Group Hiking

Guidelines for Groups on the A.T.

A camping group = 6 to 10 campers, including the leaders. 10 is the maximum size for a camping group on the A.T. (some locations have a smaller group limit). Your camping group should be registered (see below).
A day hiking group = 25 or fewer hikers.
Your group should take particular care to follow Leave No Trace Practices. This is vital because groups have a more concentrated impact on paths, campsites and facilities.
Traveling and camping in small groups reduces the physical impact to the A.T. environment. Small groups also help preserve the sense of solitude and remoteness for other hikers who encounter your group.
Your camping group should stay at A.T. overnight sites where tenting is permitted; pitch tents on existing tent sites and leave A.T. shelters for solo hikers. A.T. shelters are not designed for camping group use.
Take care to keep group members together; most search and rescue missions along the Trail happen when someone gets separated from their group.

Helpful Links for Groups

Guided Hikes

The A.T. is a primitive footpath where hikers are expected to be well-prepared and self-reliant. However, those seeking guided or organized hikes do have these options:

Trail Clubs from Georgia to Maine offer group hikes that are usually open to the public. Most are free, with only a charge to cover the cost of any carpooling. The Appalachian Mountain Club, with chapters from Washington, DC to Maine, has the most extensive offerings.
Shenandoah National Park offers free ranger-led walks and programs about the park’s 101 miles of the Trail from early April through late November. Visitors can also rent a GPS Ranger Unit from the Byrd Visitor Center with preloaded content about the A.T. The short hike features historic photos of the history of the Trail and the area, as well as interviews with two thru-hikers.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park may offer short ranger-led day hikes from Newfound Gap.

Due to commercial use regulations affecting public lands, professionally led hikes may not be available in many areas. However, a few national parks and forests do permit a limited number of outfitters to provide either day or multi-day guided A.T. hikes. These parks and forests include:

Companies or groups charging fees may be required to obtain commercial use authorizations or special use permits. Check with the local land-managing agency that is part of the Appalachian Trail’s Cooperative Management System or Appalachian Trail Park Office. For information on permits and regulations along the Appalachian Trail, visit our Permits, Regulations and Fees page.