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The beginning of the Roan Highlands marks the departure from North Carolina into Tennessee. Very different from the other half of the Roan Highlands, the eastern stretch consists of three bald summits.
During the summertime, wildflowers of all shapes and colors can be seen on the trek up to the summit. Peaking at 3,783 feet (about 1,150 m) above sea level, hikers are rewarded with stunning views of pine, maple, and other hardwood trees that blanket the slopes of the Southern Appalachians.
A stark change of surroundings compared to the mostly forested Appalachian Trail, Max Patch is a 350-acre area free of trees, and has been such since it was cleared for cattle over 200 years ago.
For those looking to complete the Appalachian Trail from the very beginning to the very end, the journey starts at the top of Springer Mountain. Located in Fannin County, Georgia, the rocky slopes of Springer Mountain have a value all their own.
This clearing offers fantastic views of the surrounding area, including Mt. Mitchell, the highest mountain peak east of the Mississippi. Max Patch also provides a welcome opportunity for hikers to frolic through fields of wildflowers and camp out under an unobstructed starry night sky.
One of the greatest (and most refreshing) sights on the Tennessee stretch of trail is Laurel Falls. The 80-foot (24-m) tall cascades hidden amongst the old-growth forests and lush laurel shrubs that give the area its name are a popular destination for hikers as well as those who come just for a cool dip in the pool at the bottom of the falls.
Also hiding amongst the trees here is the world’s largest natural rhododendron garden, which attracts thousands of visitors every June when these bright purple flowers are in full bloom.
From the top of any of these peaks, Round Bald, Grassy Ridge Bald, or Jane Bald, hikers can soak in the vast expanses before them, and look on along the seemingly endless Appalachian ridgeline before heading back into the forests that dominate most of the trail.
Hikers willing to put in a bit of extra effort to climb the winding ascent to the observation tower atop the peak will be rewarded with awe-inspiring 360° views of the Great Smoky Mountains from above, with visibility of up to a hundred miles (over 150 km) on a clear, unpolluted day.
After following the Roan Highlands into Tennessee, hikers will find themselves approaching Roan Mountain, in an environment quite different from that of the Eastern Highlands. Roan Mountain is characterized by thick, moss-covered spruce-fir forests, and is separated from the second stretch of highlands by Carver’s Gap.
Clingmans Dome is the highest point of the Appalachian Trail, standing tall at 6,643 feet (2,025 m), and one of the last stops in North Carolina before crossing into Tennessee. Clingmans Dome is also consequently the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains, and the third highest point east of the Mississippi.
This picturesque pool can be viewed from afar on top of Hay Rock, itself a picture perfect spot along the trail to stop for a quick snack and view the valleys of the Blue Ridge from above.
Close to Roanoke, Virginia, Carvins Cove is a long and thin crescent-shaped body of water nestled between two smaller hills in the Blue Ridge section of the Appalachian Trail.
Damascus has a peculiar claim to fame. Seven national trails run through the heart of the town, including the Daniel Boone Heritage Trail and the Virginia Birding & Wildlife Trail. This lively intersection has earned Damascus the warmhearted nickname of “Trail Town.”
Located at mile marker 1,023 out of 2,190, the town of Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, is considered the unofficial halfway point of the Appalachian Trail, and making it this far is already quite an accomplishment on its own. Wedged between the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, Harper’s Ferry is also home to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and Headquarters, the organization that cares for and maintains all the trails from Georgia to Maine.
The trail up to the falls is also one of the only paved sections of trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, as it also acts as a fire trail on the way to the now-decrepit fire tower on top of Cove Mountain.
Located in a corner of southwestern Virginia, the Grayson Highlands are speckled with lightly forested parts of Jefferson State Forest and vast open expanses of Grayson Highlands National Park, and mark the beginning of a slow transition from southern environs to more northern characteristics.
Damascus, Virginia, about 450 miles (724 km) north of Springer Mountain, is one of the first stops for hikers in Virginia, which contains more of the Appalachian Trail than any other state, about a quarter of the total trail.
