WillhiteWeb.com
The Appalachian Trail
This is the page for finding my pictures of places to visit on or near the Appalachian Trail. I will be adding links throughout the winter 2024\25. Most of the famous locations on the trail are listed below while others are just places I found interesting. Many of the sites and locations are not on the Appalachian Trail but required hiking a side trail. This is normal and many hikers take these side trails to get views. In addition, I left the trail over 50 times to reach peaks and fire lookouts that the trail skipped, since peakbagging and lookout chasing is my hobby at home. These bonus peaks and lookout sites ranged from just a few minute detour, up to a few hours to reach. I was still able to finish the trail and bonus peaks in 3.5 months hiking an average of 22 miles a day. There were no zero days and resupply was only every 6 to 9 days.
These 132 pages below are being built as I have time......
Class of 2024
McQueen Knob (mile 459.3)
Rich Mountain (mile 283.3)
Camp Creek Bald (mile 296.6)
Roan High Knob (mile 379.3)
Finishing both the Appalachian Trail and the 50 State Highpoints on my 50th birthday.
Trail Name: Fifty
Highpoint of Tennessee and most visited highpoint in Smokies.
Short side trail to a high abandoned lookout tower you can climb with excellent views.
A side trail leads to this unique circular lookout building with grand views.
A forest covered former lookout site right on the approach trail.
This is the start of the Appalachian Trail, on the summit of this mountain.
The trail once crossed over the summit. Former lookout site now forested.
The trail once crossed over this summit. A locked fence with fire tower is on top.
An iconic summit climb, considered the first real test for new hikers.
An iconic mountain pass where many hikers give up and toss boots in trees.
Another big mountain new hikers dread.
The first fire lookout tower on the AT that you can climb up.
An epic observation tower on the AT that you can climb up.
A detour for peakbaggers to get a 1,800 foot prominent mountain.
A bald summit with expansive views if you are willing to take the side trail.
A former lookout tower platform on the AT that you can climb up.
A deep gap in the mountains with many amenities. Known to be brutal in and out.
A classic checkpoint on the journey with the most well known shelter, the Fontana Hilton.
The most popular park in America, a massive area of forests and mountains.
Big Firescald Knob (mile 298.8 to 300.4)
Hot Springs Area (mile 275.2)
Roan Highlands (mile 380.8 to 391)
Beauty Spot (mile 355.2)
Sugar Run Mountain (mile 623.3)
Chestnut Ridge Knob (mile 570.1)
Fullhart Knob (mile 635.6)
Wind Rock (mile 664.8)
Bluff Mountain (mile 796.5)
Millers Head Lookout Site (mile 934.4)
Hightop Mountain (mile 907.3)
The first trail town the trail passes through.
A popular fire tower you can climb just minutes from the trail.
A detour only peakbaggers and lookout enthusiasts should do.
Rocky scenic ridgeline on the trail that has numerous viewpoints.
Open scenic area with large meadows, one of the best camping locations on trail.
One of the first conifer forests with high elevation and a tough climb up.
One of the longest alpine like areas on the entire trail. Views along miles of trail.
The 8.8 mile approach trail is not required but makes the journey more memorable.
White Rock Mountain (mile 415)
Hogback Mountain (mile 956.1)
Lambs Knoll (mile 1040.3)
Trico (Blue) Lookout Site (mile 985)
Mt. Dunlap (mile 1069)
Big Flat Lookout Site (1096.8)
Snowy Mountain Lookout Tower (mile 1079.2)
High Rock Viewpoint (mile 1064.4)
Stony Mountain Lookout Site (mile 1171.2)
A detour only a bagger of former lookout sites would enjoy.
A former lookout site now just a forested camp on the trail.
Take a hidden trail to this summit and find a hidden fire tower you can sneek up.
A historic viewpoint just minutes off the trail. See it trashed.
A standing lookout you can not go up that also requires a major side trail. Bummer.
Buzzard Rock/Whitetop Mountain (mile 491.9)
Laural Fork Gorge \ Pond Mountain Wilderness (mile 420.6 to 423)
Grayson Highlands (mile 498.3 to 507.5)
Pearis Mountain and Angels Rest (mile 633.7 to 634.4)
Stinking Creek Mtn. / Brush Mtn. / Dragons Tooth (mile 681.8 to 702.4)
Pearisburg to Peters Mountain Meadows (mile 637.4 to 645.4)
Tinker Cliffs (mile 720.1)
Mcafee Knob (mile 714.5)
James River Crossing (mile 787.4)
Blue Ridge Parkway South of Shenandoah (mile 744.2 to 770.2)
The Priest / Three Ledges (mile 830.3 to 841.8)
Spy Rock Trail (mile 826.2)
Stony Man Mountain (mile 935.6)
Shenandoah National Park (mile 864.9 to 968.8)
Harpers Ferry National Historic Park (mile 1025.5 to 1027)
Marys Rock (mile 942.8)
Washington Monument mile 1046.1)
Gathland State Park (mile 1036.5)
Cove Mountain and Duncannon, PA (mile 1137 to 1152.1)
Cumberland Valley and Boiling Springs (mile 1122 to 1137)
Loudoun Heights Site (mile 1024.1)
Duncannon Tower (mile 1150.8)
A 10 minute detour to see nothing but where a lookout tower once stood.
