Appalachian Trail Sees 30% Decrease in Thru-Hiker Registrations for 2025

Recent data from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) shows a significant decline in hiker registrations for the 2025 season. As of January 13th, only 1,257 people had registered their hikes on ATCamp, marking a 28% drop compared to the same date last year, when 1,740 hikers had registered for their 2024 treks. This decrease raises questions about the changing dynamics of trail use and its implications for the hiking community.

The descent from Mt. Katahdin. Photo: Carly McCalla

A Closer Look at the Numbers

The ATC reported that 81% of the current 2025 registrants plan to hike northbound, but there hasn’t been a noticeable surge in registrations for southbound or flip-flop hikes. While ATCamp registrations provide insights into hikers’ plans, they don’t fully capture the actual number of people who set foot on the Trail, as registration is voluntary.

On-the-ground data from Amicalola Falls State Park (AFSP) and other key locations, such as Damascus and Harpers Ferry, confirm the trend of reduced trail traffic. AFSP recorded around 500 fewer thru-hikers in 2024 than in 2023, and anecdotal reports from seasoned hikers like Harv “Bachelor” Howard echo a quieter trail experience, with sparsely populated shelters and campsites compared to prior years.

Why Are Hikers Avoiding the Appalachian Trail?

Several factors could explain the apparent drop in hiker numbers:

  1. Post-Pandemic Normalcy
    After a surge in outdoor recreation during the COVID-19 pandemic, most people’s return to pre-pandemic routines may have contributed to fewer people embarking on these longer thru-hikes. Data from the Pacific Crest Trail Association corroborates this: they issued 7,852 long-distance permits in 2022 compared to just 6,840 in 2024.
  2. Economic Conditions
    Jim Fetig of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club has suggested that there could be a correlation between unemployment rates and thru-hiker numbers. With a relatively low unemployment rate in the United States in 2024 (4.1% in June), it’s possible that fewer people are seeking thru-hikes as a temporary escape or life reset. However, the unemployment rate in 2024 was actually higher than in the preceding years, making me question how strong this correlation may be. Experts looking ahead to 2025 mostly predict an unemployment rate between 4.0 and 4.5%, so we’ll just have to see if the numbers line up!
  3. Hurricane Helene’s Impact
    The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in 2024 significantly impacted southern sections of the AT, leaving some areas prone to landslides, falling trees, and compromised soil stability. The ATC has encouraged hikers to consider a flip-flop hike for 2025 to give trail towns and infrastructure time to recover. Some prospective hikers, however, have chosen to postpone their treks altogether due to the uncertain conditions.
  4. Overcrowding Fatigue
    Previous years of heavy traffic and overcrowded shelters could also be a factor. Some hikers may be opting for less popular trails to avoid the congestion that has plagued the AT in recent years.

Looking Ahead

While one or two years of reduced registrations may not signal a long-term trend, it highlights the evolving challenges and opportunities for trail management. Hikers planning their 2025 treks will need to be adaptable, especially when navigating areas impacted by natural disasters.

For real-time updates on hiker registrations, visit the ATC’s registration tracking page to monitor trends at Springer Mountain.

Hiker registration data from the ATC shows the current most popular planned start dates are March 1st and March 15.

Whether the current dip in numbers is a temporary fluctuation or the start of a new era, we are wishing all 2025 AT hopefuls a smooth and peaceful adventure!

Featured image: Sunrise over Katahdin in Baxter State Park, ME. Photo: Carly McCalla

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Comments 13

  • William : Jan 17th

    Great article! The drop in numbers is very interesting to me. I am meeting some hikers who are refusing to register with the ATC. So….#5) ATC Fatigue?

    Reply
    • Felixscout : Jan 17th

      Why are they refusing to register?

      Reply
      • William : Jan 17th

        There are a number or reasons I’m hearing, this year and last year:

        1- Thru-hikers are sometimes the exact same people who reject the rules of so-called “normal” society. Registering for a thru-hike? No.
        2- Hikers feel lied to by the ATC about the status of the trail and how they are using recovery funds. Not registering is a middle finger. This has been going on for a few years, at least.
        3. The Covid years still bring up a lot of anti-ATC talk among hikers, shuttle drivers, hostel owners, outfitters.

        Reply
        • Warren Edward Doyle : Jan 17th

          William’s two posts of 1/17 hit the mark in my opinion.
          As long as there is liability-infused nannyism spewing forth from the ATC and government agencies, along with increased rules and regulations/fees, there will be no big increase in the numbers of AT thru-hikers or thru-hiker registrations.
          One of the reasons people went on a long pilgrimage on the AT was to discover truth unblemished by society’s limitations that are placed on our individuality.
          As the trail becomes more like the ‘real’ world that the AT dreamer wants to take a break from, it becomes more unattractive to walk its length.

