Guide to Section Hiking the Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail (also known as the A.T.) is one of the most popular long-distance hiking trails in the United States and spans between Georgia and Maine. There is debate on how long the trail truly is because it changes every year as they re-route old sections of trail, but it’s around 2,200 miles. Each year, over 3,500 hikers attempt to thru-hike (hiking the full 2,200+ miles) while many more people section and day hike.
This spring we decided to section hike the first 31 miles of the trail from Springer Mountain to Neels Gap. We’ve previously wrote about how to prepare and what to pack for a backpacking trip. We hope to continue completing more sections!
We wanted to share our route and specific highlights from the hike. One of the best resources we used to plan the trip was the app FarOut. We used it to plan our water stops, where we would camp each night, our mileage, and looked at reviews from other hikers of each stop.
Day 1: Springer Mountain Southern Terminus to Hawk Mountain Campsite - 8 miles
For the first couple miles, we couldn’t believe we were actually on the A.T. We were doing it! We were so excited for what the next couple days would bring.
Our first stop was about a mile and a half in at the perfect stream. The water was crystal clear and refreshing.
We were expecting soreness to come soon. We continued on our hike and started to feel our packs take a toll on our shoulders and feet. We pushed through and made it to camp around 4pm. The rest of the night was spent relaxing, eating, and prepping our legs for the following day.
Day 2: Hawk Mountain Campsite to Gooch Mountain Shelter - 8 miles
We woke up and our first sight was tall, green trees towering over our tent. We took the morning slow by making coffee, a breakfast scramble, and stocked up on water.
Starting the hike on sore legs was tough but once we got a couple miles in we felt like we found our groove. There was more elevation than we expected, but that meant a ton of views and snack breaks.
We made it to Gooch Mountain Shelter that night. One of the many things we loved about the AT was how friendly everybody was. We spent the night eating coconut curry and chatting with other hikers.
Day 3: Gooch Mountain Shelter to Jarrard Gap Campsite - 10 miles
We got on the trail an hour earlier than we did the previous day. We learned hiking early in the morning with cooler weather was way better than hiking in 80 degree afternoon heat.
We made it to Woody Gap, which was the first stop to dispose of our trash. It was also the first busy road we crossed, making us realize how disconnected we were from civilization.
We decided to go a little further to leave room at an almost full campsite and because our legs were still feeling solid. We made it to Jarrard Gap and relaxed after a 10-mile day.
Day 4: Jarrard Gap Campsite to Neels Gap - 5 miles
We were thanking ourselves for the extra mileage and climbing we knocked out the day before. The climb up to Blood Mountain’s peak was tough but our legs felt strong after the past couple days. As we got to the top, we took it all in. It was bittersweet. We felt excited, accomplished, sad that the hike was ending, an urge to keep going, and thankful!
We made our descent down Blood Mountain. As we approached Neels Gap, we couldn’t believe we made it.
This hike was the perfect length and complexity for us as beginner backpackers. We also wanted to give a shoutout to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy for all the work they do to keep the trail looking good, and for their outstanding Ridge Runners who provide a friendly smile and helpful guidance along the way.
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