Silhouette of a man with backpack standing on McAfee Knob at sunset with mountains in the distance.
McAfee Knob is one of the most popular locations along the A.T. to take photographs. Photo Credit: ATC/Benjamin Hays

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Federal Recreation Area · Connecticut · National Park Service

The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by private citizens, and completed in 1937, today the trail is managed by the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, numerous state agencies and thousands of volunteers.

Plan your visit

Know before you go

Phone
3045356278
Official site
www.nps.gov
Managed by
National Park Service

Getting there

Directions on Google Maps →

What's here

Highlights: Animals · Birds · Horses (wild) · Climate Change · Forests and Woodlands · Coniferous Forests · Deciduous Forests · Lakes · Mountains · Natural Sounds · Night Sky · Astronomy · River and Riparian · Scenic Views · Trails · Watersheds · Headwaters · Waterfalls · Wetlands · Wilderness

Activities & features: Astronomy · Stargazing · Camping · Backcountry Camping · Compass and GPS · Orienteering · Guided Tours · Self-Guided Tours - Walking · Hands-On · Citizen Science · Volunteer Vacation · Hiking · Backcountry Hiking · Front-Country Hiking · Junior Ranger Program · Snowshoeing · Wildlife Watching · Birdwatching

Photos

  • The Appalachian Trail runs across a mountain ridge line with views to the horizon of mountain range.
    Photo Credit: ATC
  • A white blaze marks a tree in the foreground, with a man and child walking away on the wooded trail.
    Photo Credit: ATC/Matthew Davis
  • A snowy winter view from the A.T. overlooking snowy mountains and clouds in the distance.
    Photo Credit: ATC/Greg Walter

Nearby parks

Parks of Connecticut

Nathan Hale State ForestDevil's Hopyard State ParkWadsworth Falls State ParkNipmuck State ForestPootatuck State ForestKettletown State ParkAbove All State Park Scenic ReserveTopsmead State ForestMianus River State Park Scenic ReserveHurd State ParkBeckett Hill State Park Scenic ReserveTrimountain State Park Scenic ReserveSunrise State ParkRocky Neck State ParkBennett's Pond State ParkLamentation Mountain State Park Scenic ReserveHorseguard State Park Scenic ReserveSleeping Giant State ParkNassahegon State ForestMooween State ParkHigganum Reservoir State ParkSquantz Pond State ParkWindsor Meadows State ParkRoss Pond State ParkMount Bushnell State Park Scenic ReserveHammonasset Beach State ParkSalmon River State ForestJohn A. Minetto State ParkPachaug State ForestHarkness Memorial State ParkColtsville National Historical ParkNaugatuck State ForestAlgonquin State ForestBrainard Homestead State ParkHousatonic State ForestMeshomasic State ForestIndustrial Monument Historic PreserveMashamoquet Brook State ParkDart Island State Park Scenic ReserveStratton Brook State ParkTunxis State ForestShenipsit State ForestBluff Point State ParkPreserve State ForestEagle Landing State ParkScantic River State ParkPeoples State ForestWooster Mountain State Park Scenic ReserveOld Furnace State ParkSilver Sands State ParkNepaug State ForestNehantic State ForestDennis Hill State ParkNye-Holman State ForestNatchaug State ForestLarkin State Park TrailMinnie Island State ParkHopeville Pond State ParkWhittemore Glen State Park Scenic ReserveFort Griswold Battlefield State ParkQuinnipiac River State ParkPaugnut State ForestSouthford Falls State ParkLake Waramaug State ParkHousatonic Meadows State ParkHumaston Brook State Park Scenic ReserveGeorge D. Seymour State Park Scenic ReserveSeaside State ParkCockaponset State ForestAir Line State Park TrailPutnam Memorial State ParkFarmington Canal Greenway State ParkPomeroy State Park Scenic ReserveAuerfarm State Park Scenic ReserveGay City State ParkBurr Pond State ParkCentennial Watershed State ForestHop River State Park TrailLovers Leap State ParkMount Tom State ParkJames L. Goodwin State ForestMassacoe State ForestKent Falls State ParkGillette Castle State ParkConnecticut Valley Railroad State ParkIndian Well State ParkFarm River State ParkBeaver Brook State Park Scenic ReserveCamp Columbia State ParkMachimoodus State ParkHaddam Island State ParkChatfield Hollow State ParkSelden Neck State ParkMacedonia Brook State ParkRiver Highlands State ParkSeth Low Pierrepont State Park Scenic ReserveTalcott Mountain State ParkQuaddick State ForestHaystack Mountain State ParkPenwood State ParkMoosup Valley State Park TrailHaddam Meadows State ParkOsbornedale State ParkCollis P. Huntington State ParkBolton Notch State Park Scenic ReserveWeir Farm National Historical ParkMohawk Mountain State ParkSunny Brook State ParkFort Trumbull State ParkQuaddick State ParkGeorge C. Waldo State Park Scenic ReserveStillwater Pond State ParkKillingly Pond State Park Scenic ReserveMount Riga State Park Scenic ReserveMillers Pond State ParkMohawk State ForestDinosaur State ParkPaugussett State ForestAmerican Legion State ForestMansfield Hollow State ParkSherwood Island State ParkDay Pond State ParkCampbell Falls State Park Scenic ReserveHopemead State ParkNathaniel Lyon Memorial State ParkBlack Rock State ParkPlatt Hill State Park Scenic ReserveEnders State ForestWest Rock Ridge State ParkStoddard Hill State ParkRocky Glen State Park Scenic ReserveBigelow Hollow State ParkMattatuck State ForestCamp Columbia State ForestWharton Brook State ParkMohegan State ForestHaley Farm State ParkWyantenock State Forest

139 parks mapped in Connecticut

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Sources: National Park Service · updated 2026-08-12