Smart Hike
Why carry a heavy backpack when you can day hike the entire AT?
2026 Smart Hikes!
SMART HIKE, started in 2011, offers both a time and cost efficient way to hike short or long sections of the Appalachian Trail. The Smart Hikes offered in 2026-27 are listed below.
The support van carries your food, clothing, shelter, sleeping bags/pads, water, and an extra pair of boots. Besides carrying much less weight (i.e. day packs), Smart Hikers don’t have to worry about logistics, bear bagging their food or treating most of their water. Participants can expect to spend one night per week in indoor lodging if they so desire. People can use their own car if they want. (not recommended for the Maine hikes) These folks would walk back to their cars each day. However, they also would spend from one to two hours of driving each day.
All Smart Hike hopefuls with limited serious day hiking experience are required to schedule a phone call with Warren OR attend a five-day Appalachian Trail Institute at the Appalachian Folk School ($300 suggested donation).
All SmartHikers have to have camping skills such as shelter set-up and outdoor cooking. SmartHikes aren't a good match for folks with limited outdoor camping experience.
All donations go to the Appalachian Folk School (a true non-profit) for upkeep/maintenance of our physical plant.
People with no experience in hiking any of the most rugged sections of the AT (White Mts. in NH and the mountains of western Maine) are not advised to register for the Maine Smart Hikes as your first Smart Hike.
SmartHike Itineraries
All Smart Hike hopefuls with limited serious day hiking experience are required to schedule a phone call with Warren OR attend a five-day Appalachian Trail Institute at the Appalachian Folk School ($300 suggested donation).
All SmartHikers have to have camping skills such as shelter set-up and outdoor cooking. SmartHikes aren't a good match for folks with limited outdoor camping experience.
All donations go to the Appalachian Folk School (a true non-profit) for upkeep/maintenance of our physical plant.
People with no experience in hiking any of the most rugged sections of the AT (White Mts. in NH and the mountains of western Maine) are not advised to register for the Maine Smart Hikes as your first Smart Hike.
***I also do customized hikes from October through November are also available on request. There are no SmartHikes in Dec.-March.
2026 SMART HIKES
August 15-22 - NH/ME (Gorham, NH to Rangeley, ME)
94 miles 8 days 11.7 mpd average
August 23-30 - ME (Rangeley, ME to Monson, ME)
109 miles 8 days 13.6 mpd average
August 31-Sept. 8 - ME (Monson, ME to Katahdin)
119 miles 9 days 13.2 mpd average
2027 SMARTHIKES
April 4-9 GA Springer to Deep Gap
85.2 miles 6 days 14.2 mpd average
April 11-16 NC Deep Gap to GSNP boundary
81.8 miles 6 days 13.6 mpd average
April 18-23 NC/TN #1 Hot Springs to Indian Grave Gap
77.7 miles 6 days 12.9 mpd average
April 25-30NC/TN#2 Indian Grave Gap to Wilbur Dam Rd
80.4 miles 6 days 13.4 mpd average
May 2-7 TN/VA Wilbur Dam Rd. to Fox Creek (VA603)
78.9 miles 6 days 13.2 mpd average
May 17-22 VA #1 Fox Creek(VA603) to Laurel Creek(VA615)
73 miles 6 days 12.2 mpd average
May 24-29 VA#2 Laurel Creek to Sinking Creek
93.6 miles 6 days 15.6 mpd average
August 15-22 - NH/ME (Gorham, NH to Rangeley, ME)
94 miles 8 days 11.7 mpd average
August 23-30 - ME (Rangeley, ME to Monson, ME)
109 miles 8 days 13.6 mpd average
August 31-Sept. 8 - ME (Monson, ME to Katahdin)
119 miles 9 days 13.2 mpd average
August 23-30 - ME (Rangeley, ME to Monson, ME)
109 miles 8 days 13.6 mpd average
August 31-Sept. 8 - ME (Monson, ME to Katahdin)
119 miles 9 days 13.2 mpd average
2027 SMARTHIKES
April 4-9 GA Springer to Deep Gap
85.2 miles 6 days 14.2 mpd average
April 11-16 NC Deep Gap to GSNP boundary
81.8 miles 6 days 13.6 mpd average
April 18-23 NC/TN #1 Hot Springs to Indian Grave Gap
77.7 miles 6 days 12.9 mpd average
April 25-30NC/TN#2 Indian Grave Gap to Wilbur Dam Rd
80.4 miles 6 days 13.4 mpd average
May 2-7 TN/VA Wilbur Dam Rd. to Fox Creek (VA603)
78.9 miles 6 days 13.2 mpd average
