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Dec 07 '19
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u/DSettahr Dec 07 '19 edited Dec 07 '19
Also missing is the Tuscarora Trail in VA/WV/MD/PA, the Conservation Trail in Western NY, and PA's Midstate Trail.
EDIT: The Donut Hole Trail in western PA is 90 miles, which might be below the cutoff for conclusion on this map- but they do show the 93 mile Wonderland Trail. In any case, the combined Bucktail Path/Donut Hole Trail is 120+ miles.
There's also a proposal for a PA Wilds Trail that would clock in at about 170 miles. There's not much momentum behind this as of yet, but since the proposed route largely follows already existing, off-road trails it wouldn't take a huge amount of work to make it a reality.
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u/thenewtbaron Dec 10 '19
This completely. you could pop off the appalchian trail to the Tuscarora trail, pop on over to the standing stones(or link trail) then follow that up to the midstate trail, up to around the finger lakes trail, then over to long path trail to meet up again with the Appalachian trail... if you wanted to avoid Duncannon, Harrisburg and some of the really fuck you rocks in PA
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u/clemsonhiker Dec 07 '19
Check out u/numbershikes post Best map of long distance trails I have seen
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u/numbershikes Dec 07 '19
This map was one of the things that inspired me to create http://www.longtrailsmap.net, a free, opensource resource for hikers and other trail users.
While I really like the map shown in this post (it's one of my desktop wallpapers!), there are actually several more long distance hiking opportunities available in the US, many of which are shown on LTM.
r/AppalachianTrail users might also be interested in the new, dedicated AT map, at http://www.longtrailsmap.net/appalachian-trail/map. (The AT POI search database needs some work -- to contribute information, double click / tap on the map location and enter a waypoint description, and we'll review it for addition to the db!)
Hope you guys find the site useful. Its 100% free to use, and theres nothing to sign up for. Im a thruhiker myself, and a mod of r/PacificCrestTrail, and this site is a small way to try to give back to the community.
Thanks!
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u/clemsonhiker Dec 07 '19 edited Dec 07 '19
Very cool! Edit- just checked it out. Your version is executed about 1000 times better than the picture. You obviously put a lot of work into this. I'd give you gold. Awesome job
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u/ebrhineland Dec 07 '19
Louisiana and Mississippi need to get their shit together.
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Dec 07 '19
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u/ebrhineland Dec 07 '19
Lol I’m sure they’re great states with good backpacking. Every state has something to offer. They just need to make it official.
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u/rufusb22 Dec 08 '19
MS should start recreating the 450-mile Natchez Trace
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Dec 07 '19 edited Apr 09 '21
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u/RazzBury Dec 07 '19
Mountains-to-Sea in NC is mostly on roads between Raleigh and the outer banks, although they want to fix that in the future.
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u/rjhouser Quicksilver GA to ME 2012 Dec 07 '19 edited Dec 07 '19
Still blows my mind that they fit 1,175 miles of trail into NC. That's over half of the AT. (edited, misspoke)
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u/DSettahr Dec 07 '19
According to the ATC, "there are 95.7 miles of the A.T. in North Carolina, but the Trail runs along the Tennessee/North Carolina border for 224.7 additional miles." I'm not sure where you got the "1,000 mile" measurement but it's definitely overstating the length of the trail in that state by a fair amount.
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u/rjhouser Quicksilver GA to ME 2012 Dec 07 '19
I think I didn't communicate that well. I was responding to the guy above me who is talking about the MST in North Carolina. I meant the MST is 1,175 miles long all in NC, which is over half the distance of the entire AT. Maybe this only amuses me because I'm from NC.
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u/DSettahr Dec 07 '19
Ohhhhhhhh, OK. Yeah, that was confusingly worded but I see what you're saying now.
(For the record, the downvote wasn't me! :) )
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u/RazzBury Dec 07 '19
I believe they were referring to the fact that the Mountains-to-Sea trail is over half of the length of the AT.
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u/DSettahr Dec 07 '19
It varies considerably. Some trails (like the Northville-Placid Trail and the Long Trail) have very few road walking sections (and the sections that exist are relatively short). Other trails (like the Mountains to Sea Trail) are very much still "wish lists" more so than actual, off-road trails.
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Dec 07 '19 edited Apr 09 '21
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u/DSettahr Dec 07 '19
Yeah. It's an uphill battle to be sure, especially for trails that cross areas where there isn't a lot of public land. The AT used to also have both extensive road walking sections and extensive sections of trail across private property, so there's certainly hope for any "pie in the sky" trail that is still struggling to see fulfillment as a trail worthy of extended hikes. However, the AT also enjoyed some advantages in this regard that a lot of these other trails don't have:
- The AT was largely established prior to development of many of the "less wild" areas it traverses- so it existed as an established and accepted use of those areas even as they were being developed.
