A Strong Future
Conservation
As stewards of the Appalachian Trail, our goal is to ensure it will be enjoyed for centuries to come.
Protection and Stewardship
Our conservation work is focused on the protection and stewardship of land surrounding the Appalachian Trail (A.T.). This land base, spanning the Appalachian highland region from Georgia to Maine, connects significant state and federal lands. Running primarily along the ridgelines, Trail lands protect a migratory flyway and headwater streams for major East Coast watersheds. This protected area is one of the most significant greenways in the eastern United States.
Our conservation work is focused on identifying high priority tracts for permanent protection, working collaboratively with numerous conservation partners. We advocate funding for land protection and for best management practices to effectively steward these lands in perpetuity. We also play an important role as land managers, assisting with the natural resource management of corridor lands to ensure that the integrity of protected A.T. lands is upheld for future generations to experience and enjoy. We strive to base management decisions on sound science, and we work cooperatively with partners to develop our conservation approach.
Advocacy
We care about protecting the experience we all have while hiking the A.T. Along with our partners, we are charged under the National Trails Systems Act to ensure that the scenic vistas and natural and cultural heritage of the Trail corridor is protected forever.
Trail Management
Trail management encompasses the on–the-ground stewardship performed by volunteers and agency partners to maintain the Trail, its structures, and its natural and cultural resources. Management includes keeping the footpath clear of natural overgrowth and blowdowns; building and relocating sections of the footpath; building and repairing shelters and other structures; and caring for overnight sites. We coordinate this work, provide training, help set policy parameters, supply funding and other assistance to 31 Trail maintaining clubs, and recruit and manage volunteer Trail crews.
Landscape Conservation
Protecting land along the A.T. has been a priority for Trail managers ever since the Trail was established. We have worked with state and federal agencies since 1982 to protect the lands surrounding the A.T., resulting in one of the most significant and successful land acquisition programs in the United States. Today there is a 250,000 acre greenway around the Trail that connects significant public lands in the eastern United States.
Collaborative Agreements
We have an obligation to protect high-value scenic views and connectivity for the greater A.T. landscape, preserve threatened natural habitats, and ensure the Trail experience endures for generations to come. By collaborating with external partners, the ATC is actively addressing potential impacts from permitted projects near the Appalachian Trail, including the Mountain Valley Pipeline.
Learn more about the Voluntary Stewardship Agreement
Caring for the Trail
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Trail Crews
Our Trail Crews tackle large-scale projects like relocations and rehabilitation as well as bridge and shelter construction. The work is hard, but it's a great way to give back to the Trail that changed your life.
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Ridgerunners & Caretakers
More than 30 ridgerunners and caretakers help us promote a quality A.T. experience by educating hikers on how to minimize impact on the Trail.
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Trail Management Policies
If you're an A.T. manager, here are links to Trail policies, planning guidance, and other volunteer management resources.
STANDING UP FOR THE TRAIL
Advocating for the Clean Water Act
A recent ruling on the Clean Water Act will help protect the rivers, streams, and views of the Appalachian Mountains and across the United States by restoring power to states and tribes as they review permitting requests.
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SUPPORTING OUR PUBLIC LANDS
The Great American Outdoors Act
Signed into law on Aug. 4, 2020, thanks to your support, the Great American Outdoors Act includes permanent, full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and billions in funding for all federal land management agencies.
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Protection
Boundary and Corridor Lands
Our Boundary Program protects the public's investment in the lands that surround the A.T. Volunteers from A.T. Maintaining Clubs work with us to monitor and maintain more than 1,500 miles of the Trail corridor's exterior boundary.
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Protection
Natural and Cultural Resource Management
The A.T. is about more than hiking. Trail lands protect headwater streams for major East Coast watersheds and also host hundreds of rare species. We work cooperatively with our partners to understand and monitor these resources.
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Youth Engagement
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s vision is to connect the human spirit with nature – preserving the delicate majesty of the Trail as a haven for all to enjoy. In order to realize that vision, we strive to incorporate groups that are underrepresented among ATC staff, A.T. visitors, and ATC constituents. We hope to create an ever-expanding community of doers and dreamers, and work to ensure that tomorrow’s generations will experience the same mesmerizing beauty we behold today.