Hikers told to postpone plans to hike Appalachian Trail due to coronavirus

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Hikers are being told to postpone plans to hike the entire length of the Appalachian Trail this year due to COVID-19.

Download the FOX 5 DC News App for Local Breaking News and Weather

The Asheville Citizen Times reports the Appalachian Trail Conservancy made the suggestion because it feels the pandemic makes long-distance hikes unsafe.

Models of a coronavirus (edited with Photoshop) (Photo by Peter Endig/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Morgan Sommerville, regional director for the conservancy, says that as long as the pandemic continues, while vaccines aren't widely available and there's been no all-clear signs from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the conservancy is recommending against long-distance hikes on the trail.

The Appalachian Trail runs through 14 states from Georgia to Maine and covers 2,193 miles.