Natural Beauty: 14 States, Unlimited Inspiration

The A.T. passes through the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge and is co-aligned with the Liberty Loop Trail for roughly a mile. Image courtesy of Michelle DiSarno

The A.T. covered in a layer of mist and frost near Big Bald in Tennessee. Image courtesy of Lukas Chin

A Scarlet Tanager perches in a tree canopy along the A.T. in New Jersey. Image courtesy of David Warners

A mountainous landscape is a backdrop for two hikers on Blood Mountain in Georgia. Image courtesy of Angela Vallier

Sanguinaria canadensis (Bloodroot) is just one of the many wildflowers that bloom each spring along the A.T. Image courtesy of Christopher D’Ambrosio

A forest reflection at Crescent Pond in Maine’s 100 Mile Wilderness. Image courtesy of Bob Maxey

A magnificent starry sky in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Image courtesy of Bobby O’Donnell

Day skies in Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina. Image courtesy of Laura Cousins

Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna River seen through the lens of Vivitar 35mm film camera. Image courtesy of Sasha Parker

A young buck peeks out from the forest undergrowth in Harriman State Park in New York. Image courtesy of Zachary Sokol

A landscape featuring the Great Smoky Mountains mainly deciduous forests. Image courtesy of Ary Manzhukh

The A.T. footpath surrounded by mayapple (podophyllum peltatum) and open woodlands in Virginia. Image courtesy of Thomas Spiltoir

Stone steps leading up to St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, which is located in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, feature the iconic white blaze of the A.T. Image courtesy of Michelle DiSarno

A fallen leaf surrounded by lichen in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. Image courtesy of Sandra Johnson

The Russell Field Shelter is one of 12 shelters located along the A.T. in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Image courtesy of Brent Farmer

A light rain over Pierce Pond in Maine. Image courtesy of David Warners

Preaching Rock, also called Preachers Rock, in Georgia offers expansive views to the southeast. Image courtesy of Angela Vallier

Two Pipevine Swallowtail butterflies rest on a thistle in Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina. Approximately 175 species of butterflies live in the state, and can be found along the Appalachian Trail and sister trail, the Art Loeb Trail. Image courtesy of Laura Cousins

A stream buffered by rocks along the A.T. in the Great Smoky Mountains. Image courtesy of Janene Sullivan