Appalachian Trail Conservation Banner Brent McGuirt

A Strong Future

As guardians of the Appalachian Trail, our goal is to ensure it will be enjoyed for centuries to come.

Protection and Stewardship Icon

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 flywayand 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.

LEARN ABOUT OUR ADVOCACY WORK 

All posts

New House Bill Could Allow Mountain Bikes in A.T. Wilderness Areas

by Appalachian Trail Conservancy | Dec 15, 2017
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Updated 1/21/18</strong></p> <p style="text-align: left;">A federal piece of legislation &mdash; H.R. 1349 &mdash; could soon be considered by House congressional members. The bill proposes to open designated Wilderness Areas to mountain bikes and other forms of mechanical transport, breaking dramatically from the legislation passed as part of the Wilderness Act.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is strongly opposed to this bill because of its potential conflict with the purpose of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) as a world-premiere, footpath-only recreation experience. Bikes in the 25 Wilderness Areas along the Trail could drastically impact the hiking experience, as well as create significant additional work for our volunteers who maintain the upkeep of the A.T.'s treadway.</p> <br /> <h3 style="text-align: left;"> Why does the ATC object?</h3> <ul style="list-style-type:disc; padding-left: 20px;"> <li style="text-align: left;">When Congress established the National Trails System Act nearly 50 years ago, the A.T. was designated solely for foot-travel to preserve and honor the pleasures of walking. That distinction has been significant in the A.T.&rsquo;s appeal to travelers from around the world and the overall experience more than three million people enjoyed last year.</li> <li style="text-align: left;">How the A.T. might be affected by H.R. 1349 is of grave concern and puts the overall A.T. experience at risk. Could allowances for mountain bikes in Wilderness Areas overrule the vision and congressional intent to keep the A.T. open only for foot travel? Could some sections of the A.T. be required to allow bikes? And if so, what kind of management challenges would that pose? If passed, court challenges are anticipated to sort out these and many other questions.&nbsp;</li> <li style="text-align: left;">Click <strong><a href="http://www.appalachiantrail.org/docs/default-source/advocacy-documents/hr-1349/1-10-18_appalachian_trail_conservancy_position_statement_re_hr_1349.pdf?sfvrsn=b0428ba0_2" target="_blank">HERE</a></strong> to learn more about ATC&rsquo;s position.</li> </ul> <br /> <h3 style="text-align: left;">What about mountain bikes on trails?</h3> <p style=":text-align:;">While bicycles are incompatible with the nature and purposes of the Appalachian Trail and the Wilderness Act, ATC supports mountain biking and other sustainable forms of outdoor recreation on America&rsquo;s public lands, but not in federally designated Wilderness Areas.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">We work collaboratively with groups like the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) in defining new trail choices. Notably, IMBA does not support bikes in Wilderness Areas. Read IMBA's testimony <strong><a href="http://www.appalachiantrail.org/docs/default-source/advocacy-documents/hr-1349/hr-1349-press-release---international-mountain-biking-association.pdf " target="_blank">HERE</a></strong>.</p> <br /> <h3 style="text-align: left;">What can you do?</h3> <ul style="list-style-type:disc; padding-left: 20px;"> <li style="text-align: left;"><strong>Contact members of the House of Representatives and tell them to vote "No" on HR-1349.</strong> Click <strong><a href="https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative" target="_blank">HERE</a></strong> to find contact information for your Congressional Representative.