- Source: American Discovery Trail
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. 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.
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:
Delaware (45 miles (72 km))
Maryland (270 miles (430 km))
West Virginia (288 miles (463 km))
Ohio (524 miles (843 km))
Indiana (250 miles (400 km))
Illinois (219 miles (352 km))
Kentucky (8.7 miles (14.0 km))
Iowa (512 miles (824 km))
Missouri (343 miles (552 km))
Nebraska (523 miles (842 km))
Kansas (570 miles (920 km))
Colorado (1,153 miles (1,856 km))
Utah (593 miles (954 km))
Nevada (496 miles (798 km))
California (276 miles (444 km))
Hiking records
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.
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 traveled 5,058 miles (8,140 km) by foot, averaging 22 miles (35 km) a day.
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. The first woman to backpack the entire 6,800 miles (10,944 km) solo in one continuous hike was Briana DeSanctis. She started on January 1, 2022, and ended her journey on February 10, 2024.
The first person to cover the entire equestrian route on horseback was Matt Parker. He undertook the journey between May 2003 and November 2005.
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.
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.
Cape Henlopen State Park, the eastern terminus of the trail in Delaware.
Argentine Pass, Colorado, the highest point in the trail where it crosses the Rockies.
Limantour Beach, Point Reyes, the western terminus of the trail in California.
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.
= Delaware
=Affiliated trails
Cape Henlopen Bike Trail
Georgetown-Lewes Trail
Forests
Redden State Forest
Parks
Cape Henlopen State Park
Points of interest
Historic towns of Lewes and Milton
= Maryland
=Affiliated trails
Love Point to Lewes, DE "Smuggler's Trail" formerly Queen Anne's Railroad
Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis (WB&A) Rail Trail
Baltimore and Annapolis (B&A) Trail
East Coast Greenway
Anacostia Tributary Trails
Fort Circle Trail
Capital Crescent Trail
Rock Creek Park Trail
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
Allegheny Highlands Trail
Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail
Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail
Parks
Martinak State Park
Tuckahoe State Park, Adkins Arboretum
Horsehead Wetlands Center (Wildfowl viewing)
Sandy Point State Park
Greenbelt Park
Rock Creek Park
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
= West Virginia
=Affiliated trails
North Bend Rail Trail
Harrison County Rail-Trail
Dryfork Rail-Trail
Allegheny Trail
Forests
Monongahela National Forest
Parks
Harpers Ferry National Historic Park
Canaan Valley Resort State Park
Tygart Lake State Park
Blackwater Falls State Park
North Bend State Park
= Ohio
=Affiliated trails
Buckeye Trail
Burr Oak Loop Trail
Robert and Mary Lou Paton Trail in Burr Oak State Park
Grandma Gatewood Trail in Hocking Hills State Park
Perimeter Trail in East Fork Park
The Riverwalk in Cincinnati
The Shaker Trace in Miami-Whitewater Forest Hamilton County Park
Hueston Woods State Park Trails
Hedgeapple Trail
Big Woods Trail
Sugar Bush Trail
West Shore Trail in Hueston Woods State Park
Forests
Wayne National Forest
Hocking State Forest
Tar Hollow State Forest
Scioto Trail State Forest
Pike State Forest
Shawnee State Forest
Parks
Burr Oak State Park
Logan State Park
Hocking Hills State Park
Tar Hollow State Park
Scioto Trail State Park
Pike Lake State Park
Fort Hill State Memorial
Serpent Mound State Memorial
Davis Memorial
Shawnee State Park
Grant Lake St. Mary's State Park
East Fork State Park
Little Miami River State Park
Eden Park
Bicentennial Common in Cincinnati
Devou park (Kentucky)
Harrison's Tomb
Miami - Whitewater Forest Hamilton County Park
Indian Creek Preserve
Gov. Bebb Butler County Metropark
Hueston Woods State Park
= Indiana (Northern route)
=Affiliated trails
Whitewater Gorge National Recreation Trail
Cardinal Greenway
Erie Trail-North Judson
Nickel Plate Trail
Parks
Tippecanoe River State Park
Summit Lake State Park
= 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
Clark State Forest
Harrison-Crawford State Forest
Hoosier National Forest
Parks
Burdette Park
Clifty Falls State Park
Lincoln State Park
Falls of the Ohio State Park
O'Bannon Woods State Park
= Illinois (Northern route)
=Affiliated trails
Old Plank Road Trail
Illinois and Michigan Canal State Trail
Grand Illinois Trail
Sauk Trail Forest Preserve Trail
