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Konnarock Trail Crew
Konnarock is the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s flagship crew program, founded in 1983 and named after its original base camp in southwest Virginia. The crew works on the Appalachian Trail from Rockfish Gap, near Waynesboro, Virginia, to the Trail’s southern terminus at Springer Mountain in Georgia. The program is a joint venture of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the 12 southern Trail clubs, the U.S. Forest Service, and the National Park Service.
At Konnarock, volunteers of diverse ages, backgrounds, and experience levels work together to build durable trail that will last for generations. After a multi-day session working as a team, learning new skills, and living in the backcountry both the crew and the trail are transformed. No experience is necessary, but you must be 16 years or older to apply. If you are 16, you will need to be accompanied by a parent/guardian during the crew week. If you are 17, your parent or guardian will need to sign a release form prior to the work week. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy provides training, equipment, and room and board. Crews are transported in ATC vehicles from the base camp in Sugar Grove to a primitive, backcountry tent camp near the project site.
Base camp
The Konnarock Crew is hosted by the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area at its Sugar Grove Work Center. The main building houses dining and recreation facilities, an office, and the crew’s tool room. Separate buildings provide a large, institutional kitchen and two shower houses, with bathroom and laundry facilities. Crew members sleep in simple cabins (“pods”) with beds and electricity.
Crew week
Crew members arrive on the evening before their work week starts in time to get settled in, eat dinner, and attend an orientation session. Whether they will be working with Crew 1 or Crew 2, crew members meet their crew leaders and fellow volunteers, and are issued safety equipment and loaner camping gear as needed. An early morning on the first day of the crew week (7 a.m.) begins with a hearty breakfast, followed by any last-minute preparations and departure to the project sites. Volunteers work a multi-day crew session in the field, tent camping at a remote site, and return to base camp for a celebratory dinner the evening of the final day.
Volunteers working more than one session are welcome to stay at Konnarock base camp between sessions, except for the mid-season breaks. Other accommodations may be available for multi-week volunteers during the mid-season breaks. Multi-week volunteers should plan to spend at least an hour or two of their days off pitching in to keep base camp running smoothly—and the rest of it relaxing and exploring the beautiful Mount Rogers area!
Konnarock Volunteer Trail Crew
2025 Projects
War Spur Trail Relocation: This project will complete an approximately one-mile-long section of sustainable trail in the Mountain Lake Wilderness Area in southwest Virginia. Work consists of building Wilderness-grade trail with native stone structures and minimal land impact. Each workday there will be an approximately 2-mile hike to the work sites. The campsite is on a gated Forest Service Road adjacent to the Wind Rock Overlook.
4/30 – 5/5: Apply Here
5/22 – 5/27 (1 of 2): Apply Here
5/22 – 5/27 (2 of 2): Apply Here
6/13 – 6/18 (1 of 2): Apply Here
6/13 – 6/18 (2 of 2): Apply Here
Byron H. Reece Trail Relocation: The crew will continue a multi-year relocation of the busiest side trail accessing the AT in the Blood Mountain Wilderness, Georgia. Work will consist of building wilderness-grade trail with minimal land impact and structure. Hike to the worksite will be approximately 0.5 miles. The crew will camp at DeSoto Falls Recreation Area, a developed Forest Service campground nearby.
5/8 – 5/16: Apply Here
5/30 – 6/7: Apply Here
Paint Mountain Trail Restoration: Work on this project consists of repairing/constructing rock steps and cribbing, building log steps, tread definition and drainage improvements along a narrow ridge spine north of the Jump Off in western North Carolina. Accessing the worksite involves an approximately 1.5-mile bushwhack/AT hike each day with sweeping views of the Great Smoky Mountains. A gated Forest Service road serves as the crew campsite.
5/8 – 5/16: Apply Here
Spivey Gap Trail Restoration: This project will address treadway damage caused by Hurricane Helene on the trail south of Spivey Gap to Little Bald/Whistling Gap. Extensive tree blowdowns resulted in multiple root ball holes and erosion at various places along this 4.7-mile section of the AT. Diverse types of trail work will be required depending on site-specific needs. The hike to work will vary based on specific site needs. The campsite is on a gated forest service road near the AT.
4/14 – 4/19: Apply Here
4/22 – 4/27: Apply Here
Tennessee Eastman Section Trail Restoration: This project will address the extensive treadway damage caused by Hurricane Helene at various locations along the entire section of trail between Spivey Gap and Pond Mountain Wilderness. Diverse types of trail work will be required depending on site-specific needs. Camp sites will be determined based upon worksites selected.
4/14 – 4/19: Apply Here
4/22 – 4/27: Apply Here
4/30 – 5/5: Apply Here
7/21 – 7/26 (1 of 2): Apply Here
7/21 – 7/26 (2 of 2): Apply Here
7/29 – 8/3: Apply Here
Possums Rest Trail Restoration: Stonework will be the hallmark of this project located just north of Shenandoah National Park during this 8-day hitch. A short section of trail over a cliff will be re-constructed using native stone to build steps, crib walls, and drainage features. Camping will be at a nearby Forest Service Group Camp. The hike to work is less than 0.25 miles from the parking area.
6/21 – 6/29: Crew Full
James River Face Wilderness Trail Restoration: A wildfire in 2022 damaged a large area of this central Virginia Wilderness area. The 2022 wildfire scorched many miles of the Appalachian Trail. Treadway erosion, sloughing, and drainage along a 1.2-mile trail section will be addressed by this project. This is a backcountry project with a 2-mile hike with 160-foot elevation gain to the campsite. Participants are required to backpack individual camping and personal gear as well as a share of communal food and cooking accoutrements and tools.
7/5 – 7/10: Apply Here
Brown Fork Trail Relocation: During this 8-day hitch, we will build a sustainable trail around a steep, eroded section of the AT north of Jacob’s Ladder. The crew will camp on a gated forest-service road. Access to the project site will be via a steep 0.15-mile bushwack from the campsite, followed by a 0.5-mile hike on the AT.
5/30 – 6/7: Apply Here
Catawba Mountain Tent Site Construction: Creating environmentally sustainable and aesthetically pleasing camping is the goal of this project. The location is along one leg of the popular “Triple Crown” in southwest Virginia. The crew will camp near the crew vehicles in a remote location, not far from Campbell Shelter. Hike to the worksite will be less than 0.5 miles each way.
7/13 – 7/18: Apply Here
7/29 – 8/3: Apply Here
8/6 – 8/11: Apply Here
Mount Rogers Trail Rehabilitation: These projects will address treadway damage caused by Hurricane Helene. Extensive tree blowdowns and flooding resulted in multiple root ball holes and erosion at locations along this section of the trail from Elk Garden to the Virginia-Tennessee state line. Diverse types of trail work will be required depending on site-specific needs. Camp sites will be determined based upon worksites selected.
7/5 – 7/10: Apply Here
7/13 – 7/18: Apply Here
8/6 – 8/11: Apply Here
This year, we are offering two shortened Konnarock sessions. For the 3-day sessions, the crew will stay at Konnarock Basecamp and commute to and from the Mount Rogers worksite each day. We encourage participants to attend the entire session, but weekend attendance is also available.
6/20 – 6/23: Apply Here
6/26 – 6/29: Apply Here