A 30 minute detour to see nothing but where a lookout tower once stood.
A 20 minute detour to see nothing but where a lookout tower once stood.
A very long detour to see a former lookout site with big views.
Hawksbill (mile 930.9)
Side trail to the highpoint of Shenandoah National Park and huge views.
A relocated lookout tower now on display in Duncannon, PA
The trail passes through farm fields and open areas unlike anything previously. The town of Boiling Springs was my favorite along the trail.
Trail passes through a historic area that you could spend half the day learning about.
Trail passes through the historic city where you could tour an entire day.
I spent some time investigating this planned lookout site that never had a tower built.
Another historic site and monument, this one with a big view.
Getting my box in Hanover, New Hampshire
Entering Vermont
Ceremonial halfway point marker
1000 miles from Springer Mountain, Georgia
Entering Connecticut
Camping in a very scenic spot on the second highest mountain in Virginia.
Section of trail mostly above treeline with wild ponies on the mountains.
Scenic mountain top with trail shelter on the summit.
The most famous location and icon of the Appalachian Trail.
Big views from
Side trail to a scenic rocky bald.
Major river crossing in the mountains.
A minor detour only a bagger of former lookout sites would enjoy.
Trail passes the highest point in the Peaks of Otter area of Virginia.
A forested mountain but the site of the Ottie Cline Powell Memorial.
Trail passes the length of this National Park, passing numerous amenities.
Hikers confess while climbing the Priest because Three Ledges is an evil climb.
The Appalachian Trail crosses parkway numerous times taking advantage of the views.
Scenic area wth unique views of mountains and valleys.
A unique climb out of the factories of Pearisburg to a high mountain vista.
A unique former lookout site only fire lookout nerds will enjoy.
Nice trail views with a short side trail to a scenic observation point.
A short side trail to a big view.
Side trail up to a prominent peak that has one good view.
Trail passes over a forested knob that once had a fire lookout.
A popular dayhike area with waterfalls, canyon walls and big bridges.
A former lookout site so ugly, the AT now detours just below the summit.
One of the most popular hiking destinations in Shenandoah National Park.
A short detour to see one of Shenandoahs most iconic vistas.
Nice overlooks and then a decent into the trail town of Duncannon.
Lower New York (mile 1370 to 1404)
A selection of pictures I took passing through southern New York.
Port Clinton to Delaware River Gap (mile 1220 to 1298)
New Jersey (mile 1298 to 1370)
A selection of pictures I took passing through New Jersey.
The most rocky trail section of the AT with the occasional viewpoint.
Connecticut (mile 1461 to 1513)
A selection of pictures I took passing through Connecticut.
Bear Mountain area, NY (mile 1404 to 1409)
Upper New York (mile 1419 to 1469)
A selection of pictures I took passing through northern New York.
One of the most populated spots on the AT, trail goes through a zoo.
More Vermont (from 1604 to 1754)
A selection of pictures I took passing through northern New York.
Sages Ravine and Mt. Race, MA (mile 1513 to 1517)
Massachusetts, The Berkshires (mile 1523 to 1604)
A selection of trail pictures for this area renowned for its natural beauty, rich history and picturesque towns.
A beautiful section of forest and rock where you learn the forest is changing now going north.
Mt. Cube, NH (mile 1785)
Another random summit with excellent views of the surrounding territory.
Harmon Hill, VT (mile 1616)
New Hampshire South (mile 1754 to 1776)
A selection of pictures from Hanover to Lambart Ridge.
Camping on top of the first mountain in Vermont with views.
Mount Garfield (mile 1834)
Big views from this former lookout along the trail.
Mount Moosilauke, NH (mile 1804)
Big vistas on a mountain with a reputation as one of the toughest on the AT.
Bear Mountain, CT (mile 1512)
The highest mountain in Connecticut.
Wildcat Mountain, NH (mile 1883)
Carter Dome, NH (mile 1885)
A forest covered former fire lookout site.
A forest covered former fire lookout site.
Franconia Ridge (mile 1827 to 1830)
Some consider this the most scenic section of the Appalachian Trail.
Kinsman Ridge Traverse (mile 1808 to 1824)
Mount Liberty, NH (mile 1824 to 1827)
A slight detour takes you to the rocky summit of Liberty, a popular destination.
One of the hardest climbs on the AT.
Presidential Range North (mile 1865 to 1870)
Taking side trails to climb over Mt. Clay, Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Adams
South Twin/Guyot/Zealand/Crawford Notch (mile 1836 to 1852)
Presidential Range South (mile 1852 to 1863)
Taking the AT and side trails over Mount Webster, Jackson, Pierce, Eisenhower, Franklin and Monroe.
