Responding to COVID-19
The A.T. on Katahdin Reopens
July 1, 2020
The northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail has reopened, though there are still several precautions to consider before planning your visit.
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By Amanda Wheelock
The Next Generation of Volunteers
July 1, 2020
The ATC is committed to welcoming, training, and supporting the next generation of Trail volunteers through a variety of programs and opportunities.
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By Dan Hale, ATC New England Natural Resource and Land Stewardship Manager
Protecting Pollinators
June 27, 2020
Managing pollinators and their habitats along the Appalachian Trail benefits the ecosystem and us.
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By Jordan Bowman, ATC Director of Communications
A System of Protection
June 26, 2020
2020 events have underlined the importance of the Cooperative Management System in achieving the vision of a protected Appalachian Trail for everyone.
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Responding to COVID-19
June 16, 2020 Update on A.T. Closures and Conditions
June 16, 2020
An update for Appalachian Trail hikers as more states relax stay-at-home restrictions and more sections of the Trail reopen.
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By Jordan Bowman, ATC Director of Communications
A.T. Volunteers: Experts in Conservation
June 13, 2020
From trail maintenance to carpentry and natural resource conservation, volunteers employ a range of skills to protect the Appalachian Trail.
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By Shilletha Curtis
Not Just Another Hiker
June 12, 2020
Shilletha Curtis describes how her experiences outdoors and interactions with A.T. groups online highlight the need for change.
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14 Reasons to Start Your Northbound Thru-Hike at Amicalola Falls State Park
July 8, 2020
Appalachian Trail (A.T.) thru-hiker season is almost here! While Springer Mountain, Georgia is the best-known place to start a northbound thru-hike, in fact, more than half of “NOBOs” actually start at another location: Amicalola Falls State Park (AFSP). Here are 14 reasons (one for each of the states the Trail passes through) why you might want to start your thru-hike under the iconic stone arch that marks the beginning of the 8.8-mile Approach Trail, which travels to the southern terminus of the A.T.
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By Shalin Desai, ATC Vice President of Advancement
What is the Cost of a “Priceless” View?
June 9, 2020
The view from McAfee Knob is priceless, but what does it cost to build, maintain and protect an irreplaceable part of the Appalachian Trail Experience for future generations?
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By Sandra Marra, President & CEO of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
A Commitment to Justice
June 1, 2020
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy has taken inventory of the social landscape within the Appalachian Trail community and across the United States, and we believe that by making meaningful changes, the A.T. can be a space that is inclusive, open and safe for all.
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By Jordan Bowman, ATC Director of Communications
The Scope of A.T. Volunteerism
May 29, 2020
For almost 100 years, volunteerism has been the bedrock of the Appalachian Trail and the ATC.
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Hike Safely
Updated COVID-19 Guidelines for A.T. Day and Overnight Hikers
May 20, 2020
Recommendations for keeping you and those around you safe and healthy if you are planning to hike on the Appalachian Trail during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Stay Safe
COVID-19 Update for 2020 A.T. Thru-Hikers
May 20, 2020
The ATC asks that thru-hikers continue to postpone their hikes temporarily, though criteria have been identified on when this recommendation could change.
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By Dan Hale, ATC New England Natural Resource and Land Stewardship Manager
Vernal Pools: Temporary Habitats for A.T. Wildlife
May 18, 2020
A temporary world exists for chirping frogs and slippery salamanders in the form of a vernal pool.
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Responding to COVID-19
An Update for 2020 A.T. Hikers
May 11, 2020
The ATC is working quickly to determine the safest way and time for hikers to return to the Trail.
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By David McDowell Schafer
I Was Hired to Be a Ridgerunner
May 8, 2020
Ridgerunner David McDowell Schafer explains how his role has shifted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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By Sandra Marra, President & CEO of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Our Next Steps for Re-Engaging with the Trail
May 1, 2020
The ATC has convened a task force to develop guidance on how A.T. visitors can re-engage safely with the Trail and help minimize the spread of COVID-19.
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By David McDowell Schafer
Appalachian Trail Wildflowers
April 29, 2020
Spring is here and warmer days are finally upon us, meaning ephemeral spring wildflowers will be sprouting out of the ground to show their gorgeous array of colors.
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By Jordan Bowman, ATC Director of Communications
Advocating for a Protected Trail
April 16, 2020
The Appalachian Trail itself only exists and remains protected because of thousands of dedicated advocates.
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Responding to COVID-19
2020 Thru-Hikers: Picking Up Where You Left Off
March 31, 2020
Due to the safety concerns and closures caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, the ATC has revised its policy for recognizing the 2020 class of A.T. thru-hikers.
