Smart Hike
Why carry a heavy backpack when you can day hike the entire AT?
2026 Smart Hikes!
SMART HIKE, started in 2011, offers both a time and cost efficient way to hike short or long sections of the Appalachian Trail. The Smart Hikes offered in 2026 are listed below.
2026 SmartHikes (most are one week long : Sun-Sat
Suggested donation - $500 for the entire week ( or $80 daily )
$600 for entire Maine hikes (or $90 daily)
Suggested donation - $500 for the entire week ( or $80 daily )
$600 for entire Maine hikes (or $90 daily)
The support van carries your food, clothing, shelter, sleeping bags/pads, water, and an extra pair of boots. Besides carrying much less weight (i.e. day packs), Smart Hikers don’t have to worry about logistics, bear bagging their food or treating most of their water. Participants can expect to spend one night per week in indoor lodging if they so desire. People can use their own car if they want. (not recommended for the Maine hikes) These folks would walk back to their cars each day. However, they also would spend from one to two hours of driving each day.
All Smart Hike hopefuls with limited serious day hiking experience are required to schedule a phone call with Warren OR attend a five-day Appalachian Trail Institute at the Appalachian Folk School ($300 suggested donation).
All SmartHikers have to have camping skills such as shelter set-up and outdoor cooking. SmartHikes aren't a good match for folks with limited outdoor camping experience.
All donations go to the Appalachian Folk School (a true non-profit) for upkeep/maintenance of our physical plant.
People with no experience in hiking any of the most rugged sections of the AT (White Mts. in NH and the mountains of western Maine) are not advised to register for the Maine Smart Hikes as your first Smart Hike.
Customized hikes from mid-October until mid-November are also available on request. There are no SmartHikes in Dec.-March.
2026 SMART HIKES
April 5-11 - All of Georgia (Springer to Deep Gap)
April 5-11 - All of Georgia (Springer to Deep Gap)
86 miles 7 days 12.3 mpd average
April 12-18 - NC (Deep Gap to Fontana Dam)
83 miles 7 days 11.6 mpd average
April 19-25 - NC (Hot Springs, NC to Iron Mt. Gap)
90 miles 7 days 12.8 mpd average
April 26 - May 2 - NC/TN (Iron Mt. Gap to US421)
92 miles 7 days 13.1 mpd average
May 3-9 - VA (Rt. 11 to Pearisburg, VA)
93 miles 7 days 13.2 mpd average
May 10-16 - VA/TN (Rt. 11 to US421 - Trail Days)
90 miles 7 days 12.9 mpd average
August 15-22 - NH/ME (Gorham, NH to Rangeley, ME)
94 miles 8 days 11.7 mpd average
August 23-30 - ME (Rangeley, ME to Monson, ME)
109 miles 8 days 13.6 mpd average
August 31-Sept. 8 - ME (Monson, ME to Katahdin)
119 miles 9 days 13.2 mpd average
April 12-18 - NC (Deep Gap to Fontana Dam)
83 miles 7 days 11.6 mpd average
April 19-25 - NC (Hot Springs, NC to Iron Mt. Gap)
90 miles 7 days 12.8 mpd average
April 26 - May 2 - NC/TN (Iron Mt. Gap to US421)
92 miles 7 days 13.1 mpd average
May 3-9 - VA (Rt. 11 to Pearisburg, VA)
93 miles 7 days 13.2 mpd average
May 10-16 - VA/TN (Rt. 11 to US421 - Trail Days)
90 miles 7 days 12.9 mpd average
August 15-22 - NH/ME (Gorham, NH to Rangeley, ME)
94 miles 8 days 11.7 mpd average
August 23-30 - ME (Rangeley, ME to Monson, ME)
109 miles 8 days 13.6 mpd average
August 31-Sept. 8 - ME (Monson, ME to Katahdin)
119 miles 9 days 13.2 mpd average
