The AMC Western MA Appalachian Trail Management Committee (A.T. Committee) is responsible for the maintenance, management, and protection of that portion of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) located in Massachusetts. This section of the A.T. encompasses nearly 90 miles of trail. The A.T. Committee coordinates the extensive volunteer effort that keeps the trail open, overnight sites maintained, and the trail lands and natural resources protected.
. Each year from April to September, we organize regular work parties for maintenance and improvement of the footbed, trail shelters, signs, and so on.
Projects vary in complexity, but all include activities for both first timers and seasoned maintainers. Contact a project leader or look in AMC's
to join in the fun. No experience is necessary to participate! We also have some open positions for regular trail maintainers, corridor monitors, and natural resource volunteers. Our committee meets regularly at the Mt. Greylock Visitors Center in Lanesboro, MA.
Donations are gratefully accepted! Please send your check made out to "AMC" with a note designating the gift is for the Western MA A.T. Committee. Checks can be mailed to:
Upcoming Activities
Click or tap on the Register links to learn more and/or register for activities.
Protect the AT - Maintain the Trail Corridor Boundary
Location: Tyringham, MA
Date: 04‑Apr‑2025
Register »Enjoy the backstage of the A.T. Visit places no hiker has ever seen. Join us in maintaining the boundary lines of the land corridor that protect the A.T. Work will include finding and clearing the boundary by clipping brush and small trees with hand tools to maintain a line of sight. Pace will be slow, terrain may occasionally be steep. Brush may be heavy. Work will be off-trail often in remote areas. Expect to be in the woods the entire day.
Protect the AT - Maintain the Trail Corridor Boundary
Location: Tyringham, MA
Date: 05‑Apr‑2025
Register »Come explore the backstage of the Appalachian Trail. We'll be maintaining the critical boundary lines of the protected land corridor that surrounds the A.T. This off-trail work moves at a slow pace over varied terrain. We'll be clipping brush and painting blazes along the boundary line. Work is off-trail, occasionally in heavy brush and up and down hills. Expect some wet areas, too. Some stooping to clip back brush to maintain a clear line of sight along the boundary. We also refresh yellow blazes on trees with paint which will permanently mark clothing, so don't wear your favorite trail duds.
Warner Hill Brush Clearing
Location: Washington, MA
Date: 05‑Apr‑2025
Register »The open top of Warner Hill on the Appalachian Trail in Hinsdale, MA is home to some old high bush blueberry shrubs as well as some low blueberries. Every few years we need to cut back other shrubs and small trees growing on the hill top and we need to thin the high bush blueberry shrubs so they will continue to prosper. If you'd like to join Gary and me on this effort please sign up! We'll supply the tools and Gary will show us how to properly thin the high bush blueberry shrubs.
Wildlife Transect, Tyringham Main Rd / Hop Brook Area
Location: Tyringham, MA
Date: 12‑Apr‑2025
Register »Our wildlife transect will take us to the Hop Brook area where the A.T. crosses Tyringham Main Rd. We will briefly take another look in the area just trail north of Main Rd where fresh moose sign and a deer kill site were spotted earlier this winter. Most of our transect will be south of Main Rd in the Hop Brook valley area.
A.T. Tyringham Cobble Joint Work Day
Location: Tyringham, MA
Date: 03‑May‑2025
Register »Join in with local volunteers to maintain the A.T. as it traverses iconic viewpoints on Tyringham Cobble. We'll clip brush and maintain open areas. Possibly carry in and construct bog bridges.
Protect the AT - Maintain the Trail Corridor Boundary
Location: Tyringham, MA
Date: 05‑May‑2025
Register »Enjoy the backstage of the A.T. Visit places no hiker has ever seen. Join us in maintaining the boundary lines of the land corridor that protect the A.T. We will be working between Fernside Rd and the Beartown State Forest boundary. Work will include finding and clearing the boundary by clipping brush and small trees with hand tools to maintain a line of sight, and painting yellow blazes along the boundary. Pace will be slow, terrain will include steep sections, and brush may be heavy. Work will be off-trail often in remote areas. Expect to be in the woods the entire day.
