I am looking for a location where I could have a variety in trails for doing dayhikes. I thruhiked the AT in 2005. My wife is not well so I cannot go on long treks. I am a distance runner so I currently run every day. I am OK running the same route daily but hiking the same trail just seems so boring. I might even relocate if I could find somewhere that has some variety in day hikes. I currently live just east of Columbus Ohio and there is not much here.
Steady On
In the east I do not think you can beat the Asheville area. You have trail along the parkway, the smokies, the national forest abound. I hate to see more folks moving into “my mountains” but it is answer to your quesion for year round hiking.
Lee
Victoria and Frank Logue have two books that are right up your alley. “The Best of the Appalachian Trail: Day Hikes” and “The Best of the Appalachian Trail: Overnight Hikes,” Menasha Ridge Press, Birmingham, AL, 1994.
The hikes include length, approximate time to hike, level of intensity, parking, detailed course directions, and highlights. The chapters are by state and have a crude map showing hike locations along the AT. A state map or visit to the Appalachian Trail Home Page may helpful.
Redbird
yep!..check it out!..within 1-2 hours, there are many trails…lookout mtn…signal mtn…pigeon mtn…monteagle mtn…fort mtn…etc etc etc!..jeffery hunter, of the american hiking society, could probably pass along LOTS of info on day hikes near chattanooga (as he makes this city his home)
maw-ee
Hi, Steady On, I hiked the AT in 2005 also. All the above suggestions are probably good but NH is the best. I live here so maybe I am prejudiced but not only does NH have lots of great day hikes, they can be hard or easy, do you remember going through the whites? In addition, you are close enough to hike in VT, Maine or MA. Another reason to move here is that it is beautiful and close to Boston if you want a city experience, close to Portland Maine, Montreal and beautiful lakes. What more can I say?
Sleeveless AT’05
Sleeveless