This high mountain section of trail offers views and superb confer forest hiking.
The Wildcats, NH (mile 1878 to 1884)
A notoriously tough climb up from Pinkham Notch, with images to Carter Notch.
Mount Wilcox, MA (mile 1540)
I big side detour to see a standing fire lookout above the AT.
Mount Everett, MA (mile 1519)
Prominent mountain with expansive vistas and an unusual dwarf forest on the summit.
Smarts Mountain, NH (mile 1778)
Incredable views from the cab of a standing lookout on a prominent peak.
Becket Mountain, MA (mile 1558.6)
Trail passes by a former lookout now covered in trees.
Catfish Lookout, NJ (mile 1310.4)
Scenic views from an active fire lookout.
Moxie Bald Mountain (mile 2062.7)
A scenic summit that is along the trail.
Perkins Memorial Tower (mile 1407)
Details about the historic tower on top of Bear Mountain.
Culver Lookout, NJ (mile 1328)
Fingerboard Mountain, NY (mile 1394)
Investigation of an unknown fire lookout site near the AT.
Scenic views from an active fire lookout.
Saddleback Mountain (mile 1982.5)
Camping on the summit with mega 360 views.
Old Speck, ME (mile 1926.5)
Unfortunate weather at this old standing lookout provided no views while camping there.
Pleasant Pond Mountain (mile 2053)
Some of the first scenic views of northern Maine are found around the summit.
Mount Abraham (mile 1994.4)
Avery Peak/Bigelow (mile 2017.4)
One of the Bigelow Mountains once had a fire lookout.
My biggest detour from the trail to get a scenic summit and former fire lookout site.
The final climb and miles of the AT. The summit of Mount Katahdin is the endpoint of the Appalachian Trail.
Abol Bridge to Katahdin Stream Campground (mile 2182 to 2192)
Passing through Baxter State Park, the Fort Knox of State Parks.
Bromley Mountain, VT (mile 1661)
Camping on a mountain top ski resort with big views.
Barren Mountain, ME (mile 2101)
White Cap Mountain, ME (mile 2125)
The last big mountain before Katahdin has huge views, especially across the last 50 miles to Katahdin.
Climbing a abandoned tower for big views.
The AT goes right over the highest point in Massachusetts
Carry Ponds and Kennebec River Crossing (mile 2027 to 2046)
Classic Maine lakes and the infamous river crossing that requires a canoe to come and get you.
Nahmakanta Lake and Nesuntabunt Mtn. (mile 2156 to 2161)
Camping on the beach with a giant lake all to myself.
100 Mile Wilderness (mile 2083 to 2182)
Third Mountain, Monument Cliff (mile 2107)
Camping in a beautiful location on a cliff.
A selection of pictures from the 100 miles in addition to the 4 locations below.
The Horn, Saddleback Jr., Poplar Ridge (mile 1984 to 1988)
More views continue past Saddleback Mountain.
Bemis Mountain, ME (mile 1957)
Camping on the rocks with a view to avoid another forested campsite.
Little Bigelow and Flagstaff Lake (mile 2022 to 2027)
Crossing this last Bigelow, the trail drops down to a lake with amazing beach campsites.
Sugarloaf Mountain, ME (mile 1998)
The Bigalows (mile 2009 to 2016.4)
Mt. Bigelow and the north peak
Camping on the summit of a ski area was totally worth the extra mile and elevation gain for big sunset views.
Carter Mountains and Mt. Moriah, NH (mile 1887 to 1893)
A traverse of some mountains with occasional views.
Mount Hight, NH (mile 1886)
Super scenic camping spot I chose on the summit of a Mount Hight.
Old Blue Mountain, ME (mile 1953)
A prominent mountain the AT crosses with stunted trees allowing for some views a the summit.
Mahoosuc Notch (mile 1899 to 1923)
Baldpate Mountain, ME (mile 1930 to 1940)
Dodging thunderstorms on this unique mountain that has large rocky openings.
From Gorham to Mahoosuc Notch where the toughest mile of the Appalachian Trail is located.
Killington Peak, VT (mile 1702)
A short side trail during sketch weather to the second highest mountain in Vermont.
Stratton Mountain, VT (mile 1644.4)
Scenic fire lookout vistas said to be where the inspiration of the AT started.
Pico Peak, VT (mile 1704.4)
Mount Minsi, PA (mile 1295)
Trail passes by old lookout site with no views.
Going way out of the way for a former lookout only to find a foggy summit.
Glastenbury Mountain, VT (mile 1628.4)
Summit fire lookout with big views of surrounding area.
Mount Madison, NH (mile 1870.5)
This final Presidential Range mountain was a bit lower but had big views.
New England
The highpoint of New Hampshire, the Northeast and world record winds at observation station.