The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), which helps to maintain and oversee the 2,193-mile Appalachian National Scenic Trail (AT), has formally requested that the US Department of Interior and the National Parks Service (NPS) close the trail due to the “growing risk of visitors spreading COVID-19 among other hikers, nearby communities and beyond.”

The ATC sent its request earlier this month, but has yet to hear back. The organization has been telling hikers to stay away from the AT since mid-March. And while it closed all trail shelters and restroom areas on March 28, certain access points to the trail remain open, depending on the state and location.

In its request, the ATC noted that 13 of the 14 states the trail passes through currently have stay-at-home orders or advisories in place. About 90 miles of the trail runs through New York State, roughly 40 of which run through Orange County, which has 5,598 positive coronavirus cases and 171 deaths as of April 14.

“The COVID-19 pandemic presents a threat to the entirety of American society and we are concerned that the continued operation of the [AT] represents an unacceptable threat to NPS and United States Forest Service (USFS) employees as well as the gateway communities that supply most of our volunteers and are essential partners in our cooperative management system. We are alarmed at the incredible increase in usage at many of the [AT]’s most popular sites and believe that uniformity in access (i.e. none) is the only way to provide the proper safety for our gateway communities, Trail users, and federal employees,” the request stated.

“Beyond the direct impacts to NPS and USFS employees, we are seriously concerned about our gateway communities along the ridges and notches of the Appalachian Mountain range. Those seeking some kind of serenity in the great outdoors amidst this pandemic present as much of a threat to these rural, healthcare-insecure communities as they do to the employees throughout our state and federal public land systems. After recreating outdoors, where they may have eaten lunch at a picnic table, taken a break in a shelter, used a privy, or shared a map or food with someone unknowingly infected with COVID-19 (or themselves unknowingly transmitting the virus), these individuals may need to stop for gas or eat and will inadvertently and unknowingly carry this highly contagious virus back to Pigeon Forge, TN, or Hot Springs, NC, or Blacksburg, VA, or Wind Gap, PA, or Pawling, NY, or North Adams, MA, or Hanover, NH.”

Locally, many trails in state parks still remain open, including those in Minnewaska. However, parking has been limited to avoid overcrowding, and hikers have been told to maintain social distancing even on the trail. But other park areas, such as Mohonk Preserve, have temporarily shuttered until further notice. Wawarsing has closed Berme Road Park and Lippman Park due to coronavirus concerns, and after hearing about groups not following social distancing orders. Sullivan County recently closed all of its parks as well.

“Since its creation in 1925, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy has always promoted the benefits of experiencing nature and hiking, both physically and mentally,” said Sandra Marra, president and CEO of the ATC. “However, the past few weeks have shown that the A.T. is no longer a place where effective social distancing can take place, and that drastic action must be taken to help limit the spread of this highly contagious virus both on and off the Trail.”