Government Shutdown Information for Hikers and A.T. Visitors

Yes. 

Emergency response will still be available, but response times and capabilities may be impacted. Should you choose to visit the A.T. during the shutdown, please exercise extreme caution. Hikers should always know what to do in an emergency on the Trail. 

Emergencies on the A.T.

Closures and restrictions that were in place before the shutdown are still in effect. Visit our Trail Updates page for more info and the latest Trail conditions.

Trail Updates

Yes.

However, volunteers cannot conduct their usual maintenance work during the shutdown due to a lapse in federal worker’s compensation and protections. So, the Trail will not be maintained as it normally is. Take extra care to practice Leave No Trace, pack out all trash and food waste (including any left by other visitors), and follow instructions posted in privies. 

Leave No Trace on the A.T.

Services may be impacted in the following areas due to the shutdown (services = emergency response, visitor centers, some roads, waysides, and some parking areas): 

• The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in New Jersey 
  • The AMC’s Mohican Center will remain open (self-service year-round)
• The C&O Canal Towpath in Maryland 
• Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in West Virginia 
  • The temporary shuttle around the closed footbridge will operate until the footbridge reopens.
  • The bookstore in lower town will remain open, but all exhibits and the park’s main visitor center will close.
• Shenandoah National Park in Virginia  
  • Lodging, dining, and waysides are fully open until their scheduled seasonal closures. Visitor centers may be closed.
  • Skyline Drive will remain open except during normal seasonal closures for inclement weather.
  • Backcountry permits remain available.
• The Blue Ridge Parkway in northern Virginia 
  • The parkway will remain open except for normal seasonal closures due to inclement weather and planned constructions projects.
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina/Tennessee 
  • Some areas of the park and visitor centers are closed.
  • Backcountry permits remain available.

There are ~1,100 miles of the Trail on USFS land from New Hampshire to Georgia. The following sections are on USFS land and are open to visitors, but services may be unavailable like fee campgrounds, visitor centers, and information on current conditions from district offices.

Closures and restrictions that were in place before the shutdown remain in place. This includes burn bans in New Hampshire, Vermont, and the Roan Highlands, as well as the Iron Mountain Gap Detour. Visit our Trail Updates page for more information.

• New Hampshire: White Mountain National Forest
  • All of the Trail in the state
• Vermont: Green Mountain National Forest
  • All of the Trail in the state
• Virginia: George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
  • Most of the Trail in the state south of Shenandoah National Park
• North Carolina and Tennessee: Nantahala, Pisgah, and Cherokee National Forests 
  • Almost all of the Trail in North Carolina and Tennessee except Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Georgia: Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest 
  • All of the Trail in the state

While the footpath remains open, the entire A.T. is affected by this closure because volunteers are not able to carry out their regular maintenance activities. This is because federal worker’s compensation and protections lapse during a shutdown.

It is critical that all visitors practice Leave No Trace. We are all stewards of this special place.

Leave No Trace on the A.T.

Yes. The ATC is a private, nonprofit organization and the visitor center buildings are either owned by the ATC or leased from municipal entities. This includes: 

• The Monson A.T. Visitor Center in Monson, ME  
  • The Monson Visitor Center closes for the 2025 season on October 13. 
• The ATC Headquarters & Visitor Center in Harpers Ferry, WV  
• The Damascus Trail Center in Damascus, VA 

Visitor Center Hours

Visitor centers and facilities on federal lands may be closed. Private concessions operated on federal lands are allowed to continue their services in most instances. Parking areas and roads may be closed or gated. We do not have a comprehensive list of such closures. 

See FAQ 3 and 4 for links to more resources.

Law enforcement, fire suppression, and other essential services continue to be provided despite furloughs of most federal employees. However, emergency response on all A.T. lands is extremely limited during the shutdown and may be unavailable in some areas.

Trail volunteers have been told not to perform their customary trail work due to a lapse in federal worker’s compensation and protections. Hikers may encounter downed trees, other hazards on roads and trails, and few people to assist in case of emergency.   

Anytime there is an emergency on the A.T., including threats to your personal safety, call 911. 

Emergencies on the A.T.

With the exception of maintenance that represents a critical threat to public safety, no.

A.T. volunteers are not able to conduct their usual work on the Trail due to a lapse in federal worker’s compensation and protections. Volunteers with concerns or questions should contact the Regional Partnership Committee (RPC) representative for their Club or email volunteer@appalachiantrail.org. 

Trail management partners with concerns or questions should connect with their local ATC contact or email info@appalachiantrail.org.

Since the Trail will not be maintained as usual, it is critical that visitors follow Leave No Trace if they choose to visit the Trail during the shutdown. We are all stewards of this precious resource. 

If this FAQ did not answer your questions, please contact us anytime or stop in at one of our visitor centers.