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By Sandra Marra, President & CEO of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Please stay off the Appalachian Trail
March 23, 2020
The Appalachian Trail, given its ever-increasing popularity over the past weeks, is no longer a viable space to practice social distancing.
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By Sandra Marra, President & CEO of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
March 19, 2020 Update on COVID-19 and the A.T.
March 19, 2020
An update from ATC President & CEO Sandra Marra on our ongoing actions to reduce the risks of COVID-19 transmission on and around the Appalachian Trail.
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By Sandra Marra, President & CEO of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Updated COVID-19 Guidance for A.T. Multi-day and Thru-Hikers
March 17, 2020
ATC President & CEO Sandra Marra advises multi-day campers and thru-hikers to postpone their hikes due to the risks of COVID-19 transmission.
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By Sandra Marra, President & CEO of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
The ATC’s COVID-19 Plan
March 13, 2020
President & CEO Sandra Marra discusses the next steps in helping mitigate the spread of COVID-19 on the Appalachian Trail.
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By Jordan Bowman, ATC Director of Communications
Protecting the Trail’s Continuous Journey
March 5, 2020
Creating a continuous footpath from Maine to Georgia was not a one-time event. In order to preserve the Trail’s full 2,000-mile journey, continual maintenance and guardianship are essential to ensure the A.T. always remains open.
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By Sandra Marra, President & CEO of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Preserving the Trail’s Network of Protectors
February 24, 2020
An upcoming Supreme Court decision could change how the Trail has been managed for over 50 years.
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By Jordan Bowman, ATC Director of Communications
Bear Mountain: A Legacy of Footpath Protection
February 12, 2020
Almost 100 years ago, something extraordinary was happening in the mountains of eastern New York that continues to inspire and inform the ATC’s work today.
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By Jordan Bowman, ATC Director of Communications
Restoring the Atlantic Salmon’s Path to Henderson Brook
December 18, 2019
Deep in Maine’s 100 Mile Wilderness, ATC and its partners are working to restore access to an important water source for native salmon and trout.
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By Julie Judkins, ATC Director of Education and Outreach, & Sasha DeCaro
Massachusetts Youth Receive Training at Trail Stewardship Summit
December 12, 2019
In mid-October 2019, students, educators and service leaders gathered for the MY Trail Summit, learning valuable skills for protecting the Appalachian Trail and America’s public lands.
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By Anne Sentz, ATC Landscape Partnership Manager
Preserving Maine’s Iconic A.T. Views
December 4, 2019
A decades-old conservation project will protect beautiful and environmentally important Maine lands adjacent to five miles of the A.T.
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By Jordan Bowman, ATC Director of Communications
A New Path for the A.T. in Palmerton
November 27, 2019
As life returns to the hills above Palmerton, Pennsylvania, the ATC is working to enhance the A.T. experience for future Trail users.
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By Jordan Bowman, ATC Director of Communications
Uniting to Preserve the South Mountain Range
November 20, 2019
The South Mountain Partnership is determined to preserve this unique landscape home to 60 miles of the A.T.
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by Tom Derr
Fair Energy Development and Recreation Economies
October 29, 2019
Why fair and transparent energy development is essential for the success of communities and businesses reliant on outdoor recreation.
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by Tom Derr
Cooperative Management is Key on the A.T.
October 1, 2019
The A.T. survives today due to the dedicated work of three separate, but interlocking, categories of cooperating Trail champions.
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By Brendan Mysliwiec, ATC Director of Federal Policy and Legislation
The Cowpasture Decision
August 30, 2019
This important decision could determine how energy infrastructure is sited over the Appalachian Trail and how the Trail Corridor is managed.
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The Search for Bicknell's Thrush
A Song at Dawn
January 21, 2019
Nick Lund of Maine Audubon shares his face-to-face encounter with one of the rarest (and most elusive!) birds in the country.
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By Alyson Browett
This Tiny Beetle is Killing the Appalachian Trail’s Ash Trees
November 15, 2018
The emerald ash borer is decimating the ash tree population along the Appalachian Trail. If it isn’t stopped, it will change our forests forever.
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By Brian King, ATC Publisher
The A.T. Bill of 1978
March 18, 2018
2018 marks the 40th anniversary of the Appalachian Trail Bill of 1978, a pivotal moment in the history of the A.T. and the ATC.
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By Roland “Tony” Richardson
A Hike Through History
February 13, 2017
In October 2016, a group of seven African-American outdoor enthusiasts embarked on a four-day backpacking trip on the A.T. to retrace the journeys of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad through the Appalachian Mountains.
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