Which two U.S. states anchor the ends of the Appalachian Trail?

Many people include “hike the Appalachian Trail” on their bucket list, and completing the entire trek is indeed an accomplishment to be proud of.

Also known as the “A.T.”, it is approximately 2,200 miles (3,500 km) long; the exact length varies over time as sections are rerouted or modified. It passes through 14 different states, but only two states anchor the ends. The southernmost trailhead is at Springer Mountain Georgia, and the northernmost lies at Mount Katahdin, Maine. Most of the trail winds through forests or wild lands, although some portions traverse towns, roads and farms.

Hiking the entire A.T. is a grueling and demanding endeavor. It requires great physical and mental stamina. The terrain is mountainous for its entire length, with an elevation gain and loss equivalent to hiking Mt. Everest from sea level and back 16 times.

The idea of creating a hiking trail through the Appalachians was conceived by Benton MacKaye, a forester who wrote a plan, called "An Appalachian Trail, A Project in Regional Planning". He pitched the idea in 1921, and by 1925, had enough support to organize an Appalachian Trail Conference. By 1937, the original trail had been completed.

It is maintained by 31 trail clubs and managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and the nonprofit Appalachian Trail Conservancy, which describes it as the longest “hiking-only” trail in the world. It is estimated that over 2 million people hike on at least part of the trail each year.