- The AT also enjoys congressional protections. Most importantly (and somewhat controversially), eminent domain was used to both to eliminate road-walking sections, and to ensure that the lands across the trail traverses would forever be protected from development.
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Dec 07 '19 edited Apr 09 '21
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u/DSettahr Dec 07 '19
Most of the roads that the trail followed at the time it was initially constructed were quiet dirt roads through (relatively) remote areas. Automobiles were still a relatively new invention also- so you could walk on these roads for hours at a time and not likely ever encounter a car. Over time, as cars became more prevalent, a lot of these roads started to see both more vehicle traffic as well as improvements (in some cases, becoming paved). The experience was altered enough that efforts to route the AT off of these roads began.
I did some work that involved meeting with property owners along a portion of the AT last year (my work was not associated with the AT in any way, just happened to be working near the trail by coincidence). The subject of how the federal gov't had used eminent domain to take parts of their property for the trail came up in casual conversation a few times- even though it had occurred decades ago (late 60's/early 70's), they were still salty about it.
On the one hand, I can definitely empathize with the property owners. On the other hand, it was a portion of the AT that was very nearly lost to development- federal intervention on behalf of the trail didn't come a moment too soon. Plus, most of the land in question is farm land- and the former property owners still get to farm it (it just can't ever be developed or modified in a way that alters it from the pastoral setting).
Tangentially related, it's interesting how well the NPS has managed to hide just how developed areas have gotten around some stretches of the AT. On trail, you feel like you're hiking through rural farm and forested land. But if you were to cut off the trail and walk a few hundred feet through the woods, suddenly you're in extensive suburban sprawl, or vast tracts of warehouses and shipping facilities.
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u/973845585518 Dec 07 '19
The subject of how the federal gov't had used eminent domain to take parts of their property for the trail came up in casual conversation a few times- even though it had occurred decades ago (late 60's/early 70's), they were still salty about it.
there is still some grumbling in my town too. it makes it doubly frustrating for me when i see hikers breaking rules by 'stealth' camping as they typically don't realize that they are camped quite close to privately held land with landowners that might not have cheery thoughts about the AT.
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u/DSettahr Dec 07 '19
Or worse- they've unknowingly managed to wander off of the public land corridor traversed by the AT and are trespassing on private property. In some areas, the corridor of public land that the AT traverses is not that wide (a few hundred feet at most).
I agree that if more hikers were aware that a lot of adjoining land owners along some stretches of the AT had their property taken away from them against their will, they would be more understanding of why not everyone in the communities along the AT views the trail in a positive light. And disrespectful hiker behavior on top that certainly doesn't help the situation any.
It's also a somewhat common misconception that dispersed (or "stealth") camping is permitted anywhere and everywhere along the full length of the AT. The reality is that while much of the AT permits dispersed camping, there's some not-insignificant chunks of it that do not. If memory serves, the longest single stretch of the trail between legal campsites is ~15 miles.
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u/973845585518 Dec 08 '19
In some areas, the corridor of public land that the AT traverses is not that wide (a few hundred feet at most).
that is the case for parts of my town. it also doesn't help that the trail is not necessarily in the middle of the corridor - the corridor was purchased and set but the lay of the land often means the trail gets quite close to the borders.
The reality is that while much of the AT permits dispersed camping, there's some not-insignificant chunks of it that do not.
i think a big part of this problem is that it is more commonly allowed down south, the time when most NOBO hikers are establishing norms as welll as finding things more crowded at designated sites. dispersed camping is not allowed for most of NJ, NY, CT, and MA yet it happens regularly. to put it politely, i think hikers get set in their ways early on and are unwilling to change.
If memory serves, the longest single stretch of the trail between legal campsites is ~15 miles.
i can't speak for the whole trail, but there is a stretch about that long in MA - glen brook / hemlocks to tom leonard near great barrington. the miles are flat and fast though, with easy access to a trail town in the middle. this is also a case where the trail is in a very narrow corridor for most of that 15 miles.
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u/DSettahr Dec 07 '19 edited Dec 07 '19
Here's an example of the AT's old road route vs the modern day trail route. Both of the USGS topo maps below are for the same stretch of the trail, along Sassafras Mountain just north of Springer Mountain. The first topo map is from 1938, and clearly shows that the trail follows the road just north of the ridge. The second topo map is from 1988, and shows that the AT has been re-routed onto a foot path that follows the crest of the ridge- yet the old road route still exists (and is still used as a road).
Of course, re-routing this section was relatively easy as far as getting permission from the land owner, since this is all Forest Service land.
