American Discovery Trail

American Discovery Trail
The American Discovery Trail, including its northern and southern routes.
Length6,800 mi (10,900 km)
LocationUnited States
TrailheadsCape Henlopen, Delaware;
Limantour Beach, California
UseHiking, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking
Highest pointArgentine Pass, 13,207 ft (4,025 m)
Lowest pointCalifornia Delta between Isleton and Antioch, −17 ft (−5.2 m)
DifficultyEasy to Strenuous
SeasonAll year
SightsNational Parks, National Forests
HazardsSevere Weather

The American Discovery Trail is a system of recreational trails and roads that collectively form a coast-to-coast hiking and biking trail across the mid-tier of the United States. Horses can also be ridden on most of this trail.[1] The coastal trailheads are the Delmarva Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean and the northern California coast on the Pacific Ocean. The trail has northern and southern alternates for part of its distance, passing through Chicago and St. Louis respectively. The total length of the trail, including both the north and south routes, is 6,800 miles (10,900 km). The northern route covers 4,834 miles (7,780 km) with the southern route covering 5,057 miles (8,138 km). It is the only non-motorized coast-to-coast trail.[2]

The trail passes through 14 national parks and 16 national forests and uses sections of or connects to five National Scenic Trails, 10 National Historic Trails, and 23 National Recreation Trails. For part of its distance, it is coincident with the North Country Trail, the Buckeye Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, and the Colorado Trail.

The trail passes through the District of Columbia and the following 15 states:

Hiking records

ADT Society's official trail logo[1]

Joyce and Pete Cottrell, of Whitefield, New Hampshire, were the first to backpack the entire official route of the American Discovery Trail. They hiked the segments out of sequence over two calendar years, finishing in 2003.[3][4]

The first hikers to complete the trail in one continuous walk were Marcia and Ken Powers, a wife and husband team from Pleasanton, California. Their trail walk lasted from February 27 to October 15, 2005. They started out from Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware and ended at Point Reyes, California. They trailed 5,058 miles (8,140 km) by foot, averaging 22 miles (35 km) a day.[5][6]

The first person to backpack the entire 6,800 miles (10,944 km) (including both Northern and Southern sections) in one continuous hike was Mike "Lion King" Daniel. He started from Cape Henlopen State Park on June 17, 2007, and ended at Point Reyes, California, on November 5, 2008.[7][8] The first solo woman to backpack the entire 6,800 miles (10,944 km) in one continuous hike was Briana DeSanctis. She started on January 1, 2022 and ended her journey on February 10, 2024.[9]

The first person to cover the entire equestrian route on horseback was Matt Parker. He undertook the journey between May 2003 and November 2005.[10][11]

Notable locations

At Cedar Rapids, a mural was posted on Greene Square in 2019 to mark both the American Discovery Trail, which passes through downtown, and the Cedar Lake-Smokestack Bridge project.[12]

The following notable locations are found along or adjacent to the route of the American Discovery Trail. They are listed from east to west to correspond with the itinerary typically followed by thru-hikers to take advantage of the best seasonal weather conditions.[2]

Other affiliated locations

The following locations are found along or adjacent to the route of the American Discovery Trail. They are divided into categories within each state, organized by state from east to west.[2]

Delaware

Affiliated trails

  • Cape Henlopen Bike Trail
  • Georgetown-Lewes Trail

Forests

Parks

Points of interest

Maryland

Affiliated trails

Parks

West Virginia

Affiliated trails

Forests

Parks

Ohio

Affiliated trails

Forests

Parks

Indiana (Northern route)

Affiliated trails

Parks

Indiana (Southern route)

Affiliated trails

  • Pigeon Creek Greenway
  • Knobstone Trail
  • Two Lakes Trail
  • Adventure Trail
  • Burdette Park/University of Southern Indiana Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Nature Trail
  • Heritage Trail of Madison

Forests

Parks

Illinois (Northern route)

Affiliated trails

Parks

Illinois (Southern route)

Affiliated trails

Forests

Parks

Iowa (Northern route)

Affiliated trails

Parks

Missouri (Southern route)

Affiliated trails

Forests

Parks

Nebraska (Northern route)

Affiliated trails

Parks

Kansas (Southern route)

Affiliated trails

Parks

Colorado

Affiliated trails

  • Pueblo Riverwalk
  • Canon City Riverwalk
  • Cripple Creek Trails System
  • Ute Pass Trail
  • America The Beautiful Trail
  • Green Mountain Falls Bikeway
  • Sinton Trail
  • Pikes Peak Greenway
  • New Santa Fe Trail
  • Carpenter Peak Trail
  • Chatfield Trails System
  • South Platte River Trail
  • Bear Creek Greenway
  • Castle Trail
  • People's Path
  • Warren Gulch Trail
  • Spring Creek Trail
  • South Park Trail
  • Burning Bear Trail
  • Hall Valley Trail
  • Colorado Trail
  • Vail Pass Tenmile Canyon National Recreation Trail
  • Chalk Creek Trail
  • Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
  • Timberline Trail
  • Taylor Pass Trail
  • Brush Creek Trail
  • Crystal River Trail
  • Braderick Creek Trail
  • Lake Ridge Lakes Trail
  • High Trail
  • Sunlight-Powderhorn Snowmobile Trail
  • Leon Lake Trail
  • Crag Crest National Recreation Trail
  • Kannah Creek Trail
  • Old Spanish Trail
  • Colorado Riverfront Trail
  • Liberty Cap Trail
  • Black Ridge Trail
  • Monument Canyon Trail
  • Kokopelli's Trail
  • Fountain Creek Greenway
  • Cavalier Park Trail

