Protecting the Places We Love: Avoiding Crowds on the Appalachian Trail

Avoiding Crowds on the Appalachian Trail: Secrets Every Hiker Should Know

Dreaming of hiking the Appalachian Trail and finding quiet along the way? Stretching 2,190 miles across 14 states, the AT is a bucket-list adventure — but crowded shelters, busy sections, and overused privies can quickly take some of the magic out of the experience.

Join the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Leave No Trace, and Kula Cloth for a 90-minute session packed with trail secrets, practical tips, and stewardship strategies. Whether you’re a thru-hiker, section hiker, or weekend adventurer, you’ll learn how to hike smarter, protect the land you love, and experience the AT at its best!

What We’ll Cover:

• A photographic tour with info about the AT: 2,190 miles, 14 states and 250 shelters and over 3 million visitors per year
• Trail highlights and challenges: Iconic sections (McAfee Knob, Springer Mountain, Mount Katahdin, White Mountains) / Crowded shelters, trail erosion, sanitation, wildlife interactions
• When and where to hike to avoid the busiest trail sections and shelters, and still getting the full trail experience
• How small decisions on the trail from campsite selection to waste management — protect fragile ecosystems
• The role of all hikers in stewardship —The Seven Principles of Leave No Trace principles to keep the AT wild for generations
• Backcountry hygiene tips that safeguard water, soil, and campsites — and your own comfort
• Insider insights on timing, lesser-known sections, and strategies to maximize solitude

Whether you’re chasing misty mornings, starry nights, or just a peaceful walk in the woods, this session will help enjoy the AT responsibly — and help ensure it stays beautiful for generations to come.

This session is part of Kula Academy’s on-going Protecting the Places We Love series, which has brought together thousands of outdoor enthusiasts committed to stewardship and conservation. Whether you're a hiker, camper, backpacker, or just someone who loves being outside, this is a must-attend event.

About the Kula Academy:

Since the pandemic, the Kula Academy has hosted over 600 classes and events. We’ve hiked sections of the PCT, summited volcanoes, paddled wild rivers, camped under starlit skies, painted, jumped into cold water for no good reason and danced — A LOT! Along the way, we’ve removed heaps of garbage from the Mountain Loop Highway, planted deciduous and evergreen trees, and taught people how to leave the world a better place. It's a corner of the universe where adventure, creativity and stewardship collide!

Whether you’re here to learn how to secure permits, master winter camping, learn “How Not to Die” doing the things you love, or simply because a pee cloth brought you our way, doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’re here! And we’re glad that our paths have crossed. We hope that you’ll join us on our adventures because you’re the missing ingredient in our trail mix. Come ready to laugh, learn, and leave with new friends and hopefully a deeper connection to others, yourself, and the world around us.

Check out all of our classes here. And if you're interested in teaching a class, feel free to reach out to allison@kulacloth.com

About the Appalachian Trail Conservancy:

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is the only nonprofit organization devoted exclusively to the entire length of the Appalachian Trail — a 2,190-mile long footpath spanning from Georgia to Maine. ATC leads the protection, management and advocacy of this iconic trail and its surrounding corridor, partnering with volunteers, trail clubs, federal and state agencies, and local communities.