The Appalachian Trail: Celebrating America's Hiking Trail

by Brian King, Bill Bryson (Foreword)

The only illustrated book officially published with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, The Appalachian Trail explores this legendary footpath in detail: with a foreword by Bill Bryson and filled with more than 300 spectacular contemporary images, as well as unpublished historical photos, documents, and maps from the ATC archives. Once inspired by this wonderful celebration of the A.T., readers can plan their own hike using the removable and full-size copy of the official National Park Service’s map of the entire Appalachian Trail included inside each book.

In celebration of the Appalachian Trail’s seventy-fifth anniversary, this official book documents in text and photos the history, beauty, and significance of America’s most iconic hiking trail. With fascinating essays on topics ranging from the trail’s history to the day-by-day hiking experience, this book is perfect for anyone interested in conservation, outdoor recreation, or American history, and for all those who dream of one day becoming thru-hikers themselves.  Completed in 1937 by a small cadre of volunteers, the Appalachian Trail spans fourteen states, from Maine to Georgia, and is more than 2,000 miles long. Now, seventy-five years after its completion, the A.T. remains America’s premier hiking trail and is known as "the people’s path." Visitors from all over the world are drawn to the trail for a variety of reasons, whether to reconnect with nature and see its beauty and wildlife, or to challenge oneself—for two miles or 2,000. Out of three million annual visitors, almost 2,000 attempt each year to earn the distinction of "thru-hiker" by walking all five million footsteps in one continuous journey.

Genres: Travel, Nature, Nonfiction, Adventure, Photography, History, American History

336 pages, Hardcover

First published September 25, 2012

Reviews

[Mauoijenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a STUNNING, BEAUTIFUL, AMAZING book about the AT!!

I have often read articles and a few books that had mentioned the Appalachian Trail in them, plus seeing signs on travels of crossing over the trail it's self, that it got me thinking...

"What if I decided to walk the WHOLE THING, one day!"

This book is full of detailed beautiful photographs from the views, nature and the terrain in which makes up the Appalachian Trail. Along with some tid-bit information of what you are looking at. The AT gets roughly around 2,700 people who actually walk the whole trail, around 400-500 who yo-yo (start at one end and when the get to the other end turn around and walk back to the beginning where they started) the trail. I should totally do this one day soon, before the environment changes.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come for the amazing photos, stay for the history. It took an amazing amount of passion and effort to work through administrative bureaucracy not just to create this trail back in the early 20th century, but to maintain and protect it over the decades as the country changed and threats to its existence emerged and grew. Not the least of these was the explosive popularity of the trail itself. A fascinating story about a fascinating place.

[Joe Stinnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas gift that is much more than a beautiful coffee table book, although it is that too. The text describing the formation of the AT and the ATC and the work and politics and people who transitioned it from a wild utopian dream of a wilderness barrier with planned communities to a footpath for everyone through the eastern mountains was illuminating to say the least.

[Amy Werking · Rating 5 out of 5]

Swoon! Stunning photos of the AT grace the glossy pages of this coffee table book suitable for reading or browsing. The book includes the history of the trail, sustainability plans, and information on the modern ATC.

[Jack Townsend · Rating 4 out of 5]

We walked part of the trail. This was helpful/

[John Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

4/5 Pictures and 1/5 History. Pictures are good and the history is accurate if not extensive.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great large format book. Got it for the pictures, liked it for the historical content.

[Rayma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most informative and the photography was exceptional!

[Barra O'D · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book about hiking and travelling with friends. The funny stories and the history given makes this an enjoyable book, it has made me think about hiking some of the AT.

[Sandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

King's writing provides everything one needs to know about the history, visual landscape, and future of the AT. I highly recommend this book for nature-appreciators of all ages. Expect it to be informational but not overly dense.

[Steffi Dickinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

bring back picture books

[Alan Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book at the same time I was reading "46 Days," the story of the record-setting hike of the Appalachian Trail by Jennifer Pharr Davis. With its beautiful photographs this book let me picture the countryside JPD was hiking through. It also gives the history of the Trail. It's a great coffee table book, especially for hikers and outdoor persons, and has a lot of information about the Trail in it to boot (hiking boot, that is). I'm a hiker myself ("Walking the World: Memories and Adventures") and have hiked small sections of the Trail. This book made me wish I were young enough to hike the whole thing.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading "A walk in the woods" by Bill Bryson late in the 1990s and have been fascinated by 'the walk' ever since - and a huge fan of Bryson's. This coffee table book, with a forward by Bryson, provides details of the birth of the trail, it's development, maintenance and the challenges for the future. The numerous photos highlight the points of interest along the trail, the flora and fauna and provides a sense of the serenity and awe that can only come from walking in wide open spaces or along riverbanks or within primeval forests. This book was a visual feast.

[Jan Polep · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those of us who are too klutzy to walk the Appalachian Trail...all or part of it...this coffee table book of fabulous photos makes it feel as if you are right there. What a national nature treasure. Would be fun to live in a town close to the trail so that you could meet people who are passing through and hear their stories. Sounds like an idea for another book...

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful photographs and a comprehensive history of how the AT came into being.

[James Moss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winner of the National Outdoor Book Award in the Design and Artistic Merit category for 2013

[Tish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the author's sense of humor, especially given that I have hiked part of the trail.