Michaux State Forest is also where the official halfway point of the Appalachian trail can be found. While the exact distance of the trail can vary slightly from year to year, a sign (not pictured) was erected deep in the woods in 2011 to mark what was exactly halfway between the Maine and Georgia tips at the time.
Located in Pennsylvania, just above the Maryland state line, Michaux State Forest provides a wonderful taste of northeastern wilderness. Black bears, woodpeckers, and salamanders inhabit this wonderful, mossy oak forest.
These cascades fall a total of 125 ft (about 38 m) down to pools that are a bit too shallow for swimming, but beautiful to admire nonetheless. While the energy of the falls is dependent on rainfall, there is almost always active water running down from the edge of the rocks, whether hikers pass through during cold winters or dry summers.
Farther up north, in Vermont, hidden away in Green Mountain National Forest, Stratton Pond stretches out beneath the towering Stratton Mountain. This is a perfect stop for hikers as they near the end of their long journey, and offers a moment to relax next to the water and admire the reflection of the forest dancing on the water’s surface.
The Appalachian Trail finally ends at the peak of Mount Katahdin in northern Maine. After crossing through 14 states and taking most hikers around six months to traverse, the hardest leg of the journey is saved for last.
Another picturesque spot along the Vermont section of the Appalachian Trail is Lye Brook Falls. This spot is hidden amongst a mixed hardwood forest and falls down steep stairs of rock, creating a beautiful rippling effect.
Stratton Pond is popular among locals as well, and is a great place for fishing, swimming, and even sunbathing in the crisp Vermont air. The Stratton Pond Shelter is also just a short walk away, offering weary hikers a dry place to rest and recharge in the event of rain. Planks crisscross the marshy areas surrounding the pond.
The Grayson Highlands and the area surrounding Mount Rogers is also home to around 100 wild ponies, and is the only place on the trail where you can find such creatures, who have apparently been inhabiting the area since at least the 1940s.
Sitting at 5,269 feet (1,605 m), Mount Katahdin is the highest point in Maine, and represents the achievement of a lifetime for many hikers and nature enthusiasts. The trails leading to the summit are rocky and treacherous, with one particular stretch ominously named Knife Edge forcing hikers to balance their way along a razor-thin ridgeline.
Sources: (Appalachian Trail Conservancy) (Atlanta Trails) (Romantic Asheville) (National Park Service) (Smithsonian Magazine) (Uncovering PA) ('Place Names of the White Mountains')
Read more: Breathtaking hikes to try all over the world
Nearing the end of the trail, in New Hampshire, rests the impressive Mount Moosilauke, the peak of which is at 4,802 feet (1,465 m). Moosilauke is the 10th tallest of the 48 “4,000 Footers” of the White Mountains, and offers stunning views of the rest of the range.
The name Moosilauke is taken from the local Algonquian Abenaki language. It’s commonly translated as “bald place,” but other interpretations include “at the place of ferns” and “good moose place along the brook.”
Harper’s Ferry is also of great historical significance, as it is the location of the famous raid on the town led by legendary abolitionist John Brown in 1859.
The Appalachian Trail is a must-hike for any outdoors enthusiast. Stretching from Georgia all the way up to Maine, the Appalachian Trail (or AT for short) is the longest hiking-only trail in the world. While preparation for this walk can take months, the scenic pay-offs along the way are well worth the effort.
Intrigued? Read on to find out what the top spots are along this 2,190-mile (3,525-km) walk of wonders!
The most breathtaking spots along the Appalachian Trail
The East Coast's most popular hiking trail
TRAVEL Trails
The Appalachian Trail is a must-hike for any outdoors enthusiast. Stretching from Georgia all the way up to Maine, the Appalachian Trail (or AT for short) is the longest hiking-only trail in the world. While preparation for this walk can take months, the scenic pay-offs along the way are well worth the effort.
Intrigued? Read on to find out what the top spots are along this 2,190-mile (3,525-km) walk of wonders!