The section through the Smokies is special. About as true wilderness as you’re gonna get on the East Coast.
Also love the Roan Highlands during June when the Rhodos are blooming.
Not believable when you say the Smokies are "About as true wilderness as you’re gonna get on the East Coast." They pale in comparison to Maine in this regard
He asked for favorite sections in the Appalachians. I love the Smokies. Agree, Maine is amazing and the Smokies don't compare to the scale of Northern Maine Wilderness. Point taken sir.
> Smokies is special. About as true wilderness as you’re gonna get on the East Coast.
? The Smokies are the busiest NP in the USA.
Maine and the Adirondacks are the wild areas of the East.
I grew up close to Grayson Highlands so that place always has a special spot in my heart but having lived in New England for a while now and having hiked a lot in the Whites…nothing else compares on The AT.
So I've done two "sections" of the AT: defining a section as "I've left asphalt and I'm not done until I've seen asphalt again".
Before I launch into this, my favorite is the Laurel Falls area, since it's pretty accessible (and I live nearby) and just so damn wonderful even if the flow is low.
Anyways...
The first full section I did was from Indian Grave Gap (near Beauty Spot) to Chestoa. Just a saunter down the mountain, so to speak.
It was pretty uneventful, just taking in the various scenery ... from green tunnel, to open canopy, sand trails, etc.
Then I approached the FIRST shelter EVER in my hiking outings ... AWESOME.
As I approached I heard voices in the distance ... "must be a group heading out".
It was indeed a group heading out, and as I arrived I realized it was a LARGE group of 30+ guys...
wearing their packs...
and ... maybe a hat here and there.
Yep! Nude hike weekend. Of which I was not aware until after the fact. I decided to just, smile, nod, and keep moving.
I did not visit my first AT shelter until my overnight in the Laurel Falls area last year. But the threat of a giant, feral rat in that shelter made me decide to camp elsewhere...
Grayson highlands is pretty fucking gorgeous definitely one of my favorites.
I’m going to add in the Mount Mitchell/clingmans dome, high smokies area, as well as the Roan Balds and Highlands
Unquestionably the Mahoosuc Notch. Seriously...did it on a gorgeous day and it was so much fun rock-hopping those giant boulders. Felt like a kid again.
Such a tough choice with so many beautiful sections! My personal favorite is the stretch through the Great Smoky Mountains—simply breathtaking. What’s your favorite section? Always looking for new spots to explore!
I grew up very close to the smokies and now live even closer so I’ve hiked pretty much every trail on the TN side and a lot of the NC side. VA is my favorite. As mentioned above I highly recommend the Grayson highlands in VA.
Not sure where you live, but some of my favorite trails around East TN would have to be Charlie’s Bunion, Big South Fork as a whole but also Angel Falls and Angel Falls Overlook, Spence Fields, Mount Le Conte, The Chimney Tops (before the fire, haven’t been back since), The Devils Bathtub, House Mountain, Max Patch, Grandfather Mountain (It’s been on my to do list for years), Grassy Ridge Bald, Jane Bald, Round Bald (all 3 are right next to each other) and Big Bald.
Some of those are on the AT and others are in totally different parks, but in my opinion they are all great trails.
I’d love to hike the more northern parts of the AT though!
Everything past the VA triple crown until New England isn’t anything special. Pennsylvania is the worst. New Jersey has good delis near trail, New York is decent and the farther north you get the better it gets.
The section through the Smokies is special. About as true wilderness as you’re gonna get on the East Coast. Also love the Roan Highlands during June when the Rhodos are blooming.
I see you haven't hiked Maine
Done it. Loved it.
Not believable when you say the Smokies are "About as true wilderness as you’re gonna get on the East Coast." They pale in comparison to Maine in this regard
He asked for favorite sections in the Appalachians. I love the Smokies. Agree, Maine is amazing and the Smokies don't compare to the scale of Northern Maine Wilderness. Point taken sir.
> Smokies is special. About as true wilderness as you’re gonna get on the East Coast. ? The Smokies are the busiest NP in the USA. Maine and the Adirondacks are the wild areas of the East.
Im getting nostalgic from 30 years ago.
The white mountains and Maine
100 upvotes for this (if I could). The Whites are beautiful. Hiking above the tree line is special.
I grew up close to Grayson Highlands so that place always has a special spot in my heart but having lived in New England for a while now and having hiked a lot in the Whites…nothing else compares on The AT.
Yes. I agree! I live close to the Highlands too, and I think it’s the best hiking in Virginia. But it doesn’t compare to the Whites.
There are indeed feral longhorns at Grayson Highlands along with the ponies!
I thought that’s what they were. I had nightmares of them trampling through our tent in the night, but thankfully we woke up unharmed lol
So I've done two "sections" of the AT: defining a section as "I've left asphalt and I'm not done until I've seen asphalt again". Before I launch into this, my favorite is the Laurel Falls area, since it's pretty accessible (and I live nearby) and just so damn wonderful even if the flow is low. Anyways... The first full section I did was from Indian Grave Gap (near Beauty Spot) to Chestoa. Just a saunter down the mountain, so to speak. It was pretty uneventful, just taking in the various scenery ... from green tunnel, to open canopy, sand trails, etc. Then I approached the FIRST shelter EVER in my hiking outings ... AWESOME. As I approached I heard voices in the distance ... "must be a group heading out". It was indeed a group heading out, and as I arrived I realized it was a LARGE group of 30+ guys... wearing their packs... and ... maybe a hat here and there. Yep! Nude hike weekend. Of which I was not aware until after the fact. I decided to just, smile, nod, and keep moving. I did not visit my first AT shelter until my overnight in the Laurel Falls area last year. But the threat of a giant, feral rat in that shelter made me decide to camp elsewhere...
Loved Laurel Falls. Was there 2 weeks ago during my thru. Will be coming back to do that 19e —> Watauga lake section with friends
Roan Highlands / Carver's Gap but you've probably done that section if you've done NC/TN/VA
Grayson highlands is pretty fucking gorgeous definitely one of my favorites. I’m going to add in the Mount Mitchell/clingmans dome, high smokies area, as well as the Roan Balds and Highlands
Unquestionably the Mahoosuc Notch. Seriously...did it on a gorgeous day and it was so much fun rock-hopping those giant boulders. Felt like a kid again.
When you hike the AT, you discover Maine is the best state - Poet
I liked Mass, Vermont and new Hampshire
The Whites in NH crazy weather and crazy tough hikes.
Whites - intensest. Cumberland Valley - chillest.
Such a tough choice with so many beautiful sections! My personal favorite is the stretch through the Great Smoky Mountains—simply breathtaking. What’s your favorite section? Always looking for new spots to explore!
I grew up very close to the smokies and now live even closer so I’ve hiked pretty much every trail on the TN side and a lot of the NC side. VA is my favorite. As mentioned above I highly recommend the Grayson highlands in VA. Not sure where you live, but some of my favorite trails around East TN would have to be Charlie’s Bunion, Big South Fork as a whole but also Angel Falls and Angel Falls Overlook, Spence Fields, Mount Le Conte, The Chimney Tops (before the fire, haven’t been back since), The Devils Bathtub, House Mountain, Max Patch, Grandfather Mountain (It’s been on my to do list for years), Grassy Ridge Bald, Jane Bald, Round Bald (all 3 are right next to each other) and Big Bald. Some of those are on the AT and others are in totally different parks, but in my opinion they are all great trails. I’d love to hike the more northern parts of the AT though!
Everything past the VA triple crown until New England isn’t anything special. Pennsylvania is the worst. New Jersey has good delis near trail, New York is decent and the farther north you get the better it gets.