PERMITS AND RESERVATIONS:
WHERE ARE THEY NEEDED AND HOW TO GET THEM
Most places you hike along the A.T. require no special permission. You just get up and go. However, there are a few places where you need permission before hiking overnight. Permits are needed only within the National Park System, and in the case of the Appalachian Trail, in the Smokies and the Shenandoah. The heavy use of the A.T. in these areas has created a need to limit the number of hikers staying overnight in the parks. The permits are free and are used only to control the number of campers. Shelters in heavy-use areas—White Mountain National Forest (New Hampshire), Green Mountain National Forest (Vermont), and Baxter State Park (Maine)—often require a registration and/or fees.
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK (GSMNP)
A backcountry permit is required for all people spending the night in the park’s backcountry, including the A.T. or its side trails. Backcountry permits may be obtained by mail or in person at all park campgrounds, ranger stations, and visitor centers.
Additionally, unless you are an A.T. thru-hiker, you must also reserve in advance a space in a specific shelter through the Park’s Backcountry Reservations Office; call (865) 436-1231, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or log on to www.gsmnp.com. Have your itinerary planned before you call. If, however, you are headed to the park to enjoy some day hikes, you may want to stay overnight in one of the park’s many campsites. You may reserve these sites online at http://reservations.nps.gov or by phone at (800) 365-2267 (using the park code GRE).
In the Great Smokies, the term “thru-hiker” is defined as follows: A person who is hiking the entire length of the Appalachian Trail in a single trip; or a person who begins a hiking trip on the A.T. at least 50 miles outside the park, hikes the A.T. through the Smokies, and finishes the trip at least 50 miles outside the opposite boundary of the park. Thru-hikers are required to obtain a backcountry permit that allows seven consecutive nights and eight days to traverse the Trail, but are exempt from the reservation system. Because of the large number of northbound thru-hikers who enter the park between April 1 and June 15, three bunk spaces at each A.T. shelter are reserved for them during this time.
No more than one night may be spent at any one shelter. If a shelter you select for a night’s stay has bunk space available, you must use it. However, if the shelter is full, a thru-hiker may set up camp within 50 feet of the shelter’s front. No other tent camping is permitted on the A.T. in the Smokies.
During the spring thru-hiking season, it is quite likely that shelters will be overcrowded with thru-hikers, with numbers far exceeding the three spaces allotted at each shelter. If you encounter this situation, please be considerate of the other backpackers who may have reservations for the shelter, recognize their legitimate claim to their bunk space, and set up camp outside.
Northbound thru-hikers can obtain backcountry permits at the self-registration station at the Fontana Dam A.T. Shelter. Northbound thru-hikers cannot obtain permits by mail for travel between April 1 and June 15.
Southbound thru-hikers can obtain backcountry permits at the self-registration station near Big Creek Ranger Station or from the U.S. Forest Service office in Hot Springs, North Carolina, 33 miles north of Davenport Gap. Southbound hikers may also obtain permits by mail, regardless of when you plan to hike through the park. Getting caught by a ranger without a permit results in a fine (currently $125).
Reservations can be made in advance by calling (865) 436-1231 for permits; for trip planning information, call (865) 436-1297. If you have questions or require additional information, contact:
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(865) 436-1200 (visitor information recorded message)
SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK (SNP)
A permit is required for backcountry visitors in the park. Permits are available at park headquarters, all entrance stations, all campgrounds, all visitor centers, and at self-registration stations at either ends of the park: on the southern end at the park entrance on Skyline Drive, and on the northern end at 0.1 mile south of the park boundary sign.
Northbound thru-hikers can obtain backcountry permits at the self-registration station at the park entrance on Skyline Drive, accessible from the A.T. via a blue-blazed side trail 0.8 miles north of Rockfish Gap. Southbound thru-hikers can obtain backcountry permits at the self-registration station at Chester Gap, 0.1 mile south of the sign marking the park’s northern boundary.
There is no charge for hikers entering the park via the Appalachian Trail. However, there is a $5 fee charged at some other trailheads, and a $10 per vehicle fee for entering via Skyline Drive. Permits are available only between the hours of sunrise and one hour before sunset. Permits may also be obtained by writing to the park superintendent (see below).
Huts (overnight shelters) are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Long-distance hikers may tent near huts at designated sites if the huts are full. Campsites have been created and established by prior visitor use and are not posted or signed. You must camp at least 20 yards from a park trail or an unpaved fire road.
If you cannot locate a pre-existing campsite, you may camp on a previously undisturbed area. Please use “pristine site camping” practices to minimize the impact of your campsite. Limit your stay to one night and camp well out of sight of trails, roads, and camping groups. Otherwise, “pre-existing campsite” regulations apply.
Some campsites are park-constructed and posted to concentrate backcountry camping at specific high-use sites. Presently, designated campsites are provided only at Appalachian Trail huts to accommodate overflow camping.
Camping is allowed in park-constructed, designated campsites located at Appalachian Trail huts. Camping is also permitted in specific backcountry facilities. The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) maintains a system of backcountry huts and cabins in Shenandoah National Park. Huts are three-sided structures located along the Appalachian Trail and operated by PATC for use by long-term hikers. Backcountry camping permits are required for camping in huts, and all park backcountry camping regulations apply. Permits are not required for cabins, which can be reserved in advance from PATC.
