Overview
The American Discovery Trail (ADT) Northern Route is a 4,843-mile coast-to-coast route from Delaware to California, passing through 15 states including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada. Few long-distance trails cover this much variety: flat Midwest greenways, the high passes of the Colorado Rockies (topping out at 13,207 feet at Argentine Pass), the Great Basin desert, and finally the Sierra Nevada.
This one is for experienced backpackers who want a serious challenge. About one-third follows wilderness single-track, another third uses greenways and converted rail-trails, and the remainder follows backroads and urban routes. The ADT demands self-sufficiency, adaptability across very different terrain, and comfort navigating both remote wilderness and populated areas. At 15 miles per day with weekly rest days, a thru-hike takes approximately 11 months.
Permits & Regulations
No single permit covers the entire ADT. You will hit numerous sections that require specific permits or fees, particularly in national parks, wilderness areas, and other protected lands. These must be obtained separately, and some popular sections may require advance reservations. Research permit requirements for each major land management area along your route, especially Colorado's national forests and Nevada's wilderness areas, and budget for national park entrance fees along the way.
Best Season
Timing decides whether a thru-hike works. Most hikers start from Delaware in late February to early March, which lets them cross the Midwest before peak summer heat and reach Colorado's high country after snowmelt (typically July-August). The same schedule positions you to cross Nevada's desert before extreme summer temperatures and finish the Sierra Nevada before the early winter storms.
Expect dramatic seasonal swings: cold, wet springs in the East; hot, humid summers in the Midwest; afternoon thunderstorms in Colorado's mountains (June-September); scorching heat and scarce water in Nevada (May-October); and early winter in the Sierra by November. The main weather challenge on the northern route is coordinating your itinerary so you are never in the mountains or the desert at the wrong time.
Water & Resupply
Water availability varies dramatically by region and is one of the trail's biggest challenges. The Midwest sections generally offer reliable water from towns, parks, and fountains. Colorado has mountain streams in summer but takes planning through its high, dry stretches. Nevada and Utah are the serious part: sources can be 20-40 miles apart, and cached water may be unreliable or depleted. Carry extra capacity (4-6 liters) for desert sections and verify current source conditions through recent trail reports.
Resupply is relatively straightforward because the trail passes through towns and cities every 3-7 days in most sections, with grocery stores, restaurants, and lodging. Mail drops matter less here than on remote trails, but they are useful for the Nevada and Utah sections. Many hikers buy food in towns and mail boxes to the remote post offices.
Hazards & Challenges
Beyond the usual backpacking hazards, the ADT has its own. Road walking makes up a significant portion of the route and calls for high-visibility clothing and constant attention to traffic, especially on narrow shoulders. Urban navigation through cities like Chicago and Denver is a different skill from wilderness wayfinding.
Several Colorado passes exceed 12,000 feet, so acclimatize and be ready for sudden weather changes, lightning, and snow crossings that can be dangerous even in summer. Desert sections bring heat exhaustion and dehydration risks. Rattlesnakes are common from the Midwest through the desert, and you will meet everything from mosquitoes and ticks to mountain weather along the way.
Navigation takes constant vigilance because the route keeps changing character, mixing wilderness trail, bike paths, and road shoulders. Current GPS data and updated route descriptions from discoverytrail.org or hikingamerica.com are essential, since portions get rerouted periodically.
Getting There
The eastern terminus is at Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware, accessible via the Wilmington or Philadelphia airports. The western terminus is at Point Reyes National Seashore, California, near San Francisco. Most thru-hikers travel east to west, starting in Delaware. Public transportation connects most trail sections to nearby cities, which makes resupply and emergency exits easier than on remote wilderness trails.
Tips
Invest in quality, current navigation resources; the official ADT maps and GPX data from Hiking America are continuously updated and worth the cost. Trail angels provide crucial support, including water caches, so register your plans with the ADT Society to access the trail angel network. Lightweight gear matters, but prioritize durability, because road miles chew through shoes and equipment fast. Lightweight camp shoes help your feet recover from pavement days. Carry microspikes and sun protection year-round for the varied terrain. You will see America's heartland in a way few long trails allow, from small-town diners to vast prairies to alpine wilderness.
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