State Parks and National Parks

American Discovery Trail

The American Discovery Trail (ADT) is 6,800 miles of continuous, multi-use trail stretching from Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware to Point Reyes National Seashore in California.

It reaches across the United States, linking communities in the first coast-to-coast, non-motorized trail. The ADT provides trail users the opportunity to journey into the heart of America’s culture, heritage, landscape and spirit.

The ADT is designed for hiking, bicycle and equestrian use. Because it connects five national scenic and 10 national historic trails, 23 national recreational trails, and many other local and regional trails, it is the backbone for the national trails system.

It passes through metropolitan areas like San Francisco and Cincinnati, traces numerous pioneer trails, leads to 14 national parks and 16 national forests, and visits more than 10,000 sites of historic, cultural and natural significance.

The ADT enables hikers, bikers and horseback riders to travel from coast to coast, discovering the heart of America. Today, the entire trail is open to hikers, and the vast majority is bikable, or there are biking route alternatives available. Many of the trails are open to horseback riding. Alternate routes for bikes and horses can be identified when the trail is not suitable.

The ADT’s western terminus is at the Pacific Ocean at Point Reyes, from there, it traverses California, Nevada, Utah and Colorado. It splits into two routes in Denver. The Northern Midwest route travels through Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois and Indiana. The Southern Midwest route explores Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana.

After merging just west of Cincinnati, the route continues through Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C., and Delaware, where the eastern terminus is at the Atlantic Ocean at Cape Henlopen State Park.

The development of the trail has been funded by the members of the American Discovery Trail Society, by the American Hiking Society, and through corporate financial and promotional support. The various land managing agencies and local and regional trail organizations have made significant contributions through their knowledge of the trails that make up the ADT.

The ADT Society, a nationwide non-profit organization, administers the ADT and coordinates the efforts of the many local trail organizations that maintain it.

Photo credits in order: Courtesy of America Discovery Trail Society. Courtesy of America Discovery Trail Society. Courtesy of America Discovery Trail Society.