The American Discovery Trail

The American Discovery Trail (ADT) is a new breed of national trail — part city, part small town, part forest, part mountains, part desert — all in one trail. Its 6,800+ miles of continuous, multi-use trail stretches from Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware, to Pt. Reyes National Seashore, California. It reaches across America, linking community to community in the first coast to coast, non-motorized trail. The ADT provides trail users the opportunity to journey into the heart of all that is uniquely American — its culture, heritage, landscape and spirit.

 

An interactive Discovery Trail state-by-state map can be found on the trail’s website here.

 

The ADT incorporates trails designed for hiking, bicycle and equestrian use. Because it connects five national scenic and 12 national historic trails, 34 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 is all about connections — people to people, community to community, urban areas to wilderness. It provides the opportunity for the most adventurous to travel from coast to coast, truly discovering the heart of America.  So in 2015 I think I’ll go for a long walk and meet more of my neighbors beginning in Delaware.  I plan to share the experience via my blog, videos and photos.  I hope people are curious as to why I am walking.  Below is a rough outline of my journey:

American Discovery Trail Mileage Calculator
State	Mileage	Subtotals – # of miles	# of days	Subtotals – # of days	Subtotals – # of weeks	Subtotals – # of months	Comments
DE	45		3.2				14 mile per day average
MD	270		19.3
WV	289		20.6				End of “Start” months
OH	471	1075	27.7	70.8	10.1	2.4	06/27/15
KY	7		0.4
IN	366		21.5				End of “Mid” months
IL	284		14.2
MO	343	1000	17.2	53.3	7.6	1.8	08/20/15
KS	570		28.5
CO	912	1482	45.6	74.1	10.6	2.5	11/02/15
NV	496		24.8
UT	593		29.7
CA	376	1465	18.8	73.3	10.5	2.4	01/14/16
TOTALS	5022	5022	271.5	271.5	38.8	9.0
Average miles per day:			18.5
Average w/1 day off per week:			21.6
Average miles per week:			129.5
“What If” Calculations		Per Day	Per Week
Avg miles – start		14	98
Avg miles – mid		17	119
Avg miles – end		20	140
Estimated Start Date:		04/18/15
Estimated End Date:		01/14/16
Ken & Marcia Powell’s Trip Planning Info:				http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=1870
Mr. Lee’s 2013 ADT Trail Journal:				http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=442992
Lion King’s 2007 ADT Journal:				http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=5876
American Discovery Trail Website:				http://www.discoverytrail.org/index.html
Google Map of ADT Route				https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?ie=UTF8&msa=0&z=5&hl=en&mid=zn0GE2pIdvNc.kdJBkwtsmaUM