Welcome to
New York
One of the unique aspects of the A.T. is its proximity to New York City. Hikers near Harriman State Park, for instance, experience the natural beauty of woodlands with occasional views of the Manhattan skyline in the distance.
Cool to know
In New York, you may see types of wildlife you weren’t expecting! The A.T. passes through a Trailside Museum and Zoo at Bear Mountain. At 124 feet, Bear Mountain is also the lowest elevation point on the entire A.T.
Need to know
Be sure to study your guidebook and maps carefully while planning hikes in New York. The trail ascends numerous, steep rocky areas that often provide excellent views but require scrambling and can be hazardous when wet. Shelters are far apart and camping is limited to designated sites; water sources are also far apart. Campfires are prohibited except in designated fire rings.
Get Involved
Potomac Appalachian Trail Club
The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) has enhanced the mid-Atlantic outdoor experience since 1927, including 240 miles of the Appalachian Trail in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. The PATC maintains trails, shelters and cabins, and they make maps and guidebooks for outdoor adventurers. Learn more and become a member today at patc.net.
Keystone Trails Association
Keystone Trails Association is a volunteer organization dedicated to providing, preserving, protecting and promoting hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. We represent and advocate the interests and concerns of the Pennsylvania hiking community. Do you hike in PA? Consider joining KTA today!
Mountain Club Of Maryland
The oldest hiking club in Maryland (since 1934) and the premier hiking group in the state. We are a Baltimore-based volunteer organization that is centered on hiking. We support Leave No Trace principles, work on local trails and on the nation’s first National Scenic Trail, the Appalachian Trail. We organize and lead hikes and other outdoor activities, such as camping, seasonal canoe trips and backpacking weekends. We offer seasonal canoe trips and backpacking ventures. We have a year-round schedule with hikes in local parks and paths, in State Parks, National Parks, National Forests, and sites in and around Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, New Jersey and Delaware. Learn more and become a member today at mcomd.org.
Cumberland Valley Appalachian Trail Club
CVATC members maintain the seventeen miles of the Appalachian Trail in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The trail was once a road walk that was transformed into the trail we know today. This trail section begins at Center Point Knob (originally the half-way point on the Appalachian Trail) on South Mountain and extends through the Cumberland Valley between Carlisle and Mechanicsburg to the top of Blue Mountain. Learn more and become a member today at cvatclub.org.
York Hiking Club
York Hiking Club maintains a 13-mile section of the Appalachian Trail on Blue Mountain and a 7.5 mile section north of Harrisburg, Pa. Learn more and become a member today at yorkhikingclub.com.
Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club
SATC volunteers contribute at least 2000 hours each year toward the care and preservation of a 20-mile section of the A.T. from PA-225 on Peters Mountain north to Rausch Gap. SATC volunteers also maintain the Peters Mountain shelter, the privy, monitor and protect the Trail corridor, develop management plans for our Trail section, are caretakers for several access parking lots, and maintain the Darlington Trail as well as several side trails to the A.T. Learn more and become a member today at satc-hike.org.
Allentown Hiking Club
The club is sponsored by the Allentown Recreation Bureau and is a member of the Keystone Trail Association and the Appalachian Trail Conference. We maintain 10.3 miles of the Appalachian Trail, including two backcountry shelters, Allentown (north of New Tripoli) and G.W. Outerbridge (west of the Lehigh Gap).Learn more and become a member today at allentownhikingclub.org.
Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club
Club members and other volunteers perform on-going maintenance, clean-ups and repairs on the Appalachian Trail, Shelters, Arboretum, and various other projects throughout the year. Learn more and become a member today at bmecc.org.
AMC Delaware Valley Chapter
Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club promotes the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of America’s Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Learn more and become a member today at amcdv.org.
Batona Hiking Club
BATONA (BAck TO NAture) is a Philadelphia based hiking club providing hiking and trail maintenance activities in Philadelphia; surrounding counties of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware; and beyond. Learn more and become a member today at batona.wildapricot.org.
Wilmington Trail Club
WTC is a non profit organization which provides opportunities for members to enjoy outdoor recreation and to support the protection and restoration of places of natural beauty. WTC is a volunteer organization. Learn more and become a member today at wilmingtontrailclub.org.
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference
The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a volunteer-powered organization that builds, maintains, and protects public trails. Together with our partners, we strive to ensure that the trails and natural areas we share are sustainable and accessible for all to enjoy for generations to come. For more information and to get involved today, www.nynjtc.org.
ATC Volunteer Program
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is always looking for dedicated volunteers to help maintain the A.T. and assist in our visitor centers and headquarters. Opportunities range from greeting visitors and providing information about local hikes to joining a Trail crew for week-long maintenance trips, gaining first-hand experience in what it takes to keep the A.T. open and enjoyable for millions each year. Learn more at appalachiantrail.org/volunteer.
Discover More
By Jennifer Pharr Davis
Scenic Views
Wide-open vistas beyond the footpath offer respite and are essential to the Wild East.
Hiking Tips
What to Know Before You Go
Wide-open views, crisp air and solitude make for a cool hike, but when winter hiking, being prepared is key.
By Marina Ritchie
Wild Skyway
Wherever you are on the Appalachian Trail, birds offer sweet companionship. Yet, as hiker numbers soar, bird populations tumble.