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Some of the best hiking, camping and back-country experiences around are available on the Appalachian Trail, located in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. It is the nation's longest marked footpath, at approximately 2,181 miles, the first completed national scenic trail, designated in 1968. It crosses six other units of the national park system, Traverses eight national forests, Touches 14 states. It also houses more than 2,000 occurrences of rare, threatened, endangered and sensitive plant and animal species at about 535 sites.