appalachian trail

[Rob]

Edit: Did a google search, bikes aren't allowed except where they coalign with two other bike trails.   

Are there any other East Coast N to S trails that would be good for bikepacking?

[ScottM]

Yep, bikes on the AT is a big no-no.  Like the Pacific Crest trail, they are banned summarily.  Lame to the first degree.

From what I gather, I'm not sure the AT would be very bikepackable.  Supposedly the grades are steep, erosion bad and waterbars frequent.  Would love to hear opinions on this from other MTBers.  I have my doubts, and won't believe it's not "worth it" until I see it.

I know quite a few have looked at reversing the 'ruling' that bikes are not allowed in wilderness, but I wonder if anyone has looked at pushing to open the AT (or PCT). 

One final note, I really hope the same distinction (no bikes on the whole trail) doesn't happen for the CDT.

[John G]

I think the hikers would have a conniption fit at the idea.  At least the local one (PATC) would.  However, there are possible alternatives.   One is the Great Eastern Trail http://www.greateasterntrail.net/maps.html  Part shared use, Part hiker only.  There is a drive to get more biker involvement in the trailwork, and therefore to open it up for bikes.  We'll see.

Here is a MORE thread about it: http://www.more-mtb.org/forum/showthread.php?t=14597

Cheers

[Mike Brown]

Yep, bikes on the AT is a big no-no.  Like the Pacific Crest trail, they are banned summarily.  Lame to the first degree.

From what I gather, I'm not sure the AT would be very bikepackable.  Supposedly the grades are steep, erosion bad and waterbars frequent.  Would love to hear opinions on this from other MTBers.  I have my doubts, and won't believe it's not "worth it" until I see it.


Scott- in many sections, the % of hike-a-bike both up and down would be significantly higher and somewhat more difficult than the CT.  That does push it into the hmmmmm.... category for me
I know quite a few have looked at reversing the 'ruling' that bikes are not allowed in wilderness, but I wonder if anyone has looked at pushing to open the AT (or PCT). 

One final note, I really hope the same distinction (no bikes on the whole trail) doesn't happen for the CDT.

Scott- the % of hike-a-bike would be huge, both up and down- much greater than the CT.  This does push it into the hmmmm....category for me.
I also feel (personally) that there should be a few places on the Earth that you can only reach by foot- if even that.  There's a huge strech of unique forest in Nova Scotia that's closed to all non-scientific traffic except one road(I was on a road tour on this).  I thought that was way cooool.
If that AT is one of those FEW places, I am all for it. 

[ScottM]

I agree with you that there should be places bikes are not allowed, and even people not allowed.

But do I think all 2700 miles of the AT are that special and should be off-limits to bicycles?  No way.  No doubt there are many stretches that bikes wouldn't make sense, just like CT and CDT et al have wilderness areas.  But it seems to me that there might be some sections where bike access makes perfect sense, rather than the complete ban just because a piece of trail happens to be AT.

In other words, I wasn't suggesting the whole thing be opened to bikes, just the "banned because AT" be lifted.  Anywho, just a passing thought.

Thanks for the opinion on hike-a-bike.  Still would like to hear from more MTBers who've seen significant portions of the AT.

[Mike Brown]

Your statements make sense.

[skerry00]

I'm not sure if I really want to throw into this discussion but.....I am both an avid mountain biker and an employee of the organization that manages the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (which will remain nameless).

Anyway, I personally understand arguments on both sides (but won't get into the in's and out's). I do get a little disgruntled when people place folks for or against biking in some places in either a "hiker" or "biker" category (there are bikers who also hike and agree with limited use designations (horses are also not allow on the AT except in two places due to historical use)).

Anyway, I'd advocate for the cycling community to garner support for new long-distance bike routes instead of working to change the nature of what is arguably the worlds most famous foot-path (which would take an act of Congress no less).

Off my soap box....


 

[AZTtripper]

Working out a new route would be a lot of work but it seams like a motivated rider should be able to figure out a way to travel through that part of the country while picking up at least some good single track along the way.

Does the GDR use much of the CDT, you could ride across Arizona with out doing that much of the true AZT, the CT and AZT both have wilderness detours where riders end up on pavement.

I don't think the real Appalachian should be open to bikes but how cool would it be to come up with a new route that uses trails currently open to bikes and some how parallels the AT.

  

[tomimcmillar]

lol, dreamt about this since I first started riding mtn bike, back when the AT was legal to ride.  AT pretty much runs thru my backyard, the terrain, while fun in spots, would be a major undertaking to ride it loaded, lot of off the bike hiking both up and down if you stick to the white blazes.  And that section thru Shenandoah Nat'l Park would be a hurdle, AT+Nat'l Park land = serious red tape, or a serious poach...I'd stay on the West side of the Great Valley, the enitire VA/WV border is pretty much covered by Nat'l Forest.

