The Appalachian Trail: Backcountry Shelters, Lean-Tos, and Huts

by Sarah Jones Decker

A complete guide to the Appalachian Trail shelters that provide a gathering place and a sense of community along America's most famous footpath.

Whether you have spent a night or six months on the Appalachian Trail, every hiker eventually experiences one of the trail's iconic lean-tos or huts. More than 250 such backcountry structures exist on the 2,200-mile route, and they have welcomed hikers since the trail's inception in 1937. The Appalachian Trail organizes and assembles every single shelter for the first time in this informative and unique resource packed with trail and shelter photos, information, and detailed maps.

Photographer and writer Sarah Jones Decker thru-hiked the AT in 2008 and re-hiked it again in 2018 and 2019 for this massive documentary project. Decker worked with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy--and in collaboration with the trail community of hikers, historians, photographers, writers, and clubs--to produce this first-of-its-kind resource. It is the ideal gift for anyone planning or dreaming of a hike on the AT.

Genres: Nonfiction

304 pages, Paperback

Published April 7, 2020

Reviews

[Drew Boswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely beautiful book, the kind you want to own so you can sit down at odd moments and dip into it again and again. Decker's photos of every extant shelter on the Appalachian Trail will make you want to lace up your shoes, grab a pack and head to the woods.

[Heather Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty organized set up of all the lean to’s on the AT very descriptive of all the details. Everything you need to know about each one. I’d call this essential for planning a thru hike!

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures, and extremely informative! Would make a great coffee table book or helpful reference book!

[Karl · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are planning to hike. The Appalachian Trail. Check this webpage. Camping |Appalachian Trail Conservancy

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

My dream is to someday walk the AT. I will never realize that dream but it's fun to plan. That being said, I have to say that I found this book very interesting!