iles show hikers dips and climbs of the day ahead

Landmark-by-landmark tables for at-a-glance information by section

Town maps showing food and lodging (and beer)

A favorite of section-hikers and dreamers for 30 years, the Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers' Companion features professionally crafted elevation profiles covering about 23 miles at a time, detailed maps, and comprehensive tables for more at-a-glance information on-trail. Updated annually by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association, this guide is designed especially for thru-hikers who want the basic information for a five- to six-month trek in the woods, at a reasonable price, but who also want the adventure of finding out the extras for themselves.

Still the only such guide written by volunteers, the Companion is fact-checked by more than three dozen thru-hikers in 14 states and the information is backed by the first-hand knowledge of the trail's volunteer and staff maintainers and managers and informed by the 2023 A.T. Data Book. Equipment-makers' toll-free numbers, post office hours, and much more are included. All proceeds from the sale of this guide are returned to the trail by the ATC and ALDHA.