How the Appalachian Trail is Rebuilding Stronger

On September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene tore through the southern half of the Appalachian Trail, causing more damage than the Trail has ever seen in its more than 100-year history.

Helene’s destructive winds and flooding impacted more than 800 miles of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.), damaging 81,500 acres bordering the Trail in Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia. In the immediate aftermath, 430 miles of the Trail were closed by land managers due to downed trees, washed-out bridges, eroded treadway, and other hazards.

Through an unprecedented and coordinated rapid response effort, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), together with the local A.T. Clubs and federal and state agencies, worked tirelessly to manage emergency communications, assess damages, clear downed trees, mitigate fire risks, advocate for federal support, and mobilize over 680 volunteers from across the country and abroad to remove debris and begin repairing the Trail. Within five months, nearly the entire A.T. from Georgia to Maine reopened, with only a few detours remaining at the Nolichucky River and Iron Mountain Gap.

The ATC’s President & CEO Sandi Marra remarked: “The work done over the last year to make the Appalachian Trail accessible and safe for the 2025 season is nothing short of remarkable. Our local A.T. Clubs, volunteers, public agencies, and dedicated ATC staff have our immense gratitude for all their efforts. With thousands of trees blown down, sections of treadway washed away, and overnight areas destroyed, the work to fully reconnect and repair the A.T. will continue for years. The ATC remains committed to building more a sustainable and resilient Trail and to protecting and restoring the fractured landscape. Together, we will finish the work, strengthen the Trail’s future, and keep the Trail alive.”

Central to the recovery was the launch of the Appalachian Trail Resiliency Fund (ATRF), which raised more than $850,000 and allowed the ATC to quickly activate recovery efforts while awaiting federal disaster relief funds. ATRF initiatives included:

• Professional saw crews to clear hazardous blowdowns in heavily affected areas
• Grants for tools, equipment, and safety training for A.T. Clubs
• A temporary hiker ferry across the Nolichucky River following bridge loss
• Community recovery efforts in designated A.T. towns like Hot Springs, N.C.
• Expansion of ATC’s flagship Konnarock Crew program, adding new work weeks dedicated to Helene recovery

One year on, the work is far from over. Recovery will take years, but the ATC’s mission is clear: rebuild stronger, restore what was lost, and prepare the Trail to withstand the next storm.

Read the full report to learn more about our disaster response efforts and see how you can help keep the Appalachian Trail alive and thriving.

Read the Impact Report

About the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Founded in 1925, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy works to manage and protect the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. As the only nonprofit devoted exclusively to the entirety of the Trail and its landscape, the ATC works to keep its natural beauty healthy, resilient and connected so that everyone can experience its transformative power for generations to come. Together with our supporters, partners, and thousands of volunteers, we keep the Trail alive.

Media Contact
Ann Simonelli, 304-885-0482, asimonelli@appalachiantrail.org