The Appalachian Trail would not exist without volunteers. As the heart and soul of the Trail, volunteers contribute more than 240,000 hours each year to preserve and protect the Trail and its resources.
As stewards of the A.T., volunteers are active in all aspects of Trail-related work, from maintenance of the footpath and its facilities to greeting guests at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s visitor centers. Volunteers work within a three-part “cooperative management system,” which includes the local trail maintaining club, the land management agencies, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.
Collectively, these entities, comprising thousands of people, work together to manage the Trail under a common vision for stewardship and function.
Learn more about Cooperative Management