BMTA
PO Box 53271
Atlanta, GA  30355-1271

Contact Us

Current Officers

President:

Betty J. Petty

Vice President:

Ralph Heller

Secretary:

*open*

GA Maintenance:

Tom Keene

TN/NC Maintenance:

Eric Eades

Smokies Maint.:

Jim Lumpkins

Construction:

George Owen

Recreation:

Bob Ruby

Membership:

Ken Jones

Treasurer:

Darcy Douglas

Public Relations:

Kevin O'Quinn

Media:

*open*

Conservation:

Denny Rhodes

Past Pres.:

Steve Cartwright

State Rep. - GA:

Walt Cook

State Rep. - TN:

Linda Davis

State Rep. - NC:

Dan Muse

The Benton MacKaye Trail Association is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization.

Home page photo, the BMT along Tennessee/North Carolina state line as seen from Whigg Meadow in Spring, courtesy of Alleen Davis.

New System for Managing Trail Work is Launched

Two years after the start of development, and with over a month of testing by 70 dedicated trail maintainers, the BMTA's Trail Work Management System is being rolled out.
The new web-based pages are designed to provide a place where anyone can report trail problems, maintainers can collaborate, trail conditions can be realistically evaluated, and burdensome email notices sent out automatically. It is a single-source for all information on trail work that needs doing on the BMT.
(Full article coming soon.)

Drought Warning for Trail Users

In the record-shattering drought that continues in the region of the BMT, many water sources considered 'reliable' have run dry. Hikers and other trail users should exercise appropriate caution. Only the major streams at lower elevations should be relied upon, and even some of these are nearly dry. These conditions are expected to continue through the end of 2008.

The Trail

The Benton MacKaye Trail (BMT) is a footpath of nearly 300 miles (480 km) through the Appalachian mountains of the southeastern United States. It is designed for foot travel in the tradition of the Appalachian Trail (AT).

Running from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Davenport Gap on the northern edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (the Smokies), the BMT passes through some of the most remote backcountry in Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina, including eight federally designated Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas. For further information on the trail, visit the BMT Vital Info page.

For Hikers

There are numerous access points and trailheads along the BMT route creating many options for one-way and loop hikes, and several more in combination with local trails. Longer hikes are possible on the BMT by doing a partial or full thru-hike. And the longest walks are done by also using the three major intersecting trails, the Pinhoti, the AT, and the 900-plus mile Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

Because the BMT intersects the AT at each terminus and in the middle, three large hikable loops are formed in a figure 8: a lower circle of 364 miles, an upper Smokies-only walk of 158 miles, and 'The BMT Loop' - a complete circuit hike of over 500 miles. The Georgia Loop, "toughest hike in Georgia", is a 55-mile triangle of the BMT, the AT and the Duncan Ridge Trail. In the Eastern Continental Trail; the 4400-plus mile route from Key West, Florida to Cape Gaspe, Quebec, Canada; the BMT connects the Pinhoti and Appalachian Trails. For more hiker information, check the Hiker Resources page.

The Association

The Benton MacKaye Trail Association (BMTA) was organized in 1979 and incorporated in 1980 to build and maintain the BMT. Driving the effort was a desire to see opened for hiking Benton MacKaye's chosen route for his Appalachian mountain trail. MacKaye (rhymes with sky), Massachusetts forester and co-founder of The Wilderness Society, was the man whose vision inspired what is today the Appalachian Trail. In the south, he had selected a more westerly route, along the western crest of the Blue Ridge, roughly that followed today by the BMT. The BMTA's 25th anniversary year saw the original plan completed as the route was officially opened on July 16, 2005.

As with most trail organizations, the BMTA is an all-volunteer, nonprofit group of folks who want to see the trail remain open and in good shape. Those who live close enough and are able gather regularly to work on maintaining the trail, also to hike and for special events. They and others contribute through their membership.

Want to Help?

Your support is welcome. Becoming a member, participating in or leading maintenance and/or recreational outings, adopting a section of trail, serving on the BMTA board of directors, being a project leader, assisting with administrative needs, and/or making a financial donation are all ways in which you can lend a hand. It's easy to join and when you keep your membership current, you're helping us maintain and improve the trail. See the Want to Help? page for a list of current needs.

Any and all are invited to participate in BMTA outings; no experience is necessary and membership is not required. Join us!

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All content copyright © 2003-2008 by Benton MacKaye Trail Association, Inc. All rights reserved.