The Appalachian Trail Conservancy and 29 of the 31 AT maintaining clubs in early April asked the federal government to close the entire Appalachian Trail until April 30 because of COVID-19.

The ATC delivered a letter on April 1 to the secretaries of the US Departments of Interior and Agriculture, the deputy director of the National Park Service, and the chief of the US Forest Service recommending that the trail be closed immediately, lasting until April 30. Trail managers would meet intermittently to determine whether it is safe to reopen the trail, the ATC said.

The letter cited “a growing risk of visitors spreading COVID-19 among other hikers, nearby communities and beyond.”

The federal departments did not act on the ATC’s request, but much of the trail from Georgia to Maine has been closed at trailheads and through state parks.

In Virginia, Shenandoah National Park announced on its website on April 8 that it was closing until further notice based on the recommendation of the Rappahannock Rapidan Health District of the Virginia Department of Health. The park posted on April 27 that it was still closed for all uses.

The park had already stopped all overnight backcountry camping effective on March 26.

Earlier the week of April 5 in Virginia, 27 miles of the AT known as the Triple Crown of Virginia were closed on National Park Service land between VA Route 624 (Newport Road) and VA Route 652 (Mountain Pass Road), which includes McAfee Knob and Tinker Cliffs. Access to Dragon’s Tooth, which is on US Forest Service-owned land, has already been closed.

New Jersey has reopened state parks and forests. The AT crosses Abram S. Hewitt State Forest, Wawayanda State Park, High Point State Park, Stokes State Forest, and Worthington State Forest.

The National Park Service already has closed all overnight shelters and privies on land administered by the Appalachian National Scenic Trail Park Office, effective immediately.



The shelters and privies are in Virginia (11 shelters, 12 privies), Maryland (one shelter, two privies), Pennsylvania (eight shelters, six privies), New Jersey (one shelter, one privy), New York (five shelters, five privies), Connecticut (seven shelters, 16 privies), Massachusetts (one shelter, four privies), and Maine (22 shelters, 29 privies).

The Park Service said in a statement here that closing shelters “will prevent trail users from congregating in close proximity to one another and encourage proper social distancing recommendations. Overnight trail users are encouraged to use a tent, and tent usage is authorized in the area surrounding the shelters. Closing of privies will prevent trail users from entering confined spaces where disease spreads without proper sanitation, and will discourage visitors from using facilities that do not meet cleanliness standards. With privies closed, hikers should dig a cat hole more than 200 feet from water sources and camping areas. The use of tents instead of shelters, and cat-holes for human waste disposal, is a reasonable mitigation to help protect our visitors.”

Also, Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests in North Carolina and Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee have shut down trailhead facilities and other access points to the Appalachian National Scenic Trail to prevent groups from congregating and to protect public health and safety.

The statement here said the following sites were affected:

Wayah Bald: Nantahala National Forest

Cheoah Bald: Nantahala National Forest

Hampton and Dennis Cove Trailheads (Laurel Falls): Cherokee National Forest

Osborne Farm: Cherokee National Forest

Max Patch: Cherokee and Pisgah National Forests

Roan Mountain/Carvers Gap: Cherokee and Pisgah National Forests

Lovers Leap: Pisgah National Forest

The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests temporarily shut down trailhead facilities and other access points to the Appalachian National Scenic Trail to prevent groups from congregating and to protect public health and safety. The Forest Service said dispersed camping and other activities that support social distancing and small groups are allowed.

In addition to Appalachian Trail-dedicated parking lots, the following sites are temporarily shut down:

Jennings Creek Trailhead

Petite’s Gap Trailhead

Long Mountain Wayside Trailhead

Mount Pleasant/Hog Camp Gap Trailhead

James River Footbridge Trailhead

Priest/Three Ridges Trailhead

Crabtree Meadows Trailhead

SR42 Trailhead at O’Lystery Pavilion

Walker Gap Trailhead

Burke’s Garden Trailhead (SR623)

SR615 Trailhead at Laurel Creek (Suiter)

SR52 Trailhead in Bastian

I-77 Trailhead in Bastian

Price Ridge Road Trailhead (Crandon)

SR606 Trailhead (near Trent’s Store)

Angel’s Rest Trailhead

Town of Pearisburg Trailhead

Big Stoney Creek Road Trailhead (Pine Swamp/Peters Mountain Wilderness)

Cherokee Flats Day-Use Area Trailhead

SR613 Trailhead at Wind Rock

War Spur Trailhead at Captain

SR42 Trailhead (Huffman)

SR621 Trailhead (Craig’s Creek)

Audie Murphy Trailhead

SR620 Trailhead (Craig’s Creek)

Dragon’s Tooth Trailhead

Andy Layne Trail Trailhead

Whitetop Mountain/Forest Road 89 Trailhead

Elk Garden Trailhead, SR600 crossing

Scales/Forest Road 613 Trailhead (Pine Mountain Road)

Forest Road 603 Trailhead Parking (near Fox Creek Horse Camp)

Hurricane Campground/Comers Creek Road Trailhead

Hwy 16 Trailhead at Forest Road 650

NRA Headquarters/Hwy 16 Crossing Trailhead

Davis Valley Trailhead, Davis Valley Rd

Tillson Crossing Trailhead, SR 610 Nebo Road

On March 27, Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in Georgia temporarily closed trailhead facilities and other access points to the AT and nearby trails to prevent groups from congregating and to protect public health and safety.

