The Appalachian Trail, completed in 1937:

1. • Is a unit of the National Park Service.
   

2. •Is the nation's longest marked footpath -
   

3. approximately 2,175 miles.
   

4. •Is the first national scenic trail, designated in 1968.
   

5. •Houses more than 2,000 occurrences of rare,
   

6. threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant and
   

7. animal species.
   

8. •Crosses six national parks.
   

9. •Traverses eight national forests.
   

10. •Touches 14 states.
    

11. •Crosses numerous state and local forests and parks.
    

12. •Is maintained by 30 trail clubs and multiple
    

13. partnerships.
    

Threats to the A.T. experience include:

1. • Highway construction
   

2. • Housing developments
   

3. • Invasive exotic plants
   

4. • Declining air quality
   

Fun facts about the Appalachian Trail:

1. •  Lowest elevation: 124 feet.
   

2. • Highest elevation: 6,625 feet.
   

3. • There are 165,000 blazes along the length of the Trail.
   

4. • It takes approximately 5 million footsteps to walk the entire
   

5. Trail length.