Thorn Creek Trail
Hennepin Canal Parkway State Trail
Great River Trail
Parks
Indian Boundary Park
Dewey Helmick Nature Preserve
Hickory Creek Bikeway Trailhead Park
Channahon State Park
McKinley Woods State Park
William G. Stratton State Park
Gebhard Woods State Park
Illini State Park
Starved Rock State Park
Buffalo Rock State Park
Mathhiessen State Park
Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park
= Illinois (Southern route)
=Affiliated trails
River to River Trail
Metro-East Levee Trail
Tunnel Hill State Trail
Forests
Shawnee National Forest
Parks
Devil's Backbone Park
Ferne Clyffe State Park
Giant City State Park
Cave In Rock State Park
= Iowa (Northern route)
=Affiliated trails
Riverfront Trail
Hoover Nature Trail
Cedar River Trail
Cedar Valley Nature Trail
Cedar Valley Lakes Trail
Pioneer Trail
Comet Trail
Heart of Iowa Nature Trail
Saylorville-Des Moines River Trail
Raccoon River Valley Trail
T-Bone Trail
Wabash Trace Trail
Parks
Deerwood Park
George Wyth State Park
Wild Cat Den State Park
Pleasant Creek State Park
= Missouri (Southern route)
=Affiliated trails
Katy Trail
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
Rock Island Spur
Forests
Daniel Boone State Forest
Baltimore Bend State Forest
Parks
Forest Park
Missouri State Park
Frontier Park
Swope Park
Arrow Rock State Historic Site
Van Meter State Park
= Nebraska (Northern route)
=Affiliated trails
Pony Express National Historic Trail
Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail
MoPac East Trail
Oak Creek Trail
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
California National Historic Trail
Oregon National Historic Trail
Parks
Fort Kearny State Historical Park
Ash Hollow State Historical Park
Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park
= Kansas (Southern route)
=Affiliated trails
Santa Fe National Historic Trail
Parks
Shawnee Mission Park
Clinton State Park
= 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
Pike National Forest
Arapaho National Forest
San Isabel National Forest
Gunnison National Forest
White River National Forest
Grand Mesa National Forest
Parks
John Martin Reservoir State Park
Lake Pueblo State Park
Mueller State Park
Garden of the Gods Park
Roxborough State Park
Chatfield State Park
Bear Creek Regional Park
Mount Falcon Park
O'Fallon Denver Mountain Park
Elk Meadow Park
= Utah
=Affiliated trails
Kokopelli's Trail
Great Western Trail
Paiute ATV Trail
Oak Creek Trail
Lockhart Basin Trail
Hurrah Pass Trail
Forests
Dixie National Forest
Fishlake National Forest
Manti-La Sal National Forest
Parks
Canyonlands National Park
Capitol Reef National Park
= Nevada
=Affiliated trails
Tahoe Rim Trail
Pony Express National Historic Trail
Mount Jefferson Trail
Toiyabe National Recreation Trail
Forests
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Parks
Great Basin National Park
Cave Lake State Park
Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park
Currant Mountain Wilderness
Alta Toquima Wilderness
Arc Dome Wilderness
Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park
Sand Mountain Recreation Area
Grimes Point National Historic Site
Fort Churchill State Historic Park
Washoe Lake State Park
Mt. Rose Wilderness
Lake Tahoe State Park
Table Mountain Wilderness
= 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
Granite Chief Wilderness
Auburn State Recreation Area
Folsom Lake State Recreation Area
American River Parkway
Discovery Park
William Land Park
Contra Loma Regional Park
Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve
Mt. Diablo State Park
Shell Ridge Open Space
Heather Farms Park
Acalanes Ridge Open Space
Briones Regional Park
Wildcat Canyon Regional Park
Tilden Regional Park
Presidio of San Francisco
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Muir Woods National Monument
Mount Tamalpais State Park
Point Reyes National Seashore
See also
American Perimeter Trail
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
External links
Official website
ADT Data Books
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Amerika Serikat
- Karga
- Sejarah Amerika Serikat
- Alvin C. York
- My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (musim 6)
- Francis Parkman
- Ekspedisi Lewis dan Clark
- Francisco Vásquez de Coronado
- Warner Bros.
- RMS Titanic
- American Discovery Trail
- List of long-distance trails in the United States
- National Millennium Trails
- Buckeye Trail
- Katy Trail State Park
- Long-distance trail
- Bridle path
- Hocking Hills
- Antimony, Utah
- Boulder, Utah
