I’m trying to decide which section or sections would be the best for a 3 month hike starting mid May. I don’t have enough time for a thru hike, so I want to make the most of the summer and hit some of the highlights of the trail. To keep things simple, I want the hike to be mostly continuous, but if anyone has any good ideas for the 3 best month long hikes, I would like to hear them too.
Bill
personally id start at springer in georgia and take my time making it to Harpers Ferry in 2-3 months. If youre looking to be with the masses, well start in damascus at trail days and head north. Virginia is awesome and should not be missed IMO. Problem is, if you start there, youll make it thru virginia in 30-45 days and then end up probably pretty crabby when the mid atlantic becomes less scenic, more hot and buggy and less fun. Not a section you should have to do in summer heat if not completing a thru’hike. So much good scenary and towns from springer to damascus. If you do leave springer on may 15th youll have a lot of trail to yourself but still some folks around, and if you hike with any speed youll start catching stragglers as summer goes on. The best scenary is maine and nh, but mid may is way too early to enjoy them. Other thing you could do is start at delware water gap and go north to katahdin. Youd have plenty of time, and thruhikers would be catching you and youd start with nice terrain. Anyway you go, you cant go wrong
a-train
Unless you really like hot, buggy weather I’d avoid the south during the mid-May to mid-August hiking window. Starting mid-May it should be much better if you start anywhere from SNP to DWG and hike north. You’ll be ahead of the big push of NOBOs, but won’t be totally alone. With the exception of the rockiest part of PA (northern third), not a bad place to get your trail legs, either.
Skyline
The vast majority of thru hikers finish in less than 6 months, so you should plan on hiking more than half if you have a full 3 months. That means starting somewhere between Damascus and Harpers Ferry. There is bus or train service to Marion, VA (Near I-81 X-ing), Roanoke, VA (Near I-81 X-ing), and Harpers Ferry. I would start in SNP for its easy terrain and maximizing the amount of Maine in August. Note, it’s OK to leave Katahdin (and even the 100 mile wilderness for the end.)
Seems like you are getting recommendations for skipping from Harpers Ferry to NY. (I would want to be at least a week north of Damascus on the Monday after Trail Days.)
Rambler
I would hike from Fontana Dam into southern Virginia then flip up to Hanover, NH and hike to Kahtahdin. Both ends of the trail are beautiful and should not be missed. While I loved Virginia the section between the Smokies and Damascus I thought was well worth seeing.
Big B
Vermont through Maine was probably the prettiest stretch of the AT, though it would be quite difficult for a hiker not in trail shape yet. It was 9 days for me through Vermont, roughly 12 through New Hampshire and about three weeks through Maine. I wasn’t rushing, but I also was thru-hiking, so add however many days to that schedule you think is right. With your extra time you could add in the 75 miles of Massachusetts and also do the complete Long Trail (you do a third on the AT).
0101
I’d agree with the suggestions to split the hike into a southern section and then move to NH/Maine. Might as well go for the best! You might even consider hiking north to south in VA, starting in Shenandoah NP, which is relatively easy. AS you hike south it gets steeper and has more elevation gain. So you’ll gradually get your trail legs and then be ready for the good stuff in the north! Enjoy!
Rainbow
the best sections are no doubt from springer to atkins, va (aprox 500 miles) and from katahdin to north adams, ma. (aprox 600 miles) no doubt. if this is the only time you forsee having, then go through the logistical trouble of a flip. with your season you certainly should start south. the maine hiking season doesnt really start until at least mid june. black flys suck.
but if you think you may have time in another summer then start at springer and get where you get and finish it later.
all that stuff in the middle is nice enough. but the stuff at the ends is truly world class. the whites, maine, the greens, the balds of NC, the smokies.
milo