The following books are available from the Appalachian Trail Conference, at their Ultimate Trail Store Online as well as outdoor retailers and bookstores.
2,000 Miles on the Appalachian Trail, by Don Fortunato.
An illustrated account of an early 1980s thru-hike of the A.T.
The Appalachian Trail Backpacker, by Victoria and Frank Logue. 1994.
This is the revised edition of the Appalachian Trail Backpacker's Planning Guide. It is a how to guide for anyone wanting to hike on the Appalachian Trail, whether you are planning a dayhike or a thru-hike.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail: A Time to be Bold, by Charles H. W. Foster. 1987.
A history of the trail and its public protection.
The Appalachian Trail Companion, Edited by the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association.
An annually updated companion to the Data Book for long distance hikers. This on-trail guide gives details on what services are available along the trail and more.
Appalachian Trail Data Book, compiled by Daniel D. Chazin.
An annually updated guide featuring mileages between features and facilities on the trail. This must have book for long distance hikers is also a good reference for any hiker.
Appalachian Trail Fun Book, by Frank and Victoria Logue. 1993.
A 72-page coloring and activity book designed to introduce four- to nine-year-olds to the Appalachian Trail.
Appalachian Trail Guides, published by the Appalachian Trail Conference and other trail clubs.
The eleven official trail guides are published by the ATC or its member clubs and are updated every two to three years, in most cases. Each guide is a pocket-sized book detailing a section of trail and comes with up to 12 topographic maps of that section. All guides are sold in a waterproof plastic pouch.
The Appalachian Trail: A Visitor's Companion, by Leonard M. Adkins. 1998.
A guide to the human, natural and geologic history of the Appalachian Trail.
Appalachian Trail in Bits and Pieces, by Mary Sands. 1993.
A recount of 16 years of hikes covering the entire A.T. with 100 Girl Scout companions.
Appalachian Trail Workbook for Planning Thru-Hikes, by Chris Whalen. 1991.
A rip-out-the-pages workbook of checklists, maildrops, etc.
As Far as the Eye Can See, by David Brill. 1990.
A well-written and reflective account of a 1978 thru-hiker. Written a decade after the hike, the author uses hindsight to great advantage as he looks back on his thru-hike.
Backpacker Magazine's Guide to the Appalachian Trail, by Jim Chase. 1989.
A history of the trail combined with anecdotes.
Blind Courage: Journey of Faith, by Bill Irwin and David McCasland. 1992.
A stirring account of a blind hiker's 1990 thru-hike of the A.T. with his dog, Orient. Perhaps the most amazing hike in the history of the Appalachian Trail.
The Best of the Appalachian Trail: Day Hikes, by Victoria and Frank Logue. 1995.
With 150 hikes in all fourteen trail states, this book guides hikers to the best day hikes on the Appalachian Trail. There is an overview of the hike, point by point description and complete trailhead directions for each of the hikes, which are also rated for difficulty and given an approximate length of time the hike will take.
The Best of the Appalachian Trail: Overnight Hikes, by Victoria and Frank Logue. 1995.
A companion to the day hikes book above, this guide includes more than 70 overnight hikes along the trail. Each hike is rated for fifficulty from easy to strenuous.
Breaking Trail in the Central Appalachians, by David Bates. 1987.
The history of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club.
Geology of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania, by J. Peter Wilshusen. 1983.
The geologic history of Pennsylvania's 230 miles of trail.
Katahdin with Love: An Inspirational Journey, by Madelaine Cornelius. 1990.
A couple's story of their A.T. thru-hike begun after the death of their son.
Mountain Adventure: Exploring the Appalachian Trail, by Ron Fisher, photographs by Sam Abell. 1989.
Published by the National Geographic Society, this book charts a south to north thru-hike by talking to hikers, maintainers, and people who live near the trail.
The New Appalachian Trail, by Edward B. Garvey. Illustrated by Sharon Garvey. 1997.
More than a quarter century after his first A.T. thru-hike (and his first A.T. book, Appalachian Hiker) Ed Garvey returned to the A.T. This is the story of Garvey's A.T. hike
of two-thirds of the Trail at age 75. It is includes Garvey's own backpacking advice and a section on the efforts to protect the A.T. corridor.
A Season on the Trail, by Lynn Setzer. 1997.
The author interviewed hikers and poured over registers entries, Internet postings, and postcards to present this well-written portrait of one year in the life of A.T. thru-hiking.
The Thru-Hiker's Handbook, by Dan Bruce.
This annually update guide gives detailed information on places where, hostels, motels, food, supplies and services for hikers are available along the Appalachian Trail. It also contains other useful information for thru-hiker's and section hikers.
Underfoot: A Geologic Guide to the Appalachian Trail, by V. Collins Chew. Revised 1993.
A guide to the geology of the entire A.T., including a history of the formation of the Appalachian Mountain chain.
A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson. 1998.
Humor-writer Bill Bryson attempted an A.T. thru-hike and returned with this humorous, if not always even-handed, look at life on the A.T. It is the first A.T. book to make the New York Times list of bestsellers.
Walking with Spring, by Earl Shaffer. 1987.
The enjoyable story of Shaffer's 1948 thru-hike. Shaffer's "Long Cruise" as he called it was the first thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail.
Wildflowers of the Appalachian Trail, by Leonard M. Adkins. Photographs by Joe and Monica Cook. 1999.
This stunningly beautiful guide has more than 100 color photographs and detailed descriptions and background information on 94 species. This useful field guide is equally at home as a coffee table book.
A Woman's Journey, by Cindy Ross. 1982.
The personal story of Ross's two-year, 2,130-mile journey on the A.T. in the late 1970s, illustrated with her charcoal sketches.
Ambling and Scrambling on the Appalachian Trail, by James and Hertha Flack. 1981.
One older couple's adventures on the Appalachian Trail.
Appalachian Hiker II, by Edward B. Garvey. 1978.
This is the 1978 revision of the now out-of-print Appalachian Hiker, Garvey's memoir of his 1970 thru-hike. It included planning advice. The A.T. Data Book began as an appendix to this book. The third edition of this book, titled The New Appalachian Trail, was published in 1997.
Appalachian Odyssey: Walking the Trail from Georgia to Maine, by Stephen Sherman and Julia Older. 1977.
The Appalachian Trail, by Ronald Fisher. 1972.
A National Geographic Society book.
The Appalachian Trail: Wilderness on the Doorstep, by Myron and Ann Sutton. 1967.
Hiking the Appalachian Trail, Edited by James Hare. 1975.
A 2-volume set. Each chapter has the story of an entire thru-hike.
Me and the Boy: A Father and Son Discover America and Each Other, by Paul Hemphill. 1986.
A candid account of a father and son's joint thru-hike.
Murder on the Appalachian Trail, by Jess Carr. 1984.
The story of a double homicide at Wapiti Shelter in Southwest Virginia.
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