

Benton MacKaye
Help Us Realize Benton Mackaye’s Century-Long Dream to Bring the Appalachian Trail to Alabama
Bringing the beginning of the Appalachian Trail to Alabama is anything but a new idea. Benton Mackaye – American forester, planner, and conservationist – was the first to envision the Appalachian Trail in his 1921 article titled An Appalachian Trail: A Project in Regional Planning. In March 1925, the founding Appalachian Trail conference convened in Washington, DC and made the following trail decisions:
Both Maine and Alabama were set as extensions of the Main Line Trail in 1925. The Appalachian Trail Conference (now the Appalachian Trail Conservancy) extended the Main Line trail to Katahdin in Maine in 1937 – and now is the time to complete this vision, and extend the Main Line to Alabama, and where the Appalachians begin.
Purchase a Medallion to Show Your Support for AT2AL!
Ultralight, sustainable, and noiseless, the wooden medallion can be quickly attached to your hiking backpack or daypack. It’s an easy way to show your support for AT2AL. All proceeds from the sale of these medallions go directly to supporting the Alabama State Parks Foundation, so they’re an easy way to help the parks we love so much.
For thru hikers, they’re a definite conversation starter around the campfire. After all, have you Completed the Feat, unless you’ve hiked from Alabama?

The medallions and other AT2AL merchandise available for sale in the Cheaha Campstore now!