          Reply
      • donald ballard : Jan 18th

        i find that people do not have a full understanding on how the trail actually works. i find that most people depend on armchair hikers or people that regurgitate ear hustled information just to get a thumbs up or just to be noticed. being a person that has watched the flow of traffic i personally can sat that trail is definitely growing and changing every year. the increase has changed the way a thru hike happens. the traditional thru days are long gone. i believe the 2020 covid push was delayed for two years and in 2021 we saw the not so scared people come and hike and in 2022 we saw the people that were not ready to come out yet because of covid come out with the boost in health kick people and the normal years crowd and 22 was a large and chaotic year out here. in 2023 we had the people that had held back from 21 and the new health kick people and just the normal growth we see every year.. 2024 was a very steady year and i think it has evened back out at a normal growth rate. this year has been really busy and lots of calls and emails and texts are coming in for the aspriring thru season and the new spring season for cats needing to get out and bust some miles. this is from my experience as a business owner for 9 years on the appalachian trail here in north georgia and being a hiker and we work assisting hikers year round.. i hope this helps others understand how this all really works. thanks. peace

        Reply
  • Lance Aileo : Jan 17th

    Great Article! One small mistake, you wrote that Hurricane Helena hit in 2023, when it was 2024. Other than that, it was a superb read.

    Reply
    • Katie Jackson : Jan 17th

      Let’s pretend that was a test, and you won? (Thanks for the catch!)

      Reply
  • Stephen Bondurant : Jan 18th

    My thru hike was 2022, completed 800 miles and summit Mt Katahdin. Great adventure @
    65 years old. I really feel that the Trail is handled in the most professional way and hats off to all the great people that Maintain those 2200 hundred miles of beauty. I would put no fault on the Trail itself, I think kids of today
    Have no interest in true outdoor adventure and hard work. Sad to say but I feel that we will continue to see a decline in Thru Hikes. I wish I would have peaked my interest at an earlier age. I will continue to hike the Trail and spread
    My love of the outdoors to this generation, my plans are to attempt again in 2028.A southbound adventure. My first hike was in
    1976 , 130 miles from Afton Mt 864 to Roanoke Va. 732 Troutville VA. SPRING BREAK @ Ferrum
    Junior College. MANY MORE GREAT ADVENTURES FROM THAT DATE. I can only recommend DO IT WHILE YOUR YOUNG it is a great growing experience you can share and remember your whole life. PUT AWAY YOUR ELECTRONICS AND EXPERIENCE THE REAL WORLD ADVENTURES.
    I AM TORTUGA 22 – HAPPY TRAILS.

    Reply
  • Anthony Quick : Jan 18th

    Droughts always end in floods, and vice versa

    Reply
  • Alyssa : Jan 19th

    I personally believe the decline in numbers has to do with the cost of a through hike! At least this is the case with me.

    Reply
  • Willi Pyro : Jan 24th

    My opinion is that the initial news about the hurricane damage and the actual current conditions are the greatest factors. Initial reports suggested that much of first 750 miles NOBO might be closed for months. One major television news network’s early opinion was that it might take years to reopen. As time has passed, it is clear that much of the first 750 miles was dramatically impacted, but that the hard work of the volunteer trail associations has made large sections passable (if not completely restored) much quicker than initially thought. Updates from the ATC and sources such as The Trek continue to clarify the situation, such as the recent confirmed workaround at Erwin, TN. I believe many potential thru-hikers who have been paying attention are simply waiting longer than usual to register. They want more clarity on what conditions will be like two months from now. (e.g. Will water crossings be restored? Can trail towns handle resupply? Are big sections of national forest land still going to be closed? Are shuttle drivers still available?) When they think they have enough information they will then decide if a full NOBO thru-hike makes sense, or if a flip-flop starting NOBO from Roanoke makes more sense. As for me, I’m lucky enough to be starting what will hopefully be my last section NOBO from the middle of MA. My start date is varying based on the weather (very cold right now) and snowfall (considerable). I’m waiting to register my hike until the first of March. My two cents. And now I’ll watch to see what happens.

    Reply
  • Rick : Jan 24th

    I had planned to do a second AT thru-hike in 2025 (first was in 2023) and the sole reason for postponing was Hurricane Helene. As for the low unemployment rate being a factor in any given year, an educated guess tells me that the number of people who legitimately can’t find work and instead decide to spend $10,000 on a 5-7 month hike would be so low as to be statistically irrelevant.

    Reply
  • Jingle bells : Jan 25th

    Don’t forget section hikers. I’m a sectioner who has done first 330 nobo miles via 2 trips a year, ‘22-24. At least 2/3 of who I’ve met on the trail were also “just” sectioners. (In general, sectioners don’t get enough love on the trek.) Over my three years, I would say the trail population was very stable, and I expect it will be again in ‘25+ as Helene damage continues to be repaired/rerouted.

    Reply

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