Protect the AT - Maintain the Trail Corridor Boundary
Location: Tyringham, MA
Date: 06‑May‑2025
Register »Enjoy the backstage of the A.T. Visit places no hiker has ever seen. Join us in maintaining the boundary lines of the land corridor that protect the A.T. We will be working between Fernside Rd and the Beartown State Forest boundary. Work will include finding and clearing the boundary by clipping brush and small trees with hand tools to maintain a line of sight, and painting yellow blazes along the boundary. Pace will be slow, terrain will include steep sections, and brush may be heavy. Work will be off-trail often in remote areas. Expect to be in the woods the entire day.
Invasives Management, Jug End Area
Location: Egremont, MA
Date: 06‑May‑2025
Register »We will be addressing invasive plants in the Jug End area, cutting and hand pulling, using hand tools. Stooping and carrying cut brush. Pace is slow, terrain easy to moderate.
Protect the AT - Maintain the Trail Corridor Boundary
Location: North Adams, MA
Date: 07‑May‑2025
Register »Enjoy the backstage of the A.T. Visit places no hiker has ever seen. Join us in maintaining the boundary lines of the land corridor that protect the A.T. We will be working in North Adams between Phelps Ave and Pattison Rd. Work will include finding and clearing the boundary by clipping brush and small trees with hand tools to maintain a line of sight. Pace will be slow, terrain may occasionally be steep, wet, or rocky. Brush may be heavy. Work will be off-trail, often in remote areas. Expect to be in the woods the entire day.
Upper Goose Pond Cabin Maintenance Day
Location: Lee, MA
Date: 10‑May‑2025
Register »We will perform annual maintenance in anticipation of the cabin opening for the season. Work will include light carpentry, some digging in rocky soil, cutting brush and servicing moldering privies. Short moderate hike to worksite. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes bring lunch/snacks, and water to drink. Work gloves are recommended.
Open Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Location: Lee, MA
Date: 11‑May‑2025
Register »Open this iconic A.T. hiker stop for the season. We'll take down the shutters, sweep and clean, set up the outdoor kitchen area, post the "Cabin Open" sign and other tasks to get this beloved place ready for another season.
Anchoring Hop Brook Bridge
Location: Tyringham, MA
Date: 13‑May‑2025
Register »Hop Brook Bridge is falling into the stream. We need to secure it for 2-3 years until Federal monies are available for replacement. We will hammer two 10ft long pipes into the ground to anchor the south end of the bridge and attach the bridge to the anchors with chains. We may also raise the low end of the bridge. We must carry heavy materials and tools approx 1/2 mile on easy trail from the parking area.
Replace & Reset Bog Bridges
Location: Monterey, MA
Date: 10‑Jun‑2025
Register »We will reset wobbly bog bridges and replace any that are failing in the swampy area immediately south of Blue Hill Rd. Conditions will be muddy, if not downright wet. Dress for expected weather conditions.
Privy Moves - Maintaining Privies at AT Campsites
Location: Lee, MA
Date: 21‑Jun‑2025
Register »We will be moving the privies at Shaker Campsite and Wilcox South Campsite to new locations. Work involves digging with hand tools and lifting and moving the outhouse several feet to a new site. Work may involve incidental contact with human waste. We will start at Shaker Campsite, approx 1/2 mile down hill from the meeting location. Upon completion, we will drive approx 30 mins to the access to Wilcox South Shelter, and hike another 1/2 mile down hill to that work site.
All activities are subject to cancellation due to poor weather conditions. Check
on outdoors.org for up-to-the-minute additions not yet shown here. Not all activities may be posted yet.
All committee members are volunteers. Feel free to contact us with any questions, concerns or suggestions you may have.