AT A GLANCE
The Appalachian Trail, completed in 1937:
- Is a unit of the National Park Service.
- Is the nation's longest marked footpath, at approximately 2,175 miles.
- Is the first national scenic trail, designated in 1968.
- Houses more than 2,000 occurrences of rare, threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant and animal species.
- Crosses six national parks.
- Traverses eight national forests.
- Touches 14 states.
- Crosses numerous state and local forests and parks.
- Is maintained by 30 trail clubs and multiple partnerships.
Threats to the A.T. experience include:
- Highway construction
- Housing developments
- Invasive exotic plants
- Declining air quality
Fun facts about the Appalachian Trail:
- Lowest elevation: 124 feet.
- Highest elevation: 6,625 feet.
- There are 165,000 blazes along the length of the Trail.
- More than 9,000 people have reported hiking the length of the Trail.
- It takes approximately 5 million footsteps to walk the entire length of the Trail.

