What States Do The Appalachian Mountains Go Through?
The Appalachian mountains were formed in the Ordovician Period, which is roughly around 480 million years ago. Since these mountains are extremely old, their heights have been greatly reduced due to erosion.
This made the heavily forested maintains an ideal spot for hikers thanks to its iconic Appalachian trail that covers a lot of the U.S. states. So what states do the Appalachian mountains go through?
In this article, we’ll answer this question and provide you with various information about the Appalachian Trail. Let’s dive in!
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What States Do the Appalachian Mountains Go Through?
The Appalachian Mountains run through 14 states. Arranged from the North to South, these states include:
- Maine
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- Massachusetts
- Connecticut
- New York
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Maryland
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Tennessee
- North Carolina
- Georgia
Keep in mind that the mountain’s range doesn’t end at the north in Maine, as the Appalachian mountains also extends from New England through southern Canada, especially through the province of Newfoundland and Labrador all the way towards the Hudson River.
What States Have the Highest Points of the Appalachian Mountains?
You can find the highest point of the Appalachian Mountains in the southern division, in the Southern states like North Carolina. States featuring the highest elevations include:
- Peaks of the Black Mountains in North Carolina and the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee plus North Carolina, standing more than 6,000 feet (1,825 meters) high.
- Mount Mitchell in North Carolina, reaching 6,684 feet (2,037 meters) high. This is the highest point of the entire system.
In the northern division, the following states feature high points as well:
- Mount Katahdin in Maine, standing at 5,268 feet high (1,606 meters)
- Mount Washington in New Hampshire, standing at 6,288 feet high (1,916 meters).
- A few pinnacles in the White Mountains, standing more than 5,000 feet (1,525 meters) high.
How Big is the Appalachian Trail?
The Appalachian Trail is a public footpath that extends across the mountain. The trial was completed in the late 1930s and is currently managed and moderated by the National Park Service.
The Appalachian Trail is between 2,180 and 2,190 miles long. The exact length of the Appalachian Trail changes slightly from time to time depending on the safety regulations.
You should also know that this scenic trail also covered 6 units of the national park system as well as 8 national forests.
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Where Does the Appalachian Mountain Trail Begin and End?
Although the Appalachian Mountain range itself starts in Canada, the Appalachian Mountain Trail runs exclusively through the United States.
The Appalachian Trail starts at Mount Katahdin of Maine and passes through all of the 14 states that the Appalachian Mountain goes through, and ends at the Springer Mountain in the State of Georgia.
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How Long Does it Take to Hike Through the Appalachian Mountain Trail?
Since the Appalachian Trail covers a wide range of the United States and spans over 14 states, finishing the Appalachian Trail is not an easy feat. Walking the entire distance of the trail continuously is known as “Thru-Hiking”.
In fact, as little as 25% of all the hikers that attempt to cross the Appalachian Trail make it all the way to the end, although thousands of them are always lining up at both ends of the trail.
If you’re determined to cross the Appalachian Trail in one trip, you should expect it to take you anywhere between 5 to 7 months, depending on various factors, such as distance covered per day and your preparedness.
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With that said, you now have an answer to the question “what states do the Appalachian mountains go through?”.
As you can see, the mountains run through 14 of the U.S. states, making it quite a unique journey across the East Coast of the United States!