May 17-22 VA #1 Fox Creek(VA603) to Laurel Creek(VA615)
73 miles 6 days 12.2 mpd average
May 24-29 VA#2 Laurel Creek to Sinking Creek
93.6 miles 6 days 15.6 mpd average
August 15-22 - NH/ME (Gorham, NH to Rangeley, ME)
94 miles 8 days 11.7 mpd average
August 23-30 - ME (Rangeley, ME to Monson, ME)
109 miles 8 days 13.6 mpd average
August 31-Sept. 8 - ME (Monson, ME to Katahdin)
119 miles 9 days 13.2 mpd average
Interested in hiking the Appalachian Trail? Check out Warren's ATI Sessions
2026 ATI Sessions
Sept. 14-18
Sept. 21-25
2027 ATI Sessions
March 29-April 3
May 31-June 4
Sept. 13-17
Sept. 20-24
Sept. 14-18
Sept. 21-25
2027 ATI Sessions
March 29-April 3
May 31-June 4
Sept. 13-17
Sept. 20-24
2026 SmartHikes
Aug.15-22 NH/ME Gorham to Rangeley, ME
Aug. 23-30 ME Rangeley, ME to Monson, ME
Aug.30-Sept. 8 ME Monson,ME to Katahdin
2027 SmartHikes
April 4-9 Springer north to Deep Gap
April 11-16 Deep Gap north to GSNP
April 18-23 Hot Springs to Indian Grave Gap
April 25-30 Indian Grave Gap to Wilbur Dam
May 2-7 Wilbur Dam Rd. to Fox Creek VA603
May 17-22 Fox Creek to VA615
May 24-29 VA615 to VA630
August 15-22 Gorham, NH to Rangeley, ME
August 23-30 Rangeley, ME to Monson, ME
Aug. 31- Sept. 8 Monson, ME to Katahdin
Aug.15-22 NH/ME Gorham to Rangeley, ME
Aug. 23-30 ME Rangeley, ME to Monson, ME
Aug.30-Sept. 8 ME Monson,ME to Katahdin
2027 SmartHikes
April 4-9 Springer north to Deep Gap
April 11-16 Deep Gap north to GSNP
April 18-23 Hot Springs to Indian Grave Gap
April 25-30 Indian Grave Gap to Wilbur Dam
May 2-7 Wilbur Dam Rd. to Fox Creek VA603
May 17-22 Fox Creek to VA615
May 24-29 VA615 to VA630
August 15-22 Gorham, NH to Rangeley, ME
August 23-30 Rangeley, ME to Monson, ME
Aug. 31- Sept. 8 Monson, ME to Katahdin
Appalachian Trail Institute
2026 Dates
Sept. 14-18
Sept. 21-25
Oct. 4-8
Oct. 13-17
Sept. 14-18
Sept. 21-25
Oct. 4-8
Oct. 13-17
Smart Hikes are good for the recently retired, section hikers of all ages, and those 2026 thru-hikers who would like to have van support (i.e. day-hiking rather than backpacking) for a little less than half the trail. As a matter of fact, a 2026 thru-hiker could arrange their own vehicle support between Pearisburg, VA, and Gorham, NH and be able to thru-hike the entire AT without ever having to carry a heavy backpack. Plus, you don’t have to bear bag your food or worry about potable water, and traveling with a group is usually safer.
For those planning 'normal' nobo thru-hikes (backpacking), you can ease into it anywhere from 7-14 days in the beginning (April 5-18) or if having physical problems after 275 miles you can have up to a 28-day reprieve from backpacking between Hot Springs, NC and just north of Pearisburg, VA. (April 18-May 29). (This includes a multi-day break for Trail Days.)
If the White Mountains of NH have beat you up, you can have a 25-day day-hiking reprieve at the northern end o f your hike (August 15-Sept. 8).
For those planning 'normal' nobo thru-hikes (backpacking), you can ease into it anywhere from 7-14 days in the beginning (April 5-18) or if having physical problems after 275 miles you can have up to a 28-day reprieve from backpacking between Hot Springs, NC and just north of Pearisburg, VA. (April 18-May 29). (This includes a multi-day break for Trail Days.)
If the White Mountains of NH have beat you up, you can have a 25-day day-hiking reprieve at the northern end o f your hike (August 15-Sept. 8).
######NEW####### Starting in the Fall of 2023, customized Smart Hikes will be offered to cover those areas not covered by the three traditional Smart Hikes. They will be from October through November and cover the following trail sections: Sinking Creek in VA to Pen-Mar; PA; NJ; NY; CT; MA; and, VT.
Contact me at warrendance@gmail.com and then we will set up a phone call to discuss details.
The daily average for the six week-long southern hikes (GA; NC; TN; VA) is between 12.2 and 15.6 miles per day (mpd). These are moderately difficult Smart Hikes.
The daily average for the three ME hikes range from 11.7 to 13.6 mpd. These are the more difficult Smart Hikes.
