Potomac Appalachian Trail Club Inc

Trail Maintenance: Provide erosion control, vegetation removal and overall maintenance of trails and foot bridges to provide hikers with a pleasant and safe experience, including 240 miles of the Appalachian Trail and 700 miles of side trails.

Member and Communication Services: PATC has 7,735 members at the end of 2024, of whom more than 10 percent volunteer their time in service to the Club, including trail maintenance and monitoring, education, cabin construction and/or maintenance, leave no trace ethics, headquarters administration, etc. All members receive a monthly newsletter, the Potomac Appalachian, monthly email updates, use of member-only cabins, and discounts on PATC merchandise.

Trail Patrol: Trail Patrol provides education on a variety of trail related topics such as safety, wilderness first aid, leave no trace principles, backpacking, and hike leadership; volunteers also monitor the trails providing education and safety tips to hikers and reporting potential hazards to the appropriate authorities.

Bears Den Lodge & Hostel/Blackburn Trail Center: Provide a respite for thru hikers, section, and day hikers along the Appalachian Trail; located nine miles apart from one another, less than a mile hike from the Appalachian Trail, these facilities provide a bunk or camp site, food and water, and comradery for the weary hiker.

Land Management: PATC-owned land is monitored by volunteer managers who inspect and report on conditions and needed remediation. Staff and volunteers assess prospective acquisitions and coordinate planning, improving and use of lands.