The Appalachian Trail recorded 16.9 million recreation visits in 2025, marking the first time official visitation data has been released for the world’s longest hiking-only footpath, which stretches nearly 2,200 miles across 14 states. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and National Park Service (NPS) developed this figure using aggregated, anonymized mobile location data from Placer.ai, combined with trail counters and field observations to ensure accuracy and alignment with national standards.
Announced March 13, 2026, in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, the data highlights the trail’s immense popularity and its role in outdoor recreation. A recreation visit is defined as one person spending at least 30 minutes on the trail for recreational purposes in a single day, with multi-day users counted once per day. The methodology excludes staff, contractors, commuters, and incidental passersby.
Approximately one-third of the trail lies on NPS-managed lands, which saw 6.2 million visits in 2025, placing the Appalachian National Scenic Trail ninth in the NPS Annual Park Ranking Report among national park units. The remaining sections cross USDA Forest Service lands and state or local public properties.
Cinda Waldbuesser, ATC president and CEO, stated, “For the first time, we can truly see how popular and meaningful the Appalachian Trail and its landscape are to millions of people.” She emphasized the partnership with the NPS in creating a model methodology that will guide management, conservation, and improvements for visitor experience across the trail.
Kurt Speers, chief ranger and acting superintendent of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, noted the collaborative effort involving the ATC, maintaining clubs, and partners to enhance stewardship while accommodating millions of visitors annually.
State-by-state data shows Virginia leading with 4,306,369 visits (23.7% of total), followed by New Hampshire at 2,879,020 (15.8%) and Pennsylvania at 2,702,091 (14.9%). Maryland recorded 518,594 visits, accounting for 2.9% of the total. The trail’s Maryland section, roughly 41 miles, runs through areas accessible to residents of Southern Maryland, including proximity to Washington County and connections via Harpers Ferry, a key access point just across the Potomac River.
This data underscores the trail’s economic contributions to nearby communities. In Damascus, Virginia—a Trail Town USA with about 750 residents—the trail draws an estimated 300,000 visitors yearly, with around 25,000 attending the annual Appalachian Trail Days Festival in May. Mayor Katie Lamb highlighted how such visitation supports local businesses and positions communities as gateways to hiking adventures.
Senator Tim Kaine, an A.T. champion from Virginia, pointed to the trail’s benefits for health, well-being, and local economies, while pledging continued legislative support for protection and improvements. Senator Thom Tillis echoed the value of better data for stewardship.
The ATC has managed day-to-day operations through grassroots efforts for over a century, working alongside public land managers to maintain the footpath, protect wildlife, and accommodate growing use. This first comprehensive count will inform future decisions on resource allocation, community support, and sustainable management.
The full state visitation breakdown and methodology details are available at appalachiantrail.org/visitation.
