About Us
The mission of the Appalachian Mountain Club is to foster the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the outdoors.
Get Outdoors. Find Your People.
The Appalachian Mountain Club is a community of more than 90,000 nature nerds, adventurers, and advocates whose passion for the outdoors knows no bounds. From Maine to Virginia, we connect people with nature—and with each other.
We live to enjoy, understand, and celebrate the outdoors. When you stay at an AMC property or join us on a guided excursion, you become part of our vision of a world where nature is healthy, loved, and protected. And maybe it’s all the fresh air and sunshine talking, but we’re feeling optimistic about achieving that vision.
AMC commits to welcoming everyone, creating an inclusive community where people of all backgrounds and abilities can come together to enjoy and protect the natural world. When we speak about inclusion, we start with community, but we don’t end there. AMC’s efforts include growing membership, expanding experiences, establishing retention strategies, and continually evolving what AMC looks like. Learn more about AMC’s commitment to DEI.
Whether you’re an experienced adventurer or just getting started on your outdoor journey, there’s a place for you at AMC. So grab your pack. It’s time to join in—and get out.
Our History
1882
Public Domain Acts
AMC lobbies the Massachusetts Legislature for the rights of municipalities to set aside lands for public use. One result is the Public Domain Acts of 1882, which grants towns and cities the right to set aside lands for preservation and conservation use.
1893
AMC’s Charter Enlarged
The Massachusetts Legislature enlarges AMC’s charter “to enable it to hold mountain and forest lands and historic sites, and so preserve the beauty and attractiveness of our mountains, and especially of their forests.”
1895
Snyder Brook Reservation
AMC makes its first conservation land purchase, by acquiring thirty-six acres along Snyder Brook in Randolph, New Hampshire, to protect a strip of old-growth forest from imminent logging operations. Snyder Brook Reservation, as it was called, was later donated to become part of the WMNF in 1937.
1911
Passage of Weeks Act
AMC's best-known conservation advocacy project culminates in the passage of the Weeks Act, allowing the use of federal funding to purchase forest land for conservation. It eventually leads to the creation of the White Mountain National Forest.
1930
Mount Washington Observatory
Joe Dodge, AMC Huts Manager, becomes the Weather Bureau’s official observer at Pinkham Notch, where weather data has been collected ever since. Two years later, Dodge helped found the Mount Washington Observatory.
1970
Campsite and Caretaker Program
A seasonal caretaker is placed at Liberty Springs Tentsite to manage use, giving birth to our Campsite and Caretaker program. Caretakers inform hikers on how to minimize their impact on campsites in the White Mountains.
1975
Injunction against I-93 Construction
AMC wins permanent injunction against I-93 construction north of Franconia Notch based on deficiencies in project’s Environmental Impact Statement.
1981
Cloud Catcher Research
AMC begins investigations into the acidity of cloud and rainwater on the upper slopes of the White Mountains at sites on Mount Lafayette and Mount Washington. Our “cloud catchers” continue to collect samples near AMC Lakes of the Clouds Hut.
1995
Air Quality Monitoring Station
An air quality monitoring station is set up at AMC’s Camp Dodge trails volunteer center in Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire, which still runs today in cooperation with the NH Department of Environmental Science.
2004
Highlands Conservation Act
The Highlands Conservation Act is signed, based on advocacy by AMC and other members of the Highlands Coalition.
2009
New England National Scenic Trail
The New England National Scenic Trail (NET) is federally designated. AMC and the Connecticut Forest & Park Association enter a formal partnership with the National Park Service to be the NET’s principal trail stewards.
Our Strategic Priorities
Appalachian Mountain Club is the nation’s longest serving conservation and recreation organization. From volunteers teaching essential outdoor skills, to public advocacy seeking to preserve and expand the spaces we love, AMC is the leading organization ensuring that people have the opportunity to be outdoors - now and for generations to come.
Get Involved
At AMC we’re united in our adventures through mutual trust, collective safety, respect for the natural world, and appreciation for our time together outdoors. We pledge that AMC will always provide a welcoming and respectful environment.
Support the Outdoors
Your contribution helps to build and maintain trails, protect public lands, and support outdoor conservation.
Careers
We are a community built on mutual trust, integrity, and dignity for all. Together we can make a difference.
Corporate Members
Join our community partners who help make a meaningful impact on the natural world.
Leadership and Executive Team
Our Leadership and Executive Team is comprised of a passionate group of people who share the vision and values of the outdoor community.
