How many miles can you walk in a day on the Appalachian Trail?
Most thru-hikers cover fewer miles at the start of their journey than a few months in. Average hikers travel at roughly 2.5 miles per hour; focused thru-hikers with strong legs might walk upward of 3 miles per hour. With this pace, many AT hikers are able to cover 20 or more miles in an average day.
Completing the entire 2,190+ miles of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) in one trip is a mammoth undertaking. Each year, thousands of hikers attempt a thru-hike; only about one in four makes it all the way. A typical thru-hiker takes 5 to 7 months to hike the entire A.T.
That may sound unrealistic to some, but thru-hikers do 25 miles every day.
A person of average fitness can cover 8 to 12 miles a day with a beginner to intermediate level of hiking experience. However, experienced hikers with stellar fitness can cover 12 to 16 miles a day!
With training, many walkers can finish a 26.2-mile walker-friendly marathon in about seven hours, with no breaks. That suggests that If a walker is well-trained and takes breaks, they can walk 20 miles in a day. If a walker doesn't take breaks and is going fast, they may be able to cover 30 miles in a day.
Thru-hike durations can range from a full-year to a blistering 46 and a half days (the current speed record), but most will complete their 2,189 mile trek in five to seven months, with the average being “a week or two shy of six months,” according to the ATC.
What is the success rate of thru-hikers? The success rate of hikers hiking the entire 2,190-mile Trail within the course of a year has remained around 25%.
1. Southern Maine. For hikers heading north, hitting Maine is a significant milestone, and they are rewarded with this section that's arguably the most challenging on the trail.
Here's the top things to consider if you're interested in hiking the Hundred Mile Wilderness. Time: 6-9 days, for most hikers; Our itinerary covers an 8-day trip.
Since 1936, more than 20,000 hike completions have been recorded by ATC. This includes thru-hikes and multi-year section-hikes. We refer to anyone who reports their completion of the entire A.T. as a “2,000-miler.”
Can you day hike the entire Appalachian Trail?
Can you day hike the Appalachian Trail? Absolutely. You can day hike sections or mix and match, day hiking some and backpacking others.
On thru-hikes that take 5 months or more, a hiker likely will start and/or end their trip in the snow. That's why most thru-hikers end up walking far more than 8 hours a day—sometimes as many as 14 hours per day during the middle of the summer.
