Benton MacKaye Trail Association, Inc.

What Benton MacKaye Trail Association, Inc. does

The Benton MacKaye Trail Association, Inc. (BMTA) is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1980 and headquartered in Cherry Log, Georgia, with operational reach across Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Its core function is the construction, maintenance, and preservation of the 287.6-mile Benton MacKaye Trail (BMT), which includes the 93-mile segment through Great Smoky Mountains National Park — the longest trail in that park. Approximately 95% of the route traverses public lands managed by the USFS and NPS, with the remainder on private or state lands. The association has grown to over 850 members, all of whom are outdoