Can a beginner hike the Appalachian Trail?

Despite how intimidating that may sound, beginners can scale the Appalachian Trail's numerous mountains and treat themselves to some of the most gorgeous views on earth.



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Most thru-hikes take between five and seven months. The average is a week or two shy of six months.

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The Easiest Sections on the Appalachian Trail
  • NOBO: Starts at mile 863 after Rockfish Gap / Waynesboro. ...
  • NOBO: Cross into Maryland from West Virginia at mile 1,024 at the Potomac River, hit the PA border at 1,065 at the Mason Dixon Line.


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The most popular choice of sleeping arrangements is simply just to choose a designated camp site from those listed in whichever guide is being used. Most shelters along the trail have designated camping areas around them.

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However, travelers must expect to budget $5,000 to $7,000 for a thru-hike. This includes the trail expenses, the cost of gear, and expected expenses when visiting towns. So, on a per-month basis, travelers should expect to spend bout $1,000 dollars a month.

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In general, ATC discourages the carrying of firearms on the Trail for the reasons noted below. On federal lands administered by the National Park Service (NPS) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), possession of a firearm must be in compliance with the law of the state in which the federal land is located.

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Katahdin, the mountain you climb on your first day, is arguably the hardest climb on the A.T. It features more than 4,000 feet of elevation gain, the greatest sustained ascent on the entire Appalachian Trail. It is a scramble. Expect to use your hands as you climb over steep boulders and ledges above treeline.

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Mid-April through May, walk north with spring, with mostly pleasant temperatures and an abundance of wildflowers. Very hot, humid weather through the mid-Atlantic states. Favorable temperatures through southern New England. Periods of cold weather in New Hampshire and Maine in September and October.

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Where do you use the bathroom on the Appalachian Trail? All of the campsites and shelter areas have “privies,” which are basically outhouses. Volunteers typically build and maintain the privies. Oftentimes there is information posted about how to best use the privy.

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Showers. Showers are rarely available right on the ?A.T. Hikers usually shower while at hostels or hotels in towns; less common are campgrounds with shower facilities. To bathe in the backcountry, carry water 200 feet from the water source in a container and rinse or wash yourself away from streams, springs and ponds.

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There are usually only two options on the Trail for when nature calls: using a privy or digging a cat hole in the woods.

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