Fall Road Trip Along the Appalachian Trail – Part I

If the thought of hiking the full 2,167 mile footpath following the Appalachian National Scenic Trail is too daunting, then consider using the Road Trip Planner to create a car or RV road trip instead.  Realistically, it would take about seven months to hike it all if you progressed 10 miles per day, though some dedicated fans manage it in one season.  So, for most of us, traversing the Appalachian Trail in a car or RV road trip is the choice alternative because you could cover the same distance in about two weeks at the leisurely pace.

This scenic road trip parallels the hiker’s route for the most part. This way, you can spend a couple of hours each day actually hiking the wilderness and be immersed in the colors and smells of the deep woods, then sit back in your car and enjoy nature unfurling before you.  A perfect start date to enter in your road trip planner is Fall because it allows you to experience the Appalachian Mountains at its colorful peak while also checking off another “Places to see in this lifetime” list: Enjoy New England’s legendary Fall Colors.

That’s not to say your trip itinerary will include nothing but trees and trails.  On the contrary, you’re passing through historically significant states so imagine the quaint villages and historic sites that’ll open up for you as you fill your road trip planner. 

Even though the Appalachian Trail runs through 14 states, this blog will include details on the first 6 of them (not including Maine): New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania.  This leaves New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia for another blog.  Keep in mind, that even though your initial road trip planning might show a 1200-mile route on places like Mapquest or Google Maps, you’ll be meandering through the states in order to follow the Appalachian Trail, so tack on another 200 miles to your road trip.

Choice spots to include in your road trip planner
In New Hampshire : You’ll be traveling west from Gorham to Orford before turning south.

• Pinkham Notch Camp
• Mt. Washington in New Hampshire’s Presidential Range
• Mount Washington Cog Railway
• The five granite ledges of Old Man of the Mountain at the Franconia Notch
• Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich

In Vermont: Your entry point is White River Junction; exit through Bennington.

• The historic town of Woodstock
• Gifford Woods State Park in the heart of the Green Mountains
• A panoramic view of Mt.  Snow as you descend into Wilmington

In Massachusetts : You’ll be skirting the west on Highway 7 all the way from Williamstown to Ashley Falls.

• Mount Greylock State Reservation
• Hancock Shaker Village
• Mount Washington State Forest in South Egremont (stay at the Weathervane, a great B & B).

In Connecticut : Enter in Canaan on Highway 7 and exit through Danbury.

• Norfolk, for its sheer beauty, including its private forest
• The Appalachian Trail crosses Highway 7 and the Housatonic River at Cornwall Bridge.
• Allow one luxury stay at the Berkshires (here's an affordable one).  The Berkshires is to western Connecticut what the Catskills is to New York and the Poconos to Pennsylvania. 

In New York : We’re only going to include the Appalachian Trail segment in this road trip planner and keep the “other” New York for another trip (unless you really can’t help yourself & decide to spend a few days in New York City…it’s your vacation after all :>).  Drive along US 6 to Highway 7, touching the southeastern part of New York and exiting through Port Jervis.

• West Point, the Army’s famous military academy
• Bear Mountain State Park
• Harriman State Park

In Pennsylvania :  Come in at Dingman’s Ferry and exit through Gettysburg (you’ll actually dip a bit in the Garden State of New Jersey).

• Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
• The Poconos
• Roadside America in the village of Shartlesville to see a scale model of bygone Americana.
• The Pennsylvania Dutch Country
• Gettysburg

That’s it…so far.  Check back again soon because we’ve got another 7 states to add to your Road Trip Planner to make this a truly magnificent Fall exploration of the Appalachian Trail.

Comments

[Doreen Orion]

Be sure to take some granola bars and such to hand out to hikers along the way. ATers call it, "trail magic" when people give them food and are very grateful for it. This is not only good karma for you, but will reinforce how lucky you are to be driving, rather than hiking the thing!