appalachian trail conference headquarters

If you know the AT then you know about AT headquarters. Great little shop with excellent selection of maps and books about the AT. Loved the 3D Map in the back.

We popped into the ATC headquarters in Harpers Ferry late on a cold, rainy Saturday evening in January. We were warmly greeted by the attendant on duty who showed us around and let us wander around. We are recreational hikers, and we're impressed with the breadth of literature, clothing and knick-knacks available. Even if you aren't a hardcore hiker, this is a nice place to stop in and learn more about the Appalachian trail.

We stopped in with my cousins who were visiting and the staff were very welcoming and eager to share information about the trail. Definitely recommend visiting the ATC - you won't be disappointed!

Although my family and I only traveled the Appalachian Trail for a short distance, the headquarters is excellently kept up for those planning to do a longer hike. My father had us walk there from a far distance, so it didn't seem to me like the best destination for so far a walk, but the place was very interactive and the people working there were very helpful to my father who asked many questions and received several answers. There are books and maps and candy and even free samples of Shenandoah water.

Make the AT Headquarters your first stop before hiking. Loaded with maps and books. Tons of tips from the volunteers and staff. They make everyone feel at home and park of the same journey as the thru hikes. Don't forget if you have extra supplies they have a hikers lounge where you can leave things for other hikers.

there's a huge range of people coming through the headquarters, but i noticed the staff respond suitably to car-tripping tourists, day walkers, section and thru-hikers. they were knowledgeable and passionate.

The headquarters is not exactly on the AT however it is close. They have some maps and a few souvenirs. If you are a hiker, have hiked on the AT (and know what AT means) and are in the area it is worth a stop. It is close to the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park.

My family and I stopped by on our way to Nashville even though it was a bit out of the way. It was neat to see the Through Hikers arriving and getting their pictures taken on the porch. Coincidentally, one of the staff members had just gotten back from a backpacking trip on the AT in New Jersey and camped in the very same spot that I camped at with some Boy Scouts on a recent backpacking trip. If you like to hike or backpack it's worth the effort to stop in. The town of Harper's Ferry is a cool place to stop for lunch, too. Parking downtown is very, very limited, though.

Great little place not far from the lower town. Cool to see the tru-hikers stopping by and getting there picture taken. staff very nice! There is a small area "museum like" with info on the trail. A hikers lounge (you can page through the Polaroids of hikers stopping at the half way point). Small gift shop. Tons of info and books on hiking etc.

Spent the week before Father's Day weekend with my Daughter hiking the Appalachian Trail from Front Royal to Harpers Ferry. ATC HQ is a mandatory stop for all of us who hike the trail as the "unofficial" halfway point. It allows hikers to see old friends we have missed on the trail. As soon as you walk thru the door, the staff instruct you where the water or Gatoraide is and get you ready for your famous picture, the one in front of the ATC sign. Of the hundreds of pics and memories you take on the Trail, three are the most important: at Springer Mountain; at Katahdin Mountain and at ATC HQ. The museum is a great display of our country's greatest hiking trail.

We stopped here while checking out Harpers Ferry. Very neat to learn more about the Trail and helpful people there. Take the short .2 mile hike from the building to the actual Trail!

What an awesome team of individuals. This is a must see stop for the traveler or hiker. We picked up some nick-nacks and purchased maps. We have done MD and half of NJ with plans of doing all of GA next summer and parts of NC. Every time I have come here it has been warm welcomes and friendly faces. I recommend this stop to everyone! AND BECOME A MEMBER! I am hoping to start a hiking club and try to petition for a MD AT license plate.

This small building explodes with laughter and adventure. Just a few small exhibits showing the Appalachian trail - but the photos displayed that were taken along the trail, plus the memories of the hikers themselves are SO motivating and beautiful! Lots of cool hiking items and shirts to buy. While we were there a group of scouts were preparing for a hike, some thru hikers stopped by and some tourists were there as well. Go into the hikers lounge to read the book on what the hikers wrote - so interesting! Love their trail names! One of the workers had completed the entire trek and we spent some time speaking with him about his experiences - SO cool! If you are a hiker, or a wanna be hiker, this is a must stop. There is a parking lot behind the building or you can walk up the steep hill from Lower Town, which is what we did and it wasn't too bad. Enjoy!!!!

I have stopped here every time I am in the Harpers Ferry area. I love to meet the through-hikers and talk to the staff. They also have lots of really good Appalachian Trail (AT) stuff for all types of people, from Georgia-Maine through-hikers to the weekend tourist. The staff are very helpful and love to talk to people about the Trail as well as show off exhibits about the trails history.

This is the spot to go to learn and see all there is about the trail. They have pictures of hikers from years and years...also good at answering questions-maps and souvenirs too.