2,000-Miler Application

Submit your application to be recognized by the ATC as a “2,000-miler,” having completed a hike of the entire Appalachian Trail.

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Section hikers and thru-hikers who complete the entire A.T. can report their journeys to us by filling out the 2,000-miler application. Those who submit their applications will be added to our roster of 2,000-milers and will receive a certificate of recognition, an A.T. patch, and an accompanying 2,000-miler “rocker” patch. Our comprehensive online 2,000-miler listing is updated periodically.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) recognizes anyone who reports completion of the entire Trail as a “2,000-miler.” The term is a matter of tradition and convenience, based upon the original estimated length of the Trail. Conservancy policy is to operate on an honor system, assuming that those who apply for 2000-miler status have hiked all of the A.T. between Katahdin and Springer Mountain, either as a thru-hiker (12 months or fewer, not restricted to a calendar year) or in sections (over a period of more than 12 months).

In the event of an emergency, such as a flood, a forest fire, or an impending storm, blue-blazed trails or officially required road walks, shuttles, or find-your-own transportation options are viable substitutes for the white-blazed route. Issues of sequence, direction, speed, length of time or whether one carries a pack are not considered. The ATC assumes that those who apply have made an honest effort to walk the entire Trail, even if they did not walk past every white blaze. If you meet these standards, please complete and sign the form below.

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Recognition Policy

• NOTICE TO 2020 AND 2021 THRU-HIKERS:
  • Due to the unique risks of spreading or contracting COVID-19 while thru-hiking during the pandemic, the ATC asked all thru-hikers on Trail to leave the A.T. by March 31, 2020. This guidance remained in place until May 11, 2021 — for more information, click here. For any thru-hikers that followed this guidance, the ATC will count the miles hiked in 2019 and 2020 prior to March 31 toward the completion of a thru-hike attempted after May 11, 2021. These hikers will have twelve months from the date they choose to resume their hikes to complete the remainder of their journeys and still be recognized by the ATC as a thru-hiker and 2,000-miler.
  • Miles hiked between March 31, 2020, and May 11, 2021, will not be counted toward 2,000-miler recognition.
  • The ATC acknowledges that the pandemic has required significant sacrifices both within and outside the A.T. community of volunteers, supporters, and hikers. Many of us have lost friends and family. Some have delayed lifelong plans and aspirations — including postponing attempts to thru-hike the Trail — to better ensure they and those around them are at a lower risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19. We thank everyone who has taken, and continues to take, extra steps to help combat this pandemic.
    
• We hold high expectations of 2,000-milers that include treating the natural environment, A.T. communities, other hikers, and our agency partners — whose land the A.T. passes through — with kindness, respect and cooperation;
• We operate on the honor system;
• We give equal recognition to thru-hikers and section hikers;
• We recognize hikers regardless of sequence, direction, speed or whether they carry a pack;
• In the event of an emergency, such as a flood, a forest fire or an impending storm, blue-blazed trails or officially required road walks are viable substitutes for the white-blazed route.