“We realize our communities and our visitors value the recreation opportunities the forest has to offer,” said Edward Hunter, Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests supervisor. “A lot of discussion and consideration went into this decision. The health and safety of our employees and the public remain our top priority.”

Trailheads include Dicks Creek Gap, Hogpen Gap, Neel Gap, Springer Mountain, Tesnatee Gap, Unicoi Gap, and Woody Gap

Trails include Andrews Cove Trail, Benton MacKaye Trail (Springer Mountain to Falls Branch Falls section), Byron Herbert Reece Memorial Trail, Dukes Creek Falls Trails, Duncan Ridge Trail, Dockery Lake Trail, Freeman Trail, Jacks Knob Trail, Jarrard Gap Trail, Logan Turnpike Trail, Long Creek Falls Trail, Panther Creek Falls Trail, Slaughter Creek Trail, Springer Mountain Trail, Raven Cliffs Falls Trail, and Yonah Mountain Trail.

The Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia said it would enforce the closure by towing cars parked on roadsides, with emphasis on Neel and Woody Gaps.

Graham County, North Carolina, at the southern border of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, has closed roads at the county’s borders to nonresidents and banned access to the county for all nonresidents. Nonresidents will need to apply for permits to drive on roads through the county.

The county posted on Facebook the ATC’s request for hikers to get off the AT.

North Carolina issued stay-at-home orders until May 8, telling people to stay at their residence and limit social interactions and travel to essential activities. Macon County, which includes the town of Franklin, a major AT resupply point, has closed all lodging. Restaurants and bars are restricted to takeout service.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection said the Pochuck Boardwalk on the Appalachian Trail in Vernon, a 1-mile section off Route 517 in Glenwood, is closed. The trail’s boardwalk and bridge are too narrow for visitors to maintain the required six feet of social distancing. There is no parking allowed on Route 517 adjacent to the boardwalk. The remaining 19 miles of the Appalachian Trail in Wawayanda State Park remain open. The Appalachian Trail and other trails can still be accessed from other parking lots in Wawayanda State Park.

The ATC has created a list of closings along the Appalachian Trail that can be found here.

Maryland and New Jersey closed shelters on the Appalachian Trail, three days after the ATC asked hikers to stay off the trail because of the coronavirus.



And the iconic Trail Days celebration in Damascus, Virginia, has been canceled for this year.

The Maryland Park Service closed shelters and camping areas along the AT through May 11, but warned that the closure could be extended.

In Pennsylvania, AT shelters on DCNR Bureau of Forestry lands are closed until further notice: Deer Lick Shelter, Tumbling Run Shelter, Rocky Mountain Shelter, Quarry Gap Shelter, Birch Run Shelter, Toms Run Shelter, James Fry at Tagg Run, Eagles Nest Shelter, Leroy Smith Shelter, Kirkridge Shelter.

New Jersey also closed shelters and privies on the AT until further notice. Overnight camping is discouraged, but still allowed around shelters. Camping in areas other than those designated by signs is also prohibited; campfires are also prohibited.

The trail remains open in both states.

The town of Damascus said it was canceling Trail Days, scheduled for May 15-17 this year, on the advice of the Virginia Department of Health, with the support of the ATC and the Appalachian Long Distance Hiking Association.

Massachusetts has also temporarily closed AT shelters, campsites, and privies on Massachusetts Forest and Park lands. Camping is also prohibited outside of these areas along the AT in Massachusetts.

The ATC sent out a notice on March 17 asking 2020 Appalachian Trail thru-hikers to postpone their section hikes and thru-hikes due to the spread of COVID-19. Hikers on the trail have been asked to leave.

The habits of thru-hikers—including congregating at shelters, around picnic tables, shuttling in vans, or staying in hostels—goes against the “social distancing” measures recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The ATC states that they “do not make this request lightly,” and they are aware of the time and investment that goes into a thru-hike.

The ATC also said in a update on March 19 that all ridgerunners and caretakers have been recalled from the trail until further notice, and that ATC visitors centers have been closed.

If hikers insist on continuing their hikes, the ATC has a suggested protocol they are asking hikers to consider, including:

—Not starting hikes at the southern end of the trail, including Amicalola and Springer.

—Have enough financial stability to potentially self-quarantine for 14 days if necessary.

—Understand that their hike will have reduced on-trail and localized support, and to be prepared to handle that.

—Avoid congregating at shelters and high-traffic areas.

—Take note of small and vulnerable communities with fewer healthcare resources.

Keep up with the latest developments from the trail by subscribing to The Trek’s weekly newsletter.

Read the full letter below, and view the ATC’s COVID-19 page here.

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Lead image via Pixabay.