What began as little more than a visionary idea transformed into something extraordinary on August 14, 1937. After years of grueling effort and over 2,000 miles of trails stitched together, the Appalachian Trail was officially complete. Spanning from Georgia to Maine, this ambitious project—born from a desire to connect the scenic and wild landscapes of the eastern United States—had grown into one of the most remarkable long-distance hiking trails on the planet.

Here's How it Happened

  • The Vision: Back in 1921, a forester and planner named Benton MacKaye put forward the original proposal for the trail. His ambition went far beyond creating a simple hiking path—he envisioned a way to bring people back to the natural world amid America's rapid industrialization. In his words, it would be "a retreat from mechanization."
  • The Work: No government agency constructed this trail. It was built by the hands of volunteers. Trail clubs, Boy Scouts, Civilian Conservation Corps workers, and ordinary people who loved the outdoors chipped away at it section by section. They blazed trails, laid paths, and erected shelters—year by year, mile by mile.
  • The Final Link: The missing piece fell into place on August 14, 1937, when the last section was connected in Carrabassett Valley, Maine. From that moment, the trail ran without interruption across 14 states, linking Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Mount Katahdin, Maine.

But don't mistake completion for the finish line—the real work was only getting started. Floods, landslides, overgrowth, and urban sprawl threatened the trail relentlessly. Entire sections disappeared, and others had to be rerouted around new obstacles. Through it all, the Appalachian Trail Conference—known today as the Appalachian Trail Conservancy—held firm. They poured their energy into rebuilding, protecting, and preserving what so many had worked to create.

These days, the trail covers roughly 2,198 miles, winding through forests, tracing ridgelines, following rivers, and crossing mountain balds. Each year, more than 3 million people set foot on some portion of it. Thousands take on the ultimate challenge—a "thru-hike," walking the entire length end to end. Of those who try, only about one in four make it all the way.

A whole culture has sprung up around the trail, complete with its own vocabulary. Hikers choose "trail names" for themselves. They bed down in lean-tos or beneath tarps. Conversations revolve around "zero days" (days dedicated to rest), "trail angels" (kind strangers who lend a hand), and "trail magic" (those unexpected acts of generosity that appear when you need them most).

Yet the Appalachian Trail's true greatness isn't measured in miles. It's measured in spirit.

  • People, not corporations, built it.
  • Volunteers, not machines, maintain it.
  • It thrives on simplicity, not spectacle.

In our fast-paced, always-connected world, the Appalachian Trail stands as a powerful invitation to slow down and savor the experience. To walk. To breathe. To notice.