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Essential A.T. Campsite Maintenance
Use of the A.T. for camping has been steadily increasing in recent years. In some areas, this has resulted in more campers than campsites.
By Morgan Sommerville
Map of A.T. Campsites
Essential A.T. Campsite Maintenance
Use of the A.T. for camping has been steadily increasing in recent years. In some areas, this has resulted in more campers than campsites.
By Morgan Sommerville
Recreation ecologists Drs. Jeff Marion and Jeremy Wimpey, in preparation of their study: “Sustainable Camping–Best Management Practices,” have documented the increase in campsite numbers and size along the A.T. in Georgia and North Carolina, due mainly to increasing numbers of northbound (NOBO) thru-hikers.
Keep Impact Low
A.T. maintainers want A.T. campers to help eliminate camping impact by using existing campsites (and thus reducing maintenance). The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and our A.T. management partners are working hard to educate A.T. campers about how to identify a good campsite, but two of the most important factors to assure use of an established or designated campsite are that it be well designed, and most importantly, well maintained for tenting by A.T. volunteer maintainers.

Like all A.T. work, campsite maintenance parameters need to be determined in collaboration with our agency partners. The scope of routine campsite maintenance activities that can be done at any time without additional prior approval should be agreed to, as should the types of campsite work that will need additional agency approval. An example of work that needs further approval is digging in rocks in areas where camping is undesirable.

A “Good” Campsite
Maintainers can attract campers by providing “good” tent sites that are smooth, well drained, and are well delineated so campers can find them. If a campsite contains “bad” previously-used tent sites that are undesirable or unnecessary for camping from a management perspective (e.g. too close to water or the A.T.), then, conversely, the “bad” tent sites should not be appealing to hikers. A good tent site should be at least 12 by 16 feet, 70 or more paces away from water and, ideally, out of sight of the A.T. To quote the A.T. Field Book: “Sites should be readily accessible from the Trail, but be sufficiently distant…to completely separate campers from A.T. hikers not interested in stopping.”
Tips for Maintainers
Before camping season begins, maintainers are encouraged to provide a smooth tent pad by raking and removing small stones, sticks or roots, then recovering with leaf litter. Well-drained sites should be on gently sloping terrain; if grading is required to achieve good drainage or a flat site this should be planned in cooperation with an agency partner. Delineation can be achieved by bordering the tent site with fallen logs or loose rocks, which can also be useful amenities for campers (e.g. a log big enough for sitting, or a flat rock big enough for cooking). Maintainers can get rid of “bad” tent sites by disguising them with fallen logs and brush so they blend into their surroundings and the “good” tent sites stand out. It is also recommended to brush in access trails to “bad” tent sites. Just like Trail maintenance, campsite maintenance is essential to providing an excellent A.T. experience.
The Appalachian Trail Field Book is available to purchase at: appalachiantrail.org/Fieldbook
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