of recognition, an A.T. patch, and an accompanying 2,000-miler “rocker” patch. Our comprehensive online 2,000-miler listing is updated periodically.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) recognizes anyone who reports completion of the entire Trail as a “2,000-miler.” The term is a matter of tradition and convenience, based upon the original estimated length of the Trail. Conservancy policy is to operate on an honor system, assuming that those who apply for 2000-miler status have hiked all of the A.T. between Katahdin and Springer Mountain, either as a thru-hiker (12 months or fewer, not restricted to a calendar year) or in sections (over a period of more than 12 months).

In the event of an emergency, such as a flood, a forest fire, or an impending storm, blue-blazed trails or officially required road walks, shuttles, or find-your-own transportation options are viable substitutes for the white-blazed route. Issues of sequence, direction, speed, length of time or whether one carries a pack are not considered. The ATC assumes that those who apply have made an honest effort to walk the entire Trail, even if they did not walk past every white blaze. If you meet these standards, please complete and sign the form below.

Recognition Policy

• We hold high expectations of 2,000-milers that include treating the natural environment, A.T. communities, other hikers, and our agency partners — whose land the A.T. passes through — with kindness, respect and cooperation. This includes following Leave No Trace guidelines and other practices outlined in the A.T. Hiker Pledge. Failure to abide by these principles may result in a denied application.
• We operate on the honor system.
• We give equal recognition to thru-hikers and section hikers.
• We recognize hikers regardless of sequence, direction, speed or whether they carry a pack.
• In the event of an emergency, such as a flood, a forest fire or an impending storm, blue-blazed trails or officially required detours, including road walks, are viable substitutes for the white-blazed route. When no safe walking alternative is available, shuttle by vehicle may be substituted.
• Notice to 2024 Thru-Hikers:
  • Based on catastrophic damage to the southern Appalachian Mountains from Hurricane Helene, there are multiple Trail closures in effect as of 10/1/24 and many sections of the A.T. between Georgia and Rockfish Gap are dangerous and/or impassable.
  • Thru-hikers who need to skip around closed or impassable A.T. sections are still eligible for 2,000-miler status. Thru-hikers can also suspend their hikes and continue where they left off when it is safe to do so and still be considered a thru-hiker. They will have twelve months from the date they choose to resume their hikes to complete the remainder of their journeys and still be recognized by the ATC as a thru-hiker.  
• Notice to 2020 and 2021 Thru-Hikers:
  • During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ATC asked all thru-hikers on Trail to leave the A.T. starting March 31, 2020 and ending May 11, 2021 — for more information, click here. For any thru-hikers that followed this guidance, the ATC will count the miles hiked in 2019 and 2020 prior to March 31 toward the completion of a thru-hike attempted after May 11, 2021. These hikers will have twelve months from the date they choose to resume their hikes to complete the remainder of their journeys and still be recognized by the ATC as a thru-hiker. 
  • Miles hiked between March 31, 2020, and May 11, 2021, will not be counted toward 2,000-miler recognition.