Age distribution on trail

Appalachian Trail 2018

Appalachian Trail 2024

Appalachian Trail 2023

PCT 2018

• PCT Thru-hiker Age
  • 1.6% <20
  • 19.1% 20-24
  • 29.7% 25-29
  • 16.4% 30-34
  • 9.2% 35-39
  • 9.2% 40-49
  • 8.2% 50-59
  • 6.1% 60-69
  • 0.4% >70

https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/trails/pacific-crest-trail/pct-thru-hiker-survey-2018/

PCT 2024

PCT Hiker Age

• 0.4% – < 20 (↓0.5%)
• 11.5% – 20-24 (↓0.6%)
• 23.5% – 25-29 (↓3.4%)
• 22.3% – 30-34 (↑1.1%)
• 8.0% – 35-39 (↓3.3%)
• 9.6% – 40-49 (↓0.2%)
• 13% – 50-59 (↑5%)
• 9.8% – 60-70 (↑1.5%)
• 1.8% – 70+ (↑0.3%)

CDT 2024

CDT Hiker Age

• 0.0% – < 20
• 6.9% – 20-24
• 19.2% – 25-29
• 23.2% – 30-34
• 12.8% – 35-39
• 15.8% – 40-49
• 10.3% – 50-59
• 9.4% – 60-70
• 2.5% – 70+

https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/trails/continental-divide-trail/continental-divide-trail-hiker-survey-2024/

CDT 2018

• CDT thru-hiker AGE
  • 0% <20
  • 8.8% 20-24
  • 27.5% 25-29
  • 19.6% 30-34
  • 13.7% 35-39
  • 9.8% 40-49
  • 13.7% 50-59
  • 6.9% 60-69
  • 0% >70

https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/trails/continental-divide-trail/cdt-thru-hiker-survey-2018/

Thoughts

Remember this is a self selected set of surveys.

That said, the numbers are interesting and a little variable over the years. Sometimes the numbers for an age group double by percentage between trails in the same year.

Older hikers are a growing group. 60+ going from around six percent to around eleven percent. Other shifts have occurred as well.