Best of the Appalachian Trail: Day Hikes [Paperback]

Your Comprehensive Guide to the ATs Best Day Hikes

From Maine to Georgia, the nearly 2,200-mile Appalachian National Scenic Trail is an iconic destination. Whether youre an experienced hiker or a casual explorer, letBest of the Appalachian Trail: Day Hikesguide you along the way. Summit the iconic Katahdin in Maine, explore Pennsylvanias Chimney Rocks, splash in Tennessees Laurel Fork Gorge and Falls, and find out where Georgias Blood Mountain gets its name. Appalachian Trail experts Leonard M. Adkins and Victoria and Frank Logue have carefully selected their top 144 hikesranging from less than 1 mile to 11 milesand present them for you to experience and enjoy.

Trail difficulty ratings and profiles, which include point-by-point descriptions of each hike, help to prepare you for whats ahead. Trailhead maps and driving directions are provided to get you where you need to go. Plus, fascinating flora, fauna, and history tidbits entertain and educate you along all 144 hikes throughout the 14 states of the AT. Discover the best day hikes in this useful guide to the beloved long trail.

56. GREAT SWAMP AND CORBIN HILL
EASY / 2.8-mile round-trip / 1.5 hours

You dont need a car to reach the beginning of this hike. On weekends and holidays, the Metro North commuter train from New York City stops at the Appalachian Trail Station next to NY 22. (Visit mta.info/mnr for a schedule.)

Great Swamp is the second-largest freshwater wetland in New York, encompassing thousands of acres along its 20-mile length. Muskrats and other wildlife live among nine known rare plant and animal species, including spreading globeflower and Atlantic white cedar.

The views from the open fields of Corbin Hill take in West Mountain and Cat Rocks to the west, Waldo Hill and Sharp Hills to the north, and the route of the A.T. climbing the ridge to the east.

THE HIKE

Walk southward on NY 22 from the parking area, turn right onto a dirt road atlƒ6