Some of the best backpacking trails in the Mid Atlantic
The Mid-Atlantic region offers some of the best natural scenery to explore in the United States. Some people prefer to do some sport and return the same day to their homes. Others prefer a longer session and go hiking while walking fascinating trails. However, some people go further: they carry their backpacks and walk (sometimes) for days, lost in mountains, swamps, and forests, putting their survival skills to the test. If this is your interest, pay attention to the list below. If you are not familiar with this activity, though, please don’t do it alone and learn the basics beforehand. Survival in the wild may be a critical issue in some circumstances.
You may like: The Most Important Survival Skills Every Outdoors Enthusiast Must Know, by Sudir Raju
Roanoke Triple Crown
This trail is well known among hikers and consists of almost 30 miles of road. It is a mountainous road, which varies between 1500 and 3000 meters above sea level, which means that it may be really cold since the fall season. But it also means that you will find some of the most beautiful views of the Appalachian Trail. During the tour, you will find some shelters, but you will also find really good camping sites. Remember not to leave garbage, don’t light fires that you are not going to extinguish, and, above all, follow the rules of the forest rangers when it comes to the fauna.
Ricketts Glen state park, Pennsylvania
This is an excellent option for those who are just starting with long walks. In this trail, you will put some of your basic survival skills to the very test: you must descend by cliffs, light fires in fairly humid places, and keep your breath while roaming through wooded mountains. You will find a river of crystal clear water (remember not to directly drink the water) where you can also fish and find small crustaceans to cook. If you go during the fall, you will find a wide variety of mushrooms. Be careful and remember what people say: all fungi are edible, some of them, only once in a lifetime!
Thunder Ridge
This is another famous West Virginia trail that you should walk before you die. It is a splendid site, with beautiful plains and valleys, in addition to an imposing mountain that rises to more than 4000 meters above sea level. Tons of backpackers arrive here to climb the high rocks, as well as to explore the caves. The weather conditions may be quite harsh when it rains and snows, so be careful. It is so easy to suffer from hypothermia when the wind starts blowing on the tops of the mountains. Even though you will find shelters, there are few for such a long journey, and, for this reason, it is highly probable that you should camp. Find a good place protected from the wind and light a good fire. It’s a beautiful place, but don’t forget where you are.
Great Allegheny Passage
This is one of the longest trails in Maryland. The route is over 150 miles and this means an extended adventure. One of the attractions here is that you will walk along the abandoned railway lines of the state. This is good news for some people: the terrain is comfortably flat. However, it is still a tremendous challenge. The local fauna may be a threat to those who do not know it, and, during the summer, mosquitoes may become unbearable. However, if you are passionate about the history of the country and want to walk a trail with so many anecdotes from the Civil War, this is a good option for you.
Ghost Town Trail
Although this is not a long trail, it will be worth exploring. Don’t be scared: you will not find ghosts, you will see, instead, is a series of ghost towns and mines which have been abandoned for a long time. Some people flee from these places but others find them quite exciting. The terrain is flat and mountainous and you will find some beautiful waterfalls to enjoy on hot days. Don’t be scared if you find some reddish rivulets here and there: this is because of the high concentration of iron that comes directly from the mines, which are still rich in that mineral.
MST-Brush Ridge Backpack
This trail is perfect for those who seek peace and silence in the thick forests of Pennsylvania. This is part of what was once an extensive private land, now accessible to all those who wish a close contact with Mother Nature. Because some fires have happened, it is very important to be careful when lighting it while camping. Be careful with the poisonous berries and the bears (yes, you could find one.) The difficulty is moderate, and the tour could be covered in two days without much hurry.
I hope these recommendations have been useful for you. Backpacking is one of the best outdoor activities because it connects us with many of the (now) forgotten skills of our ancestors, and allows us to connect with nature in this hyper-technological world.
Recommended: AMC’s Best Backpacking in the Mid-Atlantic
