Appalachian National Scenic Trail (U.S. National Park Service)

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Appalachian National Scenic Trail

The Appalachian Trail is a 2,175-mile long public footpath. Conceived in 1921 and completed in 1937, private citizens built the trail and thousands like you each year volunteer to maintain its footprint. From Maine’s Mount Katahdin and Georgia’s Springer Mountain, this footpath traverses scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild and culturally resonant lands through 14 of the eastern United States.

		Exploring the Appalachian Trail The A.T. is a hiking trail, enjoyed by an estimated 4 million people each year. It is within a day's drive of 2/3rds of the U.S. population. People of all ages and abilities enjoy short walks, day hikes, and long-distance backpacking journeys. It offers a variety of opportunities for viewing spectacular scenery, for exploring, for adventure, for exercise, for nature study, and for renewal.

		Managing the Trail The A.T. is managed cooperatively by the National Park Service, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), volunteers from 30 local A.T. Clubs, the USDA Forest Service, and other public land-managing agencies. Within this partnership, thousands of volunteers do much of the work each year to keep the Trail open for all to enjoy. The Trail is on more than 75 different federal and state forests and park lands.

		Celebrating Trail Partnerships The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is the volunteer-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and management of the A.T. and its associated lands - a 250,000 acre greenway from Katahdin to Springer Mountain. ATC is the primary source of information about the A.T. Visit them at www.appalachiantrail.org.

Write to

Appalachian National Scenic Trail
P.O. Box 50
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425

Fax

(304) 535-6270

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