Join Us May 13-15
Trail Days 2022
Trail Days is Almost Here!
Join us May 13-15 in beautiful Damascus, Virginia, for the annual Appalachian Trail Days Festival! This one-of-a-kind event brings together hikers, communities, volunteers, and supporters from around the country to celebrate the opportunities and benefits provided by the Appalachian Trail (A.T.). Join the Appalachian Trail Conservancy throughout Trail Days at the Damascus Trail Center (DTC), where we will be hosting multiple events, workshops, and a raffle for great backpacking gear!
ATC Trail Days Events at the Damascus Trail Center
Join us at 209 West Laurel Ave for the following events and workshops:
ATC Gear Raffle
Throughout Trail Days (Raffle Hours Below)
Are you feeling lucky? Enter our annual gear raffle for a chance to win amazing backpacking gear! Visit our information table for more information on how to enter. Once you have been entered, you are eligible for ALL raffle times throughout Trail Days — and your name stays in even if you win! The only catch? You must be at the raffle in person to claim your prize, so make sure to return to the DTC at the raffle times below:
| Friday, May 13 | Saturday, May 14 | Sunday, May 15 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 a.m. | 9 a.m. | 10 a.m. |
| 12 p.m. | 11 a.m. | 12 p.m. |
| 2 p.m. | 1 p.m. | |
| 3:45 p.m. | 3 p.m. | |
| 5 p.m. |
A.T. Stewardship Ice Cream Social
Friday, May 13, 4 p.m.
Are you interested in doing more to help the Appalachian Trail? Love ice cream? Come network with organizations at the Damascus Trail Center to learn about how to get involved in trail maintenance and beyond at our ice cream social. We’ll bring the ice cream, you bring a desire to protect our trails!
BearVault Food Storage Demo
Saturday, May 14, 11 a.m. – Noon
Join BearVault and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy at the Damascus Trail Center for a discussion on how to use a bear canister to properly store food while backpacking. Participants will have the chance to try out a BearVault canister, learn the best practices for food safety and storage, and have the chance to win a bear canister of their own.
Community Planting Day
Sunday, May 15, 1-3 p.m.
Help the Washington County Master Gardeners and the ATC plant a native garden at the Damascus Trail Center. All supplies and refreshments will be provided.
Post Trail Day Events
While Trail Days will eventually end, you can help us keep the celebration going by joining us at the DTC for the following events.
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| May 16-July 25, 2022, Fri.-Mon. | Beginning the day after Trail Days ends, visit our information table outside of the Damascus Trail Center (DTC) every Friday-Monday this summer from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Local recreation and stewardship organizations will also join us on Saturdays to host a variety of workshops and activities. |
| May 21, 2022 | Interested in learning more about safety in the outdoors? Join Drumm Emergency Solutions for a Wilderness First Aid Demo. |
| May 28, 2022 | Learn how the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) is taken care of in a demo from the Tennessee Eastman Hiking Club! |
| June 4, 2022 | Come celebrate National Trails Day with a hike through the Town of Damascus with the Mount Rogers A.T. Club. |
| June 11, 2022 | Join the Blue Ridge Discovery Center on a mushroom hike for kids and kids at heart! The Piedmont Appalachian Trail Club will also be on hand for a tool demo. |
| June 18, 2022 | Want to learn how to care for wounds while biking? Join Drumm Emergency Solutions for a Bicycle First Aid Demo. |
| June 25, 2022 | Learn all about the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area from the U.S. Forest Service. |
| July 2 & 3, 2022 | Curious about what life was like in the 1700s? Join the Overmountain Victory Trail Association for life in the past demos and historical presentations. The Mount Rogers A.T. Club will also be on hand to answer any hiking and volunteering questions you might have. |
| July 9, 2022 | Want to learn how to bike safely? Join the Virginia Creeper Trail Conservancy for a demo! |
| July 16, 2022 | Mount Rogers A.T. Club is here to demo the top 10 essentials for any hike, and show you how to blaze a trail. |
| July 23, 2022 | Curious about what to include in a first aid kit? Join Drumm Emergency Solutions to learn more! |
Learn More About the Damascus Trail Center
Opening Late Summer 2022
Located in the heart of Damascus, Virginia, or “Trail Town, USA,” the DTC acts as a regional hub uniting visitors and volunteers with a wide range of outdoor resources in the region.
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About the ATC
We are the stewards of the world’s longest hiking-only footpath, the Appalachian Trail.
ATC's Official Blog
A.T. Footpath
Learn more about ATC's work and the community of dreamers and doers protecting and celebrating the Appalachian Trail.
A Strong Future
Conservation
As stewards of the Appalachian Trail, our goal is to ensure it will be enjoyed for centuries to come.