Conservation + Land Management

PATC obtained its first property, the Bear Spring Cabin tract, in 1939 as the result of a gift from Harrison Krider. Since then the club has obtained other properties through gift or purchase, and is now a major conservation property owner in the Mid-Atlantic States. PATC currently owns 39 properties, totaling more than 2,000 acres. In addition to 39 major properties, the club also manages several leased properties and lands containing trail and scenic easements. PATC continues to prioritize conservation efforts through acquiring and preserving land, maintaining public lands, and educating the public.

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Natural Resource Monitors

The PATC Natural Resource advisor coordinates PATC's involvement in inventory and monitoring of natural resources along the trail, in conjunction with our land management partners

Pink flowers surrounded by green vegetation and brown vines, alongside a trail.

Corridor Monitors

PATC has responsibility for NPS corridor lands from Pine Grove Furnace State Park (Pennsylvania) to Rock Fish Gap (Virginia). The largest parts of the NPS corridor lands are in Virginia and West Virginia from the Potomac River to Shenandoah NP. The A.T. follows a narrow corridor of mostly publicly owned land as it makes it way from Maine to Georgia.

In 1978, the National Park Service (NPS) and Appalachian Trail Park Office (ATPO) began the task of purchasing the privately owned lands needed to provide a protected corridor for the trail. Responsibility for the corridor has been assigned to the Appalachian Trail Conference (ATC).

The ATC coordinates monitoring of state and federal lands within established forests and parks, but delegates monitoring of NPS lands to the local maintaining clubs.

Land Stewardship

PATC obtained its first property, the Bear Spring Cabin tract, in 1939 as the result of a gift from Harrison Krider. Since then, the club has obtained other properties through gift or purchase, and is now a major conservation property owner in the Mid-Atlantic States.

PATC currently owns 39 properties, totaling more than 2,000 acres. In addition to 39 major properties, the club also manages several leased properties and lands containing trail and scenic easements.

PATC acquires land based on 3 principles: to protect PATC-maintained trails, to protect the environment surrounding PATC trails, and to enhance recreational activities.

Once acquired, PATC properties are managed under the principles of conservation and environmental stewardship.

An empty trail with yellow leaves on the ground, green vegetation, and brown trees surround it.

A pink, yellow, and orange sunrise atop a mountainous valley.

Advocacy

In keeping with the club's objectives as outlined in our constitution, PATC works to further the preservation of land for open space, conservation and recreation, and to assist, advise and cooperate with land owners and governments to achieve those objectives.