If you have questions or require additional information, contact:
SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK
3655 Highway 211 East
Luray, VA 22835
(540) 999-3500 (general information)
within ten yards of a stream or other natural water source;
within 50 yards of standing building ruins, including stone foundations, chimneys, and log walls. The parkland has a rich cultural history; camping in the area of former homesites impacts the preservation of those resources;
within 50 yards of another camping party or “no camping” post or sign or within a quarter mile of a paved road, park boundary, or park facility such as a campground, picnic area, visitor center, lodge, wayside, or restaurant;
within 100 yards of a hut, cabin, or day-use shelter except when otherwise designated.
GREEN MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST (VERMONT)
The Green Mountain Club (GMC) caretaker program is in effect throughout the hiking season, from early May through early November. A.T. hikers may find GMC caretakers at several sensitive, high-use overnight sites along the Trail. Through informal conversation and example, the caretakers educate hikers about “Leave No Trace”™ practices and perform Trail and shelter maintenance. A modest overnight fee is charged within a half mile of caretaker sites: $6 for nonmembers (reduced for GMC members), except at shelters on national forest land, where the discount is not allowed (fees subject to change). The shelter fees defray the cost of the GMC field programs and are used for Trail and shelter maintenance along the entire A.T. in Vermont, not just the fee sites.
As part of an effort to protect Vermont’s alpine areas and fragile summits, the GMC also fields summit caretakers—on Stratton Mountain, Killington Peak, and Pico Peak. These caretakers talk with hikers about the fragile summit ecosystems, enforce camping and fire regulations, and provide first aid and assistance. At GMC pond sites—Stratton Pond, Griffith Lake, and Little Rock Pond along the A.T. in Vermont—a fee is charged for anyone camping within one-half mile of the body of water and campsite.
All shelters and campsites are available on a first-come basis. While dispersed camping is an option on national forest land in some areas of this section, hikers are encouraged to use backcountry facilities in order to lessen their impact on the Trail’s environment.
Caretakers can be found, in season, at the following campsites:
Griffith Lake Tenting Area
Little Rock Pond Campsite
Little Rock Pond Shelter
Lost Pond Shelter
Lula Tye Shelter
North Shore Tenting Area
Peru Peak Shelter
Stratton Pond Shelter and Tentsites
A Green Mountain Club ridgerunner may be present at shelter sites along the Coolidge Range although a fee is not charged. Ridgerunners are present in some areas to protect the environment. They are there to make sure you are camping legally. For example, if you show up with a group of 20, they will make sure that you follow “Leave No Trace”™ rules. Sites with ridgerunners are:
Churchhill Scott Shelter
Clarendon Shelter
Cooper Lodge
Governor Clement Shelter
Minerva Hinchey Shelter
Pico Camp (still available to hikers although no longer on the A.T. due to a relocation)
Fees and regulations are subject to change. If you have questions or require additional information, contact:
GREEN MOUNTAIN CLUB
4711 Waterbury-Stowe Road
Waterbury Center, VT 05677
(802) 244-7037
GREEN MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST
231 North Main Street
Rutland, VT 05701
(802) 747-6700
WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST (NEW HAMPSHIRE)
In recent years, use of backcountry trails and facilities in the White Mountains has increased dramatically. Soil erosion, loss of vegetation, water pollution, and disposal of human waste have become major problems, necessitating tougher regulations to lessen the impact from camping and hiking.
To prevent harming the forest’s fragile ecosystems and to allow damaged areas to rehabilitate, the United States Forest Service has designated parts of the White Mountains as forest protection areas (FPAs). Camping and fires are restricted in FPAs; no camping is allowed above the treeline (where trees are at least eight feet tall); no camping is allowed within 200 feet of the Trail; and no camping is allowed within a quarter mile of any hut, shelter, or tentsite, except at the facility itself.
The A.T. passes through three state parks within the White Mountain National Forest: Franconia Notch State Park, Crawford Notch State Park, and the summit of Mount Washington. In these state parks, camping is permitted only in designated campgrounds, huts, or shelters. Camping is not permitted on Mount Washington’s summit.
AMC TENTSITES, SHELTER, AND CAMPSITES
In the Whites, AMC maintains tentsites, shelters, campsites in addition to huts (see below), which are available on a first-come basis. Thru-hikers who wish to stay at any of AMC’s facilities as paying guests will be offered the reduced club-member rate. Tentsites have designated tenting areas and platforms or pads and shelters are three- or four-sided structures. Campsites have tenting areas and a shelter.
Caretakers are in residence at the following tentsites, shelters, and campsites, and an $8 overnight fee is charged. All are located in New Hampshire:
Ethan Pond Campsite
Garfield Ridge Campsite
Guyot Campsite
Imp Campsite
Kinsman Pond Campsite
Liberty Spring Tentsite
Nauman Tentsite
Speck Pond Campsite
13 Falls Tentsite
The remaining tentsites, shelters, and campsites are available to backcountry travelers at no charge.
