Will It Even Be Possible To Thru-Hike the AT in 2025?

Hurricane Helene devastated large swaths of the southeastern United States two weeks ago, including at least three AT communities — Hot Springs, NC, Erwin, TN, and Damascus, VA — and, to a lesser extent, the Appalachian Trail itself.

Grayson Haver Currin reported for Outside magazine that, aside from a significant number of new blowdowns, the AT is in surprisingly good shape in the wake of Helene. While over a third of the trail was closed in the immediate aftermath of Helene, much of the AT has since reopened with the exception of Pisgah, Cherokee, and George Washington and Jefferson national forests — a roughly 320-mile stretch between northbound miles 239 and 559.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and US Forest Service are still advising hikers to stay away for the time being: landslide risk remains high throughout the region, road access has been severely impaired by the storm in many places, and emergency services are already stretched thin.

But what about next year?

Many flip-flop and southbound AT thru-hikers this year have already thrown in the towel, accepting that finishing the whole trail in 2024 is unlikely. But what is the outlook for thru-hiking the AT in 2025?

Crowds of thru-hikers normally flock to the AT’s southern terminus as early as March and, increasingly, February. Will the trail, and more importantly, the surrounding towns and infrastructure that normally support hikers, be ready to welcome the Class of 2025 by then?

“If I had to guess, I think that large sections of the trail will be open and there will be multiple detours around some of the most problematic areas and some of the bridges that have washed out,” says ATC Regional Director for the southern region Franklin Tate. “I hope we have a thru-hiker season in 2025. But I think it’s going to be a season where the hikers have to exercise more patience than usual.”

• Click here for the most up-to-date Helene-related closure info from the ATC

Too Soon to Predict

Surveying damage left by Hurricane Helene in Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area. Photo: Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

Overall, ATC Communications Director Ann Simonelli says it’s too soon to predict the status of the AT in 2025. In those parts of North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia that were hit hardest by the storm, the ATC still hasn’t received reports on the trail’s status or been able to conduct an on-the-ground damage assessment. The immediate need for humanitarian aid and restoration of critical infrastructure has simply been too great.

“In areas we have been able to access the AT, impacts range from downed trees to sections of the Trail being completely washed away,” says Simonelli. “Some Trail sections are inaccessible due to washed-out and closed roads, or are impassable due to swollen river crossings, washed-out bridges, and blown-down trees.”

The speed of recovery for the trail itself will depend not just on the extent of damage, but also the severity of winter storms that could hamper volunteer projects and the availability of experienced sawyers to clear blowdowns from the treadway.

You Can’t Think About the AT Without Considering Trail Towns

The larger issue, both practically and morally, is the towns that were devastated by the hurricane. Hikers rely on these towns for supplies, medical care, off-trail rest days, and other basic needs. More than that, we rely on the emotional support these welcoming communities provide. Trail towns, in turn, rely on hikers as a critical source of revenue.

As Simonelli pointed out, trail work is a low priority compared to restoring electricity and road access in isolated towns and providing critical supplies and resources for displaced residents. As these towns begin the long, slow process of rebuilding, will they have the resources or bandwidth to welcome thru-hikers next year?

On the one hand, patronizing businesses that do reopen in time for the hiking season will provide much-needed cashflow in local economies that are sure to struggle in the wake of Helene’s devastation.

On the other hand, is it realistic to expect Damascus, Virginia, most of which was completely underwater during the hurricane, to host the annual Trail Days festival next year? Can we expect storm-damaged hostels like Uncle Johnny’s or Mountain Harbour to be operational by next spring? We all want a definitive answer, but right now it’s just one big question mark.

So … 2025?

I hate to cop out of the original question in this post, but I say let’s adopt a wait-and-see attitude. We don’t yet know what 2025 will hold for the Appalachian Trail, but I’m cautiously optimistic that, with a little creativity, thru-hiking next year will still be possible.

You might end up road walking or taking detours in places. You might end up having to send boxes or go a bit farther afield than normal to resupply in parts of the south.

Next year’s AT experience will almost certainly look a bit different from a standard year. I’m guessing we might see a higher-than-average number of southbounders and flip-floppers trying to give the southern third of the trail a little more time to recover.

It will be important for next year’s hikers to listen to locals’ concerns when passing through hurricane-affected areas. How best can we support these communities? By patronizing local businesses as they get back off the ground? By giving towns space to recover without the added burden of a million thru-hikers coming through? It’s a developing situation, so the answers to these questions will likely evolve over time.

I would encourage anyone who’s planning to thru-hike next year — or who has thru-hiked in previous years, or who holds the trail or the hiking community dear for any reason — to donate to support hurricane relief efforts. I’ve linked a few resources below for those who want to give:

• Guide to Hurricane Helene Resources and Needs for Rural Communities
• Donate to the ATC’s Appalachian Trail Resiliency Fund