While elevations may begin to decline hikers are not yet free from occasional long, difficult climbs and descents. In southern Virginia hikers see the state’s highest summits along with the open balds of Grayson Highlands State Park… including the wild ponies! From there, the mountains begin to transition from high-rising peaks to the more modest ridge lines of central Virginia, where hikers see woodland and farmland collide in the valleys below. Hikers travel along Virginia’s spine through the Jefferson and George Washington National Forests. Though contained within those miles is a crucial landmark: the headquarters of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in historic Harpers Ferry, WV. Nearly a quarter of the entire trail passes through Virginia alone–that’s over 550 miles! By comparison just a scant four miles pass through West Virginia. The Virginias make up both the longest and shortest states on the A.T., respectively. Broken down, the trail can be split into four distinct sections, each with its own set of challenges and rewards.įor a visual overview of the trail check out our Interactive Map of the A.T. Yet, many of these nearby communities embrace the trail and have become an important part of the A.T. attempts to avoid more developed areas, passing through only a handful of small mountain towns. In order to provide a more primitive experience, the A.T. Throughout its length the trail takes hikers through a foray of environments including dense forests, woodland slopes, exposed ridges, grassy balds, open farmland, lowland swamps, mountain bogs, and alpine peaks. cuts into the heart of Appalachia, passing through 14 states, eight national forests, six national parks, and numerous state/local recreational areas. The Appalachian Trail, more commonly known as the “A.T.,” is a national scenic long-distance trail meandering nearly 2,200 miles through the Appalachian Mountain range in the eastern United States.
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