Why is it so important to me to know where the highest points on the Appalachian Trail are? I don’t really know because every day I hike will be a new hill to climb and some days more than others. I do find it interesting where the big peaks are. One would think that the highest peaks on the AT are in New England. That person would be wrong.
The Highest Point On The Appalachian Trail
The highest sustained elevation is in the Smoky Mountains along the Tennessee/ North Carolina border. These peaks boast the highest point on the AT, Clingman’s Dome. Interestingly, Clingman’s Dome shares its peak with both Tennessee and North Carolina. If one state were to claim it then the other state would still have their highest point right next to the summit. Just sayin’.
The Highest Points On The A.T. By State
Here is what I have gathered as the highest points on the Appalachian Trail by state. It also includes whether the high point is on the trail or how far it is from the trail. Keep in mind that much of the AT traverses ridges and doesn’t always go directly over summits.
| State | Highest Point | Elevation | On Trail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | Blood Mountain | 4,461 ft | On Trail |
| North Carolina | Clingman’s Dome | 5,498 ft | On Trail/ Shares with TN |
| Tennessee | Clingman’s Dome | 6,625 ft | On-Trail/ Shares with TN |
| Virginia | Mount Rogers* | 5,728 ft | Within 0.2 mi of the AT |
| West Virginia | On-Trail Spur | 1,200 ft | On Trail |
| Maryland | High Rock | 1,905 ft | Near Trail |
| Pennsylvania | Snowy Mountain | 2,080 ft | Within 0.3 mi of the AT |
| New Jersey 1 | Observation Tower High Point St Pk | 1,685 ft | On Trail |
| New Jersey 2 | High Point Monument | 1,803 ft | Within 0.2 mi of the AT |
| New York | Prospect Rock | 1,433 ft | On Trail |
| Connecticut | Bear Mountain | 2,323 ft | On Trail |
| Massachusetts | Mount Greylock | 3,491 ft | On Trail |
| Vermont | Killington Mountain | 4,229 ft | Within 0.2 mi of the ATl |
| New Hampshire | Mount Washington | 6,288 ft | On-Trail/ Spur |
| Maine | Mount Katadhin | 5,267 ft | On Trail |
Final Thoughts
I find it fascinating that as a New Englander, much of the points above 6,000 feet on the Appalachian Trail are in the Great Smoky Mountains. I hope that this list is helpful. While I cobbled together these findings through several websites, I would like to point you to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to get started.
As the Great Smoky National Park is home to many, many, many black bears you may want to check out my recent posts on managing bear encounters here.