Back To Nature On The Appalachian Trail

Get off the asphalt and see the night sky on the Appalachian Trail.  Sound comforting, right?  Visit the Appalachian Trail to experience the views with little distractions.  Become apart of nature and leave the worries of everyday life behind. 

For over 75 years, the Appalachian Trail has sketched across Maine to Georgia (14 states).  That makes the Appalachian Trail over 2,178 some odd miles long.  The Appalachian Trail crosses over some of the oldest mountains in North America. 

The Appalachian Trail was the dream of Benton MacKaye back in 1921.  By 1937, Benton MacKaye's dream was realized by the completion of the Appalachian Trail.  Today over 6,000 volunteers help to keep the Appalachian Trail operational.  These volunteers donate over 200,000 volunteer hours each year. 

• 1921 Benton MacKaye wrote "An Appalachian Trail: A Project In Regional Planning"
• 1922 A committee was formed - Appalachian Trail Committee of Washington
• 1925 The first established conference was held
• 1931 The first ATC Chairman was elected - Judge Arthur Perkins
• 1937 The Appalachian Trail was completed
• 1968 A new law protecting the Appalachian Trail - National Trails System Act
• 1972 Appalachian Trail headquarters relocated from Washington to West Virginia
• 1978 There was an amendment to the National Trails System Act