The Great Eastern that John G mentions is the way to go, lots of campfire discussions and dreaming about a full route.  Would be pretty easy to figure something out, whether on an established route or not, well at least until you hit the Mason Dixon.  Parcels of public land get spotty coming up thru the southern part of PA. If you're familiar with the local racing scene, just link up all the old school VA Series XXC's from down around Blacksburg up to Big Schloss/Winchester...Rowdy Dog, Dragon'sBack, Craig County Escape, Douthat, Shen Mtn Trail (SMT100), then either head over into WV or up to the Schloss.  From there it gets spotty up to the C&O Canal and then from there up into the State College neck of the woods where public land is easier to connect.  Once you hit S.C. pretty easy to get to the NewYork border...from there, haven't looked that far yet.

some exploratory trip reports from portions of the GE here:  http://www.chrisscottistan.blogspot.com/

[wi_bigfoot]

Ok so this is my first post and just learned of the site. Not trying to start a war or anything but what's to stop anyone from riding the trail on a MTB? I read above about the terrian so that could be a problem but it's not like there are check points where enforcement people sit are there? I'm just thinking this great big long trail. Other then passing a hiker here or there who would know? On the rails to trails I ride you need to purchase I pass. I bought a yearly one. I have yet to be stopped by anyone to check for this pass. Don't worry not thinking of doing it just the thought on who would stop them popped in my head while I was reading this.

[sherpaxc]

You would encounter the following...
1.  Pissed off backpackers who know you shouldn't be there.
2.  Pissed off Rangers who would ticket and possible arrest you.
3.  Pissed off mtb'ers for poaching and producing a bad rep for all of us that we work so hard to correct.

[swampboy62]

It's a given that the riding the AT is just wrong.

I've been thinking more about trying to connect up a route through the National Forests along the Appalachians.  There's a long stretch of the Appalachians that could at least theoretically be connected:
Monongahele N.F. in WV
George Washington & Jefferson N.F. in VA
Cherokee N.F. in TN
Pisgah & Nantahala N.F. in NC
Chattahoochee N.F. in GA

Something that would be mostly trail, but with some forest service roads where necessary.  I know there are only a few trails legally rideable in Allegheny N.F. in PA (the one closest to me).  But I'm not sure what the actual rules are for each N.F. along the way, though I have started doing some research.  Anyone else out there taken a look into this?

Steve Z

[bmike-vt]

been thinking about something similar in vt - something that could use parts of the catamount xc ski trail (length of the state) but keep you off the AT and the LT, as both are nearly unrideable - and to respect that some places should be traversed on foot...

but it would be nice for some ld trails in the east, for sure. certainly not as remote as 'out' west... but something close to home.

[FeloniousDunk]

There's a long stretch of the Appalachians that could at least theoretically be connected:
Monongahele N.F. in WV
George Washington & Jefferson N.F. in VA
Cherokee N.F. in TN
Pisgah & Nantahala N.F. in NC
Chattahoochee N.F. in GA

Theoretically, yes.  Practically it seems a long way off.

Anyone else out there taken a look into this?

Yes.  I've been mapping a lot and exploring some.  A few others have too.  We'll probably get some mention of the GET, but I've found it's not as developed (especially for bikes) as some people assume. 

It might be nice if you start a new thread about a long east coast route development and see if we can get some more input.  I've done it a couple times here and elsewhere and have picked up a little info every time.  JHL, on here has been a big help.  I'll add what I've found so far. 

~Shaun
in the Pisgah National Forest

[T0mmyTr4iler]

 
   I hiked the AT in Georgia from Amicalola Falls state park to Dick's Creek in March 2015. Throughout this ~80 mile section there are some consistent aversions to Bikepacking the AT. The Georgia Appalachian Trail Club maintains the trail via volunteers and donations to be maximized for foot travel only.They intentionally design to deter cycling. It's also posted as a disallowed activity at all the trailheads. Bicycles would degrade the erosion abatement installed by thousands of hours of volunteer hands.
Secondly, as a first hand witness and avid bicyclist I can say that many of the areas between roads would require a cyclist to not only dismount and walk but to also carry the bicycle often for hundreds of yards,sometimes for miles due to the rocky and steep grades. It's not a skill challenge thing its a downright cant get there from here thing. Also in the Spring there are also many many people setting out to hike the entire trail. Its crowded by wilderness standards. You wouldn't ride more than a few minutes without encountering a pedestrian who has the right of way.
It's my understanding that some parts of the Appalachian Trail do run concurrent with Multi -use trails but there is none in Georgia. An Appalachian trail guidebook would illuminate this. I think the B&O Canal is one such example. There is also the Virginia Creeper Trail outside Damascus VA that shares path with AT hikers some of the time. There are old logging roads and maintained forest roads that sweep back and forth across the AT in GA and many of them would be a gravely, muddy joy to ride on a warm spring day.