Forests

Parks

Utah

Affiliated trails

Forests

Parks

Nevada

Affiliated trails

Forests

Parks

California

Affiliated trails

  • Tahoe Rim Trail
  • Western States Trail
  • Pacific Crest Trail
  • Foresthill Loop Trail
  • Confluence Trail
  • Pioneer Express Trail
  • American River Bike Trail
  • Jedediah Smith National Recreation Trail
  • Delta de Anza Regional Trail
  • Stewartville Trail
  • Ridge Trail
  • Black Diamond Trail
  • Cumberland Trail
  • Black Diamond to Mt. Diablo Trail
  • Bruce Lee Trail
  • Mitchell Canyon Trail
  • Deer Flat Creek Trail
  • Prospectors Gap Trail
  • North Peak Trail
  • Summit Trail
  • Wall Point Trail
  • Briones-Mount Diablo Trail
  • Lafayette Ridge Trail
  • Homestead Valley Trail
  • Oursan Trail
  • Bear Creek Trail
  • Inspiration Trail
  • Bay Area Ridge Trail
  • Sea View Trail
  • Vollmer Peak Trail
  • Grizzly Peak Trail
  • San Francisco Bay Trail
  • SCA Trail
  • Bobcat Trail
  • Miwok Trail
  • Redwood Creek Trail
  • Deer Creek Park Fire Trail
  • Hillside Trail
  • Ben Johnson Trail
  • Stapleveldt Trail
  • Matt Davis Trail
  • Coastal Trail
  • Bolinas Ridge Trail
  • Randall Trail
  • Olema Valley Trail
  • Stewart Trail
  • Glen Trail
  • Bear Valley Trail
  • Coast Trail
  • Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail

Parks

See also

Further reading

  • Foot, William; Foot, Laurel. (2006) The American Discovery Trail Trail Data, American Discovery Trail Society. OCLC 285356124. Maps included: Sussex County: bicycle map; Chesapeake and Ohio Canal; American Discovery Trail, Western West Virginia and Ohio Route; and American Discovery Trail, California Route.
  • "American Discovery Trail — Linking Eastern Iowa" legis.iowa.gov.
  • Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Senate, United States Congress. (1998) National Discovery Trails Act and National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act: Hearing Before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifth Congress, Second Session on S. 1069 ... S. 1403 ... February 11, 1998. Volume 4, S. hrg, Volume 105, issue 475, United States Government Printing Office, ISBN 0160570220, 9780160570223.
  • United States Congress ; House ; Committee on Resources ; Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands. (1997) Hearing on H.R. 588, to amend the National Trails System Act to create a new category of long-distance trails to be known as National Discovery Trails, to authorize the American Discovery Trail as the first trail in that category, and for other purposes ; and H.R. 1513 a bill to amend the National Trails System Act to designate the Lincoln National Historic Trail as a component of the National Trails System: hearing before the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands of the Committee on Resources, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifth Congress, first session on H.R. 588 and H.R. 1513--to amend the National Trails System Act, June 10, 1997--Washington, DC. GPO, OCLC 1097536155.
  • American Hiking Society ; National Park Service. (1995) America's Trails: A Directory of Organizations and Managing Agencies 1995. American Hiking Society.
  • Lukei, Reese (1995) The American Discovery Trail: Explorer's Guide. Johnson Books, 1995, ISBN 1555661351, 9781555661359.

References

  1. ^ a b "Frequently Asked Questions". News and Information. American Discovery Trail. 2001–2010. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "American Discovery Trail Society - the only coast-to-coast, non-motorized recreational trail for hiking, biking, riding". www.discoverytrail.org. Retrieved 2017-07-19.
  3. ^ "ADT: News: The Cottrells". www.discoverytrail.org. Retrieved 2017-07-19.
  4. ^ Barbassa, Juliana (2003-08-24). "For This Pair, Road Less Traveled Is 'a Gift'". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-07-19.
  5. ^ "ADT: News: The Powers". www.discoverytrail.org. Retrieved 2017-07-19.
  6. ^ "Couple finishes 4,900-mile walk across U.S." msnbc.com. 2005-10-16. Retrieved 2017-07-19.
  7. ^ Bratton, Dick (Oct 31, 2008). "Backpacker to finish 6,200 mile hike at Point Reyes" (PDF). American Discovery Trail Society. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  8. ^ "Walking with Freedom". www.walkingwithfreedom.com. Retrieved 2017-07-19.
  9. ^ Thomas, Garvin (2024-02-14). "After over 2 years walking, hiker becomes first solo woman to finish 6,800-mile American Discovery Trail". NBC Bay Area. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  10. ^ "ADT: News: Matt Parker". www.discoverytrail.org. Retrieved 2017-07-19.
  11. ^ "Ride of Passage - About Matt". www.rideofpassage.com. Retrieved 2017-07-19.
  12. ^ Morelli, B.A. (19 September 2019). "New mural celebrates local and national trail — Artwork overlooks Greene Square in Cedar Rapids". The Gazette. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
  13. ^ "Missouri". American Discovery Trail. Retrieved 22 August 2018.

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for American Discovery Trail.
  • Official website
    • ADT Data Books

39°37′32″N 105°46′56″W / 39.62556°N 105.78222°W / 39.62556; -105.78222

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