</li> <li style="text-align: left;">For a sample letter on this issue you can email to your representative, click one of the following links:</li> <ul style="list-style-type: circle; padding-left: 20px;"> <li style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.appalachiantrail.org/docs/default-source/advocacy-documents/hr-1349/sample-letter-opposing-hr-1349.docx?sfvrsn=eaa38ba0_2" target="_blank">Microsoft Word Document (EDITABLE)</a></li> <li style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.appalachiantrail.org/docs/default-source/advocacy-documents/hr-1349/sample-letter-opposing-hr-1349976de56668ce6efcb07bff000057c13a.pdf?sfvrsn=6a38ba0_2" target="_blank">PDF Document (NOT EDITABLE &mdash; Copy and paste the text into a separate writing program)</a></li> </ul> <li style="text-align: left;"><strong><a href="http://appalachiantrail.org/DONATE" target="_blank">Support ATC with a donation.</a></strong> We will use your gift to fight against passage of this bill and to further our ongoing mission to protect the Appalachian Trail.</li> </ul> <br /> <h1 class="homeheader" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><a class=" btn outlineBlue" href="https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative" target="_blank" style="font-size: 18px;">CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE</a></span> <span style="font-size: 18px;"><a class=" btn outlineOrange" href="http://appalachiantrail.org/DONATE" target="_blank" style="font-size: 18px;">MAKE A DONATION</a></span></h1> <br /> <h3 style="text-align: left;">H.R. 1349 In the News</h3> <ul style="list-style-type:disc; padding-left: 20px;"> <li style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://durangoherald.com/articles/204592-wilderness-legislation-in-congress-presses-for-a-fundamental-change-in-the-rules" target="_blank">Jan. 20 - "Wilderness: Legislation in Congress presses for a fundamental change in the rules" The Durango Herald</a></li> <li style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://gazette.com/wilderness-act-amendment-stirs-controversy-among-mountain-bikers-conservationists/article/1618580" target="_blank">Jan. 7 - "Should mountain bikers be allowed on Wilderness land?" - The&nbsp;Gazette</a></li> <li style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://beta.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-mountain-bikes-wilderness-20180103-story.html" target="_blank">Jan. 3 - "Keep mountain bikes out of wilderness areas" - Los Angeles Times</a></li> <li style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.startribune.com/counterpoint-keep-mountain-bikes-out-of-the-wilderness/466869863/" target="_blank">Dec. 27 - </a><a href="http://www.startribune.com/counterpoint-keep-mountain-bikes-out-of-the-wilderness/466869863/" target="_blank">"Counterpoint: Keep mountain bikes out of the wilderness" - Star Tribune</a></li> <li style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/local-news/12283-op-ed-bikes-in-wilderness-bill-advances-on-falsehoods-and-distortions-by-kevin-proescholdt-wilderness-watch" target="_blank">Dec. 23 - "Op-Ed: Bikes-in-Wilderness Bill Advances on Falsehoods and Distortions" - Sierra Sun Times</a></li> <li style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://durangoherald.com/articles/200735-us-house-panel-passes-bill-to-allow-mountain-biking-in-wilderness-areas" target="_blank">Dec. 22 - "U.S. House panel passes bill to allow mountain biking in wilderness areas" - The Durango Herald</a></li> <li style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/news/environmental/cheney-keep-bikes-off-wilderness-lands/article_2639cb2f-7fed-5d7d-9e06-7056ca5a4496.html" target="_blank">Dec. 20 - "Cheney: Keep bikes off wilderness lands" - Jackson Hole News &amp; Guide</a></li> <li style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-mountain-bike-trail-republicans-20171219-story.html" target="_blank">Dec. 19 - "GOP lures some mountain bike groups in its push to roll back protections for public land" - Los Angeles Times</a></li> <li style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.aspendailynews.com/news/bill-to-allow-mountain-bikes-into-wilderness-areas-takes-next/article_82b9b83e-e3aa-11e7-8aa9-233611a7c5c8.html" target="_blank">Dec. 18 - "Bill to allow mountain bikes into wilderness areas takes next step" - Aspen Daily News</a></li> <li style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://the-journal.com/articles/78336" target="_blank">Dec. 18 - "Bill would allow mountain biking in wilderness areas" - The Journal</a></li> <li style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/363779-americas-wilderness-is-no-place-for-motorized-mountain-bikes" target="_blank">Dec. 7 - "America's wilderness is no place for mountain bikes" - The Hill</a></li> </ul>
Show oldest on top