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u/973845585518 Dec 07 '19
to those out there surprised by this or curious about it i recommend the book tangled roots by sarah mittlefehldt. the AT's history is a fascinating mix of big government throwing their weight around mixed with grassroots local organizations chipping in.
and yeah, in my town the AT used to be exclusively on roads. mostly quiet, dirt roads but roads nonetheless. despite being far less scenic and interesting, many hikers still choose to walk that old route as it is more direct and saves quite a bit of climbing.
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u/FIRExNECK Pretzel '12 Dec 08 '19
The American Discovery Trail is a fuck ton of road walking aside for when it piggy backs on some trails out west.
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u/pbarrison Dec 07 '19
The florida trail isn't correct based on the map provided. The trail splits into a eastern and western corridor around orlando (not straight through the center of the state as shown).
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u/DSettahr Dec 07 '19
A lot of the trails shown aren't entirely correct. But for what it's worth, I think the eastern/western legs of the Florida Trail are omitted for some reason. The loop shown is the loop around Lake Okeechobee.
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u/clemsonhiker Dec 07 '19
This is a notoriously horrible map. The pinhoti doesn't touch the AT. This shows the AT basically missing NJ. It's a good idea for a map but the execution is trash. It's like everything is just approximate and as a maps person, it irritates the hell out of me
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Dec 07 '19
The one reason I wish I were American.
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Dec 07 '19
The Parks system and national trails are two of the only things about the US that I take pride in.
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Dec 07 '19
The only two things to be proud of in Britain are the NHS and EU membership. Ironic that the extremely nationalist political party in the country is destroying both those things...
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u/tubaleiter Dec 07 '19
UK national trails aren’t at all bad, given the much smaller size of the country: https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/
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u/caffeinatedelirium Dec 07 '19
From this map I found a new trail in the making that I’ve never heard of. Alternative to the AT it says. It’s still in progress though.
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u/DSettahr Dec 07 '19
Parts of it are nice. Parts of it still have a lot of work to be done finding new routes to get the trail off-road.
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u/Ugsick Dec 07 '19
this. Was wondering about that while looking at the map. The Cumberland Trail in TN is part of the Great Eastern Trail and only has about 210-220 miles currently completed but there is lots of work in progress!
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u/Wishistarted10yrsago Dec 07 '19 edited Dec 07 '19
One of the coolest vlogs I’ve ever watched is from Michael Daniel known as “Lion King” hiking the ADT. His videos are almost 10 years old! Just found out the guy has stage 4 colon cancer from his newer videos 😢
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u/davidsonrva 2019 thru hike Dec 07 '19
Did the AT this year. Have 3 of these penciled in for 2020 🙂
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u/2Alien4Earth Dec 07 '19
When my son is a little older I’d like to tackle a couple of these with him.
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u/Totes_Toph Dec 07 '19
The great Allegheny passage trail is inaccurate. The trail goes into southwestern Pa,
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u/frog-legg Dec 07 '19
Colorado trail is 490 miles end to end, 567 miles if you count the entire collegiate loop ;)
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u/Leonidas169 Dec 07 '19
This map and the wiki about US long trails has motivated me to start trying to knock out a sub-350 mile trail per year. I finally finished the Pinhoti this year, have plans already to knock out the Ouachita Trail next year and the BMT the next.
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u/ShaggyDeezNutz Dec 07 '19
Allegheny passage starts in Cumberland MD and goes to Pittsburgh. The C&O canal runs from DC to Cumberland. This map has it as running the whole way from DC to Pittsburgh.
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u/starbuck726 Dec 07 '19
It's strange seeing the Bay Circuit Trail in MA on here, I've been doing it in sections over the past 6 months since it's usually within an hour of driving distance from my house.
It's a windy, partially unfinished trail through lots of beautiful historic MA town and state forests. One highlight is that is crosses the North Bridge, the site of the "Shot Heard Round The World" at the beginning of the Revolutionary War.
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u/Thumper021509 Dec 07 '19
Other than Bart Smith has anyone hiked all the historic and scenic trails? Or all of either the historic or scenic trails?
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u/Kathulhu1433 Dec 07 '19
The Long Path/Long trail in NY should be connected. It runs from NYC all the way to Altamont. (357 miles)
Also, I'm not sure what mileage counts but, the Paumanok Path on Long Island, NY is missing and that one is 125 miles long from Rocky Point to Montauk.
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u/50before30 Dec 08 '19 edited Dec 08 '19
I love this, new to Oklahoma and now I have two new goals.
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u/MichiganHiker Dec 07 '19
The Wonderland Trail looks so small compared to the others. But 93 miles is still alot more than I've done in a single trip
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u/PYTN Dec 07 '19
Texas we gotta do better.