Interested in hiking the Appalachian Trail? Check out Warren's ATI Sessions
2025 ATI Sessions
Oct. 13-17
Oct. 20-24
Oct. 13-17
Oct. 20-24
2026 ATI Sessions
March 30-April 3
Sept. 14-18
Sept. 21-25
Oct. 5-9
Oct. 12-16
March 30-April 3
Sept. 14-18
Sept. 21-25
Oct. 5-9
Oct. 12-16
2026 SmartHikes
April 5-11 GA Springer-Deep Gap
April 12-18 NC Deep Gap-Fontana Dam
April 19-25 NC Hot Springs to Iron Mt. Gap
April 26-May 2 NC/TN Iron Mt. Gap to US421
May 3-9 VA Rt. 11 to Pearisburg, VA
May 10-17 VA/TN Rt. 11 south to US421
(dovetails into Damascus Trail Days)
Aug.15-22 NH/ME Gorham to Rangeley, ME
Aug. 23-30 ME Rangeley, ME to Monson, ME
Aug.30-Sept. 8 ME Monson,ME to Katahdin
April 5-11 GA Springer-Deep Gap
April 12-18 NC Deep Gap-Fontana Dam
April 19-25 NC Hot Springs to Iron Mt. Gap
April 26-May 2 NC/TN Iron Mt. Gap to US421
May 3-9 VA Rt. 11 to Pearisburg, VA
May 10-17 VA/TN Rt. 11 south to US421
(dovetails into Damascus Trail Days)
Aug.15-22 NH/ME Gorham to Rangeley, ME
Aug. 23-30 ME Rangeley, ME to Monson, ME
Aug.30-Sept. 8 ME Monson,ME to Katahdin
Appalachian Trail Institute
2025 Dates
Oct. 13-17
Oct. 20-24
2026 Dates
March 30 - April 3
Sept. 14-18
Sept. 21-25
Oct. 5-9
Oct. 12-16
Oct. 13-17
Oct. 20-24
2026 Dates
March 30 - April 3
Sept. 14-18
Sept. 21-25
Oct. 5-9
Oct. 12-16
Smart Hikes are good for the recently retired, section hikers of all ages, and those 2026 thru-hikers who would like to have van support (i.e. day-hiking rather than backpacking) for a little less than half the trail. As a matter of fact, a 2026 thru-hiker could arrange their own vehicle support between Pearisburg, VA, and Gorham, NH and be able to thru-hike the entire AT without ever having to carry a heavy backpack. Plus, you don’t have to bear bag your food or worry about potable water, and traveling with a group is usually safer.
For those planning 'normal' nobo thru-hikes (backpacking), you can ease into it anywhere from 7-14 days in the beginning (April 5-18) or if having physical problems after 275 miles you can have up to a 28-day reprieve from backpacking between Hot Springs, NC and Pearisburg, VA. (April 19-May 16).
If the White Mountains of NH have beat you up, you can have a 25-day day-hiking reprieve at the northern end o f your hike (August 15-Sept. 8).
For those planning 'normal' nobo thru-hikes (backpacking), you can ease into it anywhere from 7-14 days in the beginning (April 5-18) or if having physical problems after 275 miles you can have up to a 28-day reprieve from backpacking between Hot Springs, NC and Pearisburg, VA. (April 19-May 16).
If the White Mountains of NH have beat you up, you can have a 25-day day-hiking reprieve at the northern end o f your hike (August 15-Sept. 8).
######NEW####### Starting in the Fall of 2023, customized Smart Hikes will be offered to cover those areas not covered by the three traditional Smart Hikes. They will be between mid-October and mid-November and cover the following trail sections: Pearisburg, VA to Pen-Mar; PA; NJ; NY; CT; MA; and, VT.
Contact me at warrendance@gmail.com and then we will set up a phone call to discuss details.
The daily average for the six week-long southern hikes (GA; NC; TN; VA) is between 11.6 and 13.2 miles per day (mpd). These are moderately difficult Smart Hikes.
The daily average for the three ME hikes range from 11.7 to 13.6 mpd. These are the more difficult Smart Hikes.