11 comments

Leave a comment
  1. Tammy Vitale | Mar 27, 2018

    There should be no questions about how one does the trail? A trail has a beginning and an end, and it starts with one foot walking and ends with the other.

  2. george | Jan 24, 2018
    Geez, I'm considering thru-hiking and the idea of negotiating with bikers kinda defeats any consideration. Already sent my email to my rep. 
  3. Thomas | Jan 11, 2018

    You all need to look at the bigger picture and not just the AT. The is about wilderness areas and they should stay wildernees areas. I’m in the southwestern US and there are alot of good hiking trials the bouy scouts use for backpacking. Some of the best are within wilderness areas.  They should stay the way they are.  Let they go to a forets instead.  This is the first step in losing these wilderness areas, by allowing this exception or that.  I say lets stay off this slippery slope of he politicians and say no!

  4. Claire Danielson | Dec 18, 2017

    Evidently, this is who we all need to write in addition to our own congressmen:

    https://naturalresources.house.gov/contact/


  5. Claire Danielson | Dec 18, 2017

    This is the note back from my congressman. I am ANGRY. 

    December 18, 2017Ms. Claire Danielson34 Diana DrBlack Mountain, NC 28711-9447Dear Ms. Danielson:Thank you for contacting my office regarding H.R. 1349.  I appreciate having the benefit of your thoughts.On March 2, 2017, Representative Tom McClintock (R-CA) introduced H.R. 1349 to amend the Wilderness Act to ensure the use of bicycles, wheelchairs, game carts, and strollers is allowed in wilderness areas.  H.R. 1349 has been referred to the House Natural Resources Committee, where it awaits action.  While I do not sit on this committee, please know that I will keep your thoughts in mind should this legislation come to the House floor for a vote.Thank you again for contacting my office.  It is an honor to serve as your United States Congressman.  Your suggestions are always welcome, and if ever I may be of assistance, please do not hesitate to call me.Sincerely, Patrick T. McHenryMember of Congress

     A perfect example of lumping things together in a bill. Wheelchairs in wilderness areas? No problem. Strollers in wilderness areas? No problem. GAME CARTS? For God's sake. Let's all go hiking on the AT and stand aside while a hunter hauls a carcass on by (I think this is what this bill is REALLY about). And bicycles? Well, mountain bikers have their designated trails, and plenty of them. Wilderness areas that have been designated by the Wilderness Act for foot traffic only DO NOT need to be opened up to mountain bikers. Great sport, but can you imagine one zooming by you while you hike the AT. AND talk about tearing up trails. Argh.

  6. Robert Moss | Dec 17, 2017

    email sent to interested parties:

    While HR 1349 is indeed an evil attempt to contaminate our wilderness areas with an inappropriate use, and I have emailed Payne instructing him to oppose the bill, the ATC is panicking---or worse yet, using scare tactics to raise funds.

    HR 1349 would modify 16 U.S.C. §1133(c), which lists prohibited uses and activities in designated Wilderness Areas, including any "form of mechanical transport". This is currently interpreted to mean bicycles. HR 1349 would add, “Nothing in this section shall prohibit the use of motorized wheelchairs, non-motorized wheelchairs, non-motorized bicycles, strollers, wheelbarrows, survey wheels, measuring wheels, or game carts within any wilderness area.” That would change subsection (c) to not prohibit bicycles in Wilderness Areas, generally.

    However, lack of a prohibition in this general provision does not override use restrictions specifically applying to the AT, permitted uses on which are regulated under a separate statute and implementing regulations. Subsection (c) would have to read  positively, "Bicycles are permitted in Wilderness Areas, any existing law to the contrary notwithstanding," in order to override the provisions specific to the AT.

     Who's behind this is a puzzling question. IMBA formerly tried to get subsection (c) changed to allow bicycles. It seems they are now singing a different tune. It may be that their opposition, combined with hiker opposition, will stop this proposal with respect to Wilderness Areas generally.
  7. Shane | Dec 17, 2017
    Are bikes currently allowed on any parts of th AT that don't reside in wilderness area?
  8. Paul | Dec 17, 2017
    Mountain bikes will not be allowed on the AT with the passing of this bill. The AT is a footpath. The AT has a governing body. HR 1349 allows that governing body to its job. It removes the blanket ban on a national level. There is no nationwide ban on horses, but, they are not allowed on the AT. Same thing. If this bill passes, I will help advocate for more wilderness. As it sits, I do not and will not help put an acre of land into wilderness. Thanks for taking care of a great trail.
  9. brett | Dec 17, 2017
    Keep up the fight!!!!!!
  10. Rich | Dec 15, 2017

    "Hikers would lose the quiet and contemplative nature of the Trail".....

    Unlike people with their friggin' stereos, tablets, cell phones, dogs.......

    And NO, I do not support bicycles on the AT.

  11. Erma Lewis | Dec 15, 2017
    No bikes.  Let's keep the trails safe and quiet.

    Leave a comment

    ​land protection

    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.

    LEARN ABOUT OUR LAND PROTECTION EFFORTS

    Boundary Corridor Lands by Brent McQuirt Appalachian Trail Conservancy 

    ​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.

    FIND OUT MORE

    Natural and Cultural Resource Management Appalachian Trail Conservancy 

    ​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.

    FIND OUT MORE

    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.

    LEARN ABOUT OUR MANAGEMENT EFFORTS


    Appalachian Trail Crew Flexing Muscles

    ​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.

    LEARN MORE

    RidgeRunners and Caretakers by Laurie Potteiger

    ​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.

    LEARN MORE

    Trail Management Policies AT Boundary Marker by Vincent Juarez

    ​Trail Management Policies

    If you're an A.T. manager, here are links to Trail policies, planning guidance, and other volunteer management resources.

    LEARN MORE

    AT Community Program Logo

    the appalachian trail community™ program

    The Appalachian Trail Community™ program is designed to recognize communities that promote and protect the Appalachian Trail (A.T.).  Towns, counties, and communities along the A.T.’s corridor are considered assets by all that use the A.T. and many of these towns act as good friends and neighbors to the Trail. The program serves to assist communities with sustainable economic development through tourism and outdoor recreation, while preserving and protecting the A.T.

    LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAM

    Youth and Community Engagement Appalachian Trail Conservancy

    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.

    LEARN MORE