The RATC was founded in 1932 by Myron Avery – one of the Appalachian Trail founders – and two groups of local hiking enthusiasts. We are an all-volunteer nonprofit with no staff. Our members love the outdoors and enjoy the immense recreational opportunities available to us in the surrounding area.
We maintain over 120 miles of the Appalachian Trail and 16 shelters from Route 611 in Bland County to Black Horse Gap in Botetourt County. This includes the iconic section known as “Virginia’s Triple Crown”, i.e., Dragon’s Tooth, McAfee Knob and Tinker Cliffs, which draws visitors from around the country and world.