Lauded travel writer Bill Bryson (Robert Redford) returns to America after decades abroad with the intention of retiring. However, he's drawn in by the lure of the Appalachian Trail, which he challenges himself to hike the entirety of. He's joined on his journey by a long lost friend, habitual criminal and line-stepper Katz (Nick Nolte), and the two embark on an unforgettable and challenging adventure.