Appalachian Trail license plates in Virginia last year raised $45,000 to help protect the beloved 2,195-mile footpath. Among the projects funded by the plates were open meadow preservation along the trail in Shenandoah National Park, trail construction by the Konnarock Trail Crew, and the replacement of a trail bridge in southwest Virginia.
How does it work? A portion of the proceeds from each license plate—usually between $10 and $20—goes directly to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. In Virginia, the funds are disbursed among its eight trail maintaining clubs.
Appalachian Trail specialty plates are also available in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania.
“Owning an A.T. license plate is an excellent way to directly turn your contribution into improvements that can be seen first-hand on the Trail,” says Andrew Downs, the ATC’s regional director.
If you’d like to see license plate funds at work, visit the new sections of the Appalachian Trail at Thunder Ridge, or visit a meadow in Shenandoah National Park.
For more information about A.T. specialty license plates, visit www.appalachiantrail.org/plates.