Lakes of the Clouds hut in New Hampshire
AMC HUTS
These large, enclosed structures sleep from 36 to 90 people and provide various amenities during the full-service season (from the first Friday in June to September or October, depending on the hut) and are closed the rest of the year. (Exceptions include Carter Notch and Crawford, which are self-service year-round, and Zealand, which is self-service October through May. These huts have only a caretaker, with lower rates for self-service stays.) A crew staffs the facilities during the full-service season. The overnight rate is $75 (for a non-AMC member adult), and includes bunk space, pillow, blanket, rest-room privileges (no showers), and potable water. Thru-hikers staying as paying guests will be offered the club’s 10-percent member discount whether they are members or not. If you plan to stay three consecutive nights, there is a package rate of $53 per night. A one-night stay for thru-hikers at Lonesome Lake Hut is also $50 per night. Caretaker rates at any of the facilities is $20. Each hut has trained wilderness EMTs and First Responders, and the facilities crew gives natural- and cultural-history evening programs. The huts also contain excellent libraries and displays of cultural and natural history.
If you plan to pay for a stay in one of the huts, make reservations, (603) 466-2727, especially on the weekends, when bunk spaces fill quickly. The huts cater mainly to families and weekend hikers. AMC recently had wells drilled at all the huts, so you can look forward to water that meets state health standards.
Thru-hikers can sometimes arrange with the crew to work off their stays. Most huts can accommodate one or two working thru-hikers each night, but availability of work is never guaranteed. This work exchange is on a first-come basis. Work varies, but you can expect to put in two to four hours in the morning. Lakes of the Clouds Hut takes up to four thru-hikers.
During the self-service season, guests must bring their own sleeping bags, and hikers have access to the kitchen and cookware to prepare meals. The self-service rates start at $23 for members, $25 for nonmembers.
For current information on this area, contact:
WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST
Forest Supervisor
P.O. Box 638
Laconia, NH 03246
(603) 528-8721
APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB
Pinkham Notch Visitors Center
Route 16
P.O. Box 298
Gorham, NH 03581
(603) 466-2721 (general information)
(603) 466-2727 (hut reservations, 9 a.m. –5 p.m., Monday–Saturday)
BAXTER STATE PARK (MAINE)
Baxter State Park (where Katahdin is located) was designed to value resource preservation over recreation. Most of its rules and policies stem from either that philosophy or the weather. Unlike the surrounding landscape below, Katahdin is exposed to extreme weather, including high winds and is capable of receiving snow every month of the year. There are no shelters located above treeline and all trails to the summit are completely exposed. On humid, late-summer days, it is wise to start down from the mountain by 1 p.m. to avoid electrical storms.
The park is open for general use from May 15 to October 15. From October 15 to December 1, and from April 1 to May 15, the park is open for day use. From December 1 to April 1, camping, climbing, and mountain hiking are allowed only by special-use permit, for which application must be made to Park Headquarters in Millinocket at least two weeks in advance.
Fees are charged for the use of all shelters and tent space. Camping is permitted only in authorized campgrounds. All persons entering or leaving the park by way of the A.T. no longer register at the Daicey Pond Campground. There is now a kiosk a mile north of Abol Bridge.
Long-distance hikers planning to stay in Baxter State Park should be aware of the following:
UNTIL OCTOBER 15: The park’s site for distance hikers is “The Birches” near Katahdin Stream Campground. Thru-hikers without reservations may stay at this site (limited to one-night stay), which has a maximum capacity of 12 (two four-person lean-tos and one tent platform; park-wide fee applies.) If there is no room at the Birches, you may stay at Katahdin Stream Campground, which has no thru-hiker designated sites, but you may check with any ranger for availability of a regular public site (at regular fee). Availability is least likely in August and on fall weekends, most likely mid-week after Labor Day.
AFTER OCTOBER 15: There is no overnight camping anywhere within the park so you will need to camp at the private Abol Bridge Campground or the Abol Pines Campsite just downriver of Abol Bridge. Both sites charge fees. There are no other options for authorized overnight camping near the Trail after October 15. Your hike to the summit is thus 15 miles (one way) from this area outside the park. Most late hikers stay in a motel in Millinocket instead, and hire a taxi to shuttle them in and out of the park on the day of their hike.
No special permission is required for day use below tree line. However, in the interest of public safety, the park strongly discourages people from traveling alone in the winter, and a party size of at least two is strongly recommended––three or four is better! Day users are requested to check in and out at park gates, volunteer registration points, Park Headquarters, or by phone if more convenient. This is for the safety of users in the event of an accident or emergency and helps them keep statistics on park use.
A note to southbounders: Katahdin is a tough climb. The footpath below tree line is more rocks and roots than soil. Above tree line, you pull yourself over rocks in a few places and walk across slanted, roof-sized boulders in others. The climb is hard enough without a pack. Northbounders and southbounders alike should leave their packs at the ranger station at Katahdin Stream Campground. Bring a daypack or fanny pack with water, snacks, sunscreen, and warm clothing for the summit.
For more information:
BAXTER STATE PARK
64 Balsam Drive
Millinocket, ME 04462
(207) 723-5140