RATC Hike Documents
Duties of an RATC hike leader
Overnight hike guidelines
Official sign-up sheet
Inventoried Hikes
Mike Vaughn’s Top Ten Day Hikes in Virginia
RATC member Leonard Adkins’ website.
Former RATC Board member and five-time A.T. through hiker Leonard Adkins’ web site. Leonard has written over 15 books about the Appalachian Trail and hiking. Titles include 50 Hikes in the Northern Virginia and The Best of the Appalachian Trail Overnight Hikes. Many of these can be ordered on his web site.
Hiking Upward
This is an outstanding website that contains detailed descriptions of over 100 trails in Virginia and West Virginia. The site was created by a group of avid hikers. There are detailed, printable trail maps for each hike along with a trail profile and driving directions to the trail head. Hikes on the site include Dragon’s Tooth, Devil’s Marbleyard, and Dolly Sods.
midatlantichikes.com
This site has maps for dozens of trails in Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. Trails in our area include the Apple Orchard Falls/Cornelius Creek Loop and the A.T./Mar Hau trail loop. This site also has a great section on the types of plants and animals that are seen along the Appalachian Trail.
backpacker.com
Backpacker magazine has hundreds of trail maps, profiles, and hike descriptions on its web site for hikes in every state. There are extensive maps for day and overnight hikes for the entire length of the Appalachian Trail. Virginia trails on the site include Rock Castle Gorge and Mount Rogers.
trailheadfinder.com
A local hiker has created this great new web site. It has maps, hike descriptions and trail head directions for many hikes in our area. Trails on the site include Angel’s Rest, Sawtooth Ridge, and Apple Orchard Falls. He plans on adding many more hikes and trails throughout Virginia as well as other states. Please contact him at the web site if you are interested in helping add trails to the trailhead database.
Map links
Appalachian Trail Conservancy online store
Can purchase individual trail maps and guidebook by state or can purchase complete set of maps/guidebooks for the trail. The 113 mile section of the A.T. that is maintained by the RATC is displayed on Virginia A.T. maps three through five.
Download maps compatible with your GPS device.
Jefferson National Forest map information
Can order National Forest maps by phone or by mail. Free hike description brochures are available for download.
National Geographic Society online map store
Can purchase trail and topographic maps. The 113 mile of the A.T. that is maintained by the RATC is displayed on maps 787, 788, and 789. These maps show more of area surrounding the trail than the ATC’s trail maps.
Download USGS topographic maps