Trail Updates

04/23/2026

The Cherokee National Forest is enacting a forest-wide burn ban starting tomorrow, April 124, 2026 until further notice. Under the ban, campfires are prohibited along the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) in the following sections, but camp stoves are allowed.

The enactment of this burn ban means that, except for in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, campfires are not allowed along the A.T. from Georgia to the the Tennessee/Virginia state line (NOBO miles 0.0 to 167 and 239.4 to 467.3).

There are current burn bans in effect for Georgia and North Carolina. Reminder that there is already a five year burn ban in effect on the A.T. in the Roan Highlands, and areas damaged by Hurricane Helene are especially prone to wildfires due to storm debris.

A.T. hikers should always refrain from having campfires during times of high fire danger, regardless of whether an official burn ban is in place. High fire danger means periods of hot, dry, windy weather. Note that short periods of rain do not necessarily lower fire risk and fire danger does not begin/end at land management boundaries. There is elevated fire risk for the entire region.

Learn more about wildfire risk on the A.T. and safety when hiking through Helene-damaged areas.