The Appalachian Trail gets into people’s heads long before it gets under their boots. Maybe it started with a white blaze painted on a tree in Shenandoah, a photo of someone on top of Katahdin, or a friend who came back from six months in the woods looking different somehow.
In 2026, the trail officially measures 2,197.9 miles, running through 14 states from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. Every year, thousands of people try to walk the whole thing. Millions more hike pieces of it. And a surprising number just love reading about it.
The best Appalachian Trail books cover all of that: the up-to-date guidebooks you need to plan a hike, the memoirs that show what months on the trail really feel like, the history of the people who made it, and beautiful books to give someone who’s caught “trail fever.”
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, JoinHikes earns from qualifying purchases. If you buy through Amazon links in this article, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
How we chose: For guidebooks, we focused on current editions made with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and the hiking community. For memoirs and history, we looked for different voices and real insight into trail life. We haven’t hiked every section described. Always check current ATC trail updates before you go.
Quick Answer: What Is the Best Appalachian Trail Book?
Planning a hike? Get the Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers’ Companion 2026. It’s the current-year planning guide made with the trail’s official organization.
Want a great read? A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson is the most famous AT book ever written, and Grandma Gatewood’s Walk is the most inspiring.
Dreaming of a thru-hike? Read AWOL on the Appalachian Trail and The Unlikely Thru-Hiker for an honest look at life on the trail.
2,197.9 miles
Official length for 2026, per the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. It changes a little most years.
14 states
Georgia to Maine, through the Smokies, Shenandoah, the White Mountains and more.
Springer to Katahdin
The southern and northern ends. Most thru-hikers go north from Georgia.
Months, not weeks
A full thru-hike usually takes most people around five to seven months.
Best Appalachian Trail Books: Quick Comparison
On a phone, swipe the table sideways.
| Book | Type | Best for | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top pick Thru-Hikers’ Companion 2026 | Guidebook | Planning a thru-hike | Check price |
| A.T. Data Book 2026 | Mileage guide | Light, quick reference | Check price |
| Best of the A.T.: Day Hikes | Day-hike guide | Weekend hikers | Check price |
| Inspiring Grandma Gatewood’s Walk | Biography | An uplifting true story | Check price |
| AWOL on the Appalachian Trail | Memoir | Future thru-hikers | Check price |
| The Unlikely Thru-Hiker | Memoir | First-timers | Check price |
| North | Memoir | Runners & endurance fans | Check price |
| Walking with Spring | History | The first thru-hike | Check price |
| Premium Celebrating America’s Hiking Trail | Illustrated hardcover | Gifts | Check price |
| On Trails | Nature writing | Thoughtful readers | Check price |
All 18 books are reviewed below, including A Walk in the Woods, Becoming Odyssa and the A.T. Guide by AWOL.
Best Appalachian Trail Guidebooks and Maps
For anything practical, buy the current year’s edition. Shelters close, water sources dry up, the trail gets rerouted and hostels change hands. A guide from five years ago can send you somewhere that no longer exists.
1. Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers’ Companion 2026
Best for: Thru-hikers and long section hikers.
Planning a thru-hike gets overwhelming fast. Where can you resupply? How far is the next shelter? Which town has a post office, a laundromat and a cheap bed? The Thru-Hikers’ Companion puts all of that in one place.
It’s published by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy with the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association (ALDHA), whose volunteer members, many of them former thru-hikers, update it every year. The 2026 edition (288 pages) includes elevation profiles, landmark and mileage tables, town maps, and lists of services near the trail.
- Current-year information.
- Elevation profiles and town maps.
- Resupply and service details.
- Made by people who’ve hiked it.
- A reference, not a story.
- Businesses and water sources can still change mid-season.
2. Appalachian Trail Data Book 2026
Best for: Hikers who want just the numbers in a tiny booklet.
Edited by Daniel Chazin and published by the ATC, the Data Book is just 96 pages. It lists distances between shelters, road crossings and major landmarks, plus simple codes for nearby services. That’s it, and that’s the point. Many hikers tear out the pages they need and leave the rest at home.
Data Book or Companion? The Data Book is lighter and simpler. The Companion adds elevation profiles, town maps and far more detail on services. Plenty of thru-hikers carry the Data Book and keep the Companion at home for planning.
- Very light and compact.
- Updated for 2026.
- Great for quick mileage checks.
- Little town information.
- Not a map; carry proper navigation too.
3. The A.T. Guide by David “AWOL” Miller
Best for: Thru-hikers who want an all-in-one trail guide.
After his own thru-hike (see #9 below), David Miller created what many hikers simply call “the AWOL guide.” Updated every year, it combines elevation profiles with mileage, shelters, water and town info on the same page. It comes in northbound and southbound versions. Many hikers choose either this or the Companion, so flip through both before you buy.
See it on Amazon4. National Geographic Trails Illustrated Appalachian Trail Topographic Map Guides
Best for: Section hikers who want real paper maps.
Guidebooks give you numbers. These waterproof, tear-resistant map booklets give you the terrain. They’re split into sections along the trail, so you only carry the part you’re hiking. A paper map is still the most reliable backup when your phone dies.
See it on Amazon5. Best of the Appalachian Trail: Day Hikes (3rd Edition)
Best for: Weekend hikers and travelers who want a taste of the A.T.
You don’t need six months off to hike the Appalachian Trail. Written by Leonard M. Adkins with Frank and Victoria Logue, this guide picks out some of the best day hikes in all 14 states, including Blood Mountain in Georgia, McAfee Knob in Virginia and Katahdin in Maine, with distance, time and difficulty for each.
It’s perfect for adding a famous trail section to a road trip or a long weekend. Just note it’s a 2018 edition, so check current trail and parking info before you go.
- Covers all 14 trail states.
- Clear distance and difficulty.
- Great for trip planning.
- 2018 edition, so check current conditions.
- Selected hikes, not every section.
Best Appalachian Trail Memoirs
Guidebooks tell you where the shelters are. Memoirs tell you what it feels like to wake up in one for the 100th time, soaked, sore and still somehow happy.
6. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
Best for: Everyone. It’s the book that made the A.T. famous to non-hikers.
Travel writer Bill Bryson and his out-of-shape old friend Katz set off to hike the Appalachian Trail with very little idea what they’re doing. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, full of trail history and nature, and honest about how hard it really is. They don’t finish, but you’ll understand why so many people try. It was also made into a 2015 film with Robert Redford.
See it on Amazon7. The Unlikely Thru-Hiker by Derick Lugo
Best for: Anyone who thinks, “Someone like me couldn’t do that.”
Derick Lugo was a New Yorker from the comedy world with almost no hiking experience. He didn’t look like the typical thru-hiker, didn’t have the right gear and didn’t know the lingo. He walked from Georgia to Maine anyway, picking up the trail name “Mr. Fabulous” along the way.
His 2019 memoir (AMC Books) is funny, warm and honest, including about being a Black hiker on a mostly white trail. It’s one of the most encouraging A.T. books you can read before your first big hike.
- Relatable beginner’s view.
- Genuinely funny.
- Fresh, important perspective.
- Not a how-to guide.
- Less detail on individual sections.
8. Becoming Odyssa by Jennifer Pharr Davis
Best for: Young hikers and women thinking about a solo thru-hike.
Fresh out of college, Jennifer Pharr Davis set off alone to hike the whole A.T. Her memoir covers the fear, the loneliness, the danger and the people who became family along the way. It’s a coming-of-age story as much as a hiking one, and a favorite with first-time thru-hikers.
See it on Amazon9. AWOL on the Appalachian Trail by David Miller
Best for: Anyone seriously planning a thru-hike.
In 2003, David Miller left his software engineering job, his wife and kids at home, and spent months walking from Georgia to Maine. AWOL on the Appalachian Trail is the most realistic day-to-day picture of a thru-hike you’ll find: the weather, the gear decisions, the trail towns, the injuries and the boredom.
It’s less about big drama and more about the rhythm of trail life, which is exactly what future thru-hikers need to know. Miller went on to write the annual A.T. Guide, so he knows the trail inside out.
- Honest, detailed and realistic.
- Great for planning your mindset.
- Lots of trail-town detail.
- Gear and logistics are now dated.
- Slower pace than adventure thrillers.
10. Hiking Through by Paul Stutzman
Best for: Readers going through loss or big life changes.
After his wife died of cancer, Paul Stutzman quit his job and walked the Appalachian Trail to find peace. His memoir is about grief, faith and the strangers who helped him along the way. It’s gentle and heartfelt, and many readers say it came to them at exactly the right time.
See it on Amazon11. Blind Courage by Bill Irwin
Best for: Readers who want an “anything is possible” story.
In 1990, Bill Irwin became the first blind person to hike the entire Appalachian Trail, guided by his dog Orient. He fell many, many times. He kept going. His story of faith and stubborn determination is unlike any other A.T. book.
See it on AmazonBest Books About Appalachian Trail Speed Records
Most hikers take five to seven months. These two people did it in about a month and a half.
12. North by Scott Jurek with Jenny Jurek
Best for: Trail runners and endurance fans.
In 2015, legendary ultrarunner Scott Jurek tried to set a new supported speed record on the Appalachian Trail, running and hiking huge miles every day with his wife Jenny driving the support van. Injuries, exhaustion and terrible weather pushed him to his limit, and he set the record by a few hours. (It has since been broken.)
The best part is the two voices: Scott on the trail, and Jenny on what it takes to keep him going. It shows how much teamwork goes into a “solo” achievement.
- Gripping, fast-paced story.
- Two perspectives, runner and support.
- Great insight into pushing limits.
- Very different from a normal thru-hike.
- Less about the trail’s people and towns.
13. Called Again by Jennifer Pharr Davis
Best for: Readers who loved Becoming Odyssa, and anyone who loved North.
In 2011, Jennifer Pharr Davis returned to the A.T. to set the overall speed record, the record Scott Jurek later chased in North. With her husband as her support crew, she covered the trail in about 46 days. Reading both books together is a fascinating comparison.
See it on AmazonBest Appalachian Trail History Books and Gifts
14. Grandma Gatewood’s Walk by Ben Montgomery
Best for: Everyone, especially anyone who thinks they’re “too old.”
In 1955, 67-year-old Emma Gatewood told her grown children she was going for a walk. She meant the Appalachian Trail. Carrying a homemade bag and wearing canvas sneakers, she became the first woman to hike it alone in one season. Then she did it again. And again.
Ben Montgomery tells her story with real heart, including the hard life she was walking away from. Her fame also helped bring attention to the trail when parts of it were in poor shape.
- Hugely inspiring true story.
- Great A.T. history.
- Enjoyable even for non-hikers.
- Her gear and methods aren’t a model for today.
- Not a planning book.
15. Walking with Spring by Earl Shaffer
Best for: History lovers and serious A.T. fans.
In 1948, World War II veteran Earl Shaffer set out to “walk off the war” and became the first person to hike the entire Appalachian Trail in one continuous trip. Many people at the time didn’t believe it could be done. His book is a simple, first-hand account of a trail that was far rougher and less marked than it is today.
- The first thru-hike, in his own words.
- Fascinating look at the early trail.
- A must for A.T. collectors.
- Old-fashioned writing style.
- Nothing useful for modern logistics.
16. The Appalachian Trail: Celebrating America’s Hiking Trail by Brian King
Best for: Gifts, collectors and anyone who has hiked the A.T.
This large, 336-page Rizzoli hardcover was made with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and has a foreword by Bill Bryson. It mixes more than 300 images, including modern photos, historic pictures, maps and archive documents, with essays on the trail’s history and the people who built and protect it.
It’s the perfect gift for someone who just finished a thru-hike, or someone who dreams of one. If you’re buying a used copy, check that the fold-out trail map is still included.
- Beautiful photos and history.
- Official ATC collaboration.
- Bill Bryson foreword.
- Feels like a real keepsake.
- 2012 book, not a planning guide.
- Too big to carry on the trail.
Best Books for the Mental Side of the Trail
17. Appalachian Trials by Zach Davis
Best for: Future thru-hikers who want to actually finish.
Most people who start a thru-hike don’t finish, and usually it’s not because of gear or fitness. It’s boredom, loneliness, rain and doubt. Zach Davis, who thru-hiked with no previous backpacking experience, wrote this guide to the psychological side of the trail. Read it before you leave, and maybe again when you want to quit.
See it on Amazon18. On Trails: An Exploration by Robert Moor
Best for: Readers who love big ideas and nature writing.
After thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, Robert Moor started wondering: what actually is a trail? Why do ants, elephants and people all make them? This award-winning book follows that question around the world, from ancient fossil tracks to the International Appalachian Trail. The A.T. is the starting point, but the book goes much further.
- Original and fascinating.
- Beautifully written.
- Appeals beyond hikers.
- Not a classic A.T. memoir.
- No planning information.
Appalachian Trail Book Starter Kits
The future thru-hiker
Thru-Hikers’ Companion 2026 + AWOL on the Appalachian Trail + Appalachian Trials. Logistics, reality and mindset.
The weekend hiker
Best of the A.T.: Day Hikes + a map guide for your section.
The armchair hiker
A Walk in the Woods + Grandma Gatewood’s Walk + The Unlikely Thru-Hiker.
The perfect gift
Celebrating America’s Hiking Trail + Grandma Gatewood’s Walk.
Best Appalachian Trail Book by Type of Reader
| If you… | Read this |
|---|---|
| Are planning a thru-hike | Thru-Hikers’ Companion 2026 |
| Want to carry very little | A.T. Data Book 2026 |
| Only want day hikes | Best of the A.T.: Day Hikes |
| Want a funny, easy read | A Walk in the Woods |
| Are nervous about your first big hike | The Unlikely Thru-Hiker |
| Are a woman planning a solo hike | Becoming Odyssa |
| Love running and endurance | North |
| Love history | Walking with Spring |
| Need inspiration | Grandma Gatewood’s Walk or Blind Courage |
| Want a gift | Celebrating America’s Hiking Trail |
Guidebooks vs. Memoirs: Which Do You Need?
| Guidebooks | Memoirs | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Planning | Inspiration & insight |
| Mileage & shelters | Yes | Rarely |
| Town & resupply info | Yes | Not current |
| Need the newest edition? | Yes, every year | No |
| Best for | Actually hiking | Deciding if you want to |
Planning a real thru-hike? You’ll probably want one of each.
Famous Appalachian Trail Day Hikes to Start With
Not ready for 2,197.9 miles? These classic sections give you a taste. Check current conditions and parking before you go.
Blood Mountain, Georgia
A tough climb to the highest point on the Georgia A.T., with big views.
Max Patch, NC/TN
An open, grassy bald with 360° mountain views near Asheville. See our Asheville guide.
Great Smoky Mountains
The A.T. runs along the park’s high ridges. See our Smokies guide.
Shenandoah, Virginia
Over 100 miles of A.T. with easy access from Skyline Drive. See our best Shenandoah hikes.
McAfee Knob, Virginia
One of the most photographed spots on the entire trail.
Katahdin, Maine
The trail’s dramatic northern end. A very hard climb; check Baxter State Park rules first.
Planning a Thru-Hike? Don’t Rely on Books Alone
- Check the Appalachian Trail Conservancy for current trail closures, reroutes and alerts.
- Some sections need permits, such as Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Baxter State Park (Katahdin). Rules change, so check before you go.
- Carry real navigation: a map, a phone app with offline maps, and a backup battery. See our compact power bank guide.
- Get your gear dialed in before you leave with our ultralight backpacking gear list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best book about the Appalachian Trail?
For a great read, A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson or Grandma Gatewood’s Walk by Ben Montgomery. For planning, the Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers’ Companion 2026.
What is the best Appalachian Trail guidebook for 2026?
The Thru-Hikers’ Companion 2026 from the ATC and ALDHA. Many hikers also like The A.T. Guide by David “AWOL” Miller.
What’s the difference between the Data Book and the Thru-Hikers’ Companion?
The Data Book is a tiny 96-page list of mileages and landmarks. The Companion adds elevation profiles, town maps and detailed service information.
What is the best Appalachian Trail memoir?
AWOL on the Appalachian Trail is the most realistic. The Unlikely Thru-Hiker and Becoming Odyssa are the most relatable for first-timers.
What Appalachian Trail book should a beginner read first?
Start with A Walk in the Woods or The Unlikely Thru-Hiker. If you’re planning a hike, add Best of the A.T.: Day Hikes or the Thru-Hikers’ Companion.
How long is the Appalachian Trail in 2026?
The official 2026 length is 2,197.9 miles, according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. It passes through 14 states.
Who was the first person to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail?
Earl Shaffer, in 1948. He wrote about it in Walking with Spring.
Who was the first woman to thru-hike the A.T. alone?
Emma “Grandma” Gatewood, in 1955, at age 67. Her story is told in Grandma Gatewood’s Walk.
Is North by Scott Jurek about the Appalachian Trail?
Yes. It tells the story of his 2015 speed record attempt on the A.T., with chapters from his wife Jenny, who ran his support crew.
What is the best Appalachian Trail book as a gift?
The Appalachian Trail: Celebrating America’s Hiking Trail for a big, beautiful gift, or Grandma Gatewood’s Walk for a great story.
Can I plan a thru-hike with books alone?
No. Use current-year guides, but also check ATC trail updates, weather, permits and closures, and carry proper navigation.
Final Verdict: Which Appalachian Trail Book Should You Buy?
Planning a hike in 2026? Start with the Thru-Hikers’ Companion 2026. Want the best story? A Walk in the Woods for laughs, Grandma Gatewood’s Walk for inspiration and AWOL on the Appalachian Trail for the real deal. Buying a gift? Celebrating America’s Hiking Trail.
Whether you’re walking all 2,197.9 miles or just one, the right book will make you want to follow those white blazes.
Our top pick: Check the 2026 Thru-Hikers’ Companion on AmazonKeep Reading
Editorial disclosure: This list is based on publisher information, edition details, book content, reader reviews and widely recommended Appalachian Trail reading lists. Trail length from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (2026). Always check current ATC trail updates before hiking.
1 thought on “18 Best Appalachian Trail Books (2026): Guidebooks, Thru-Hiking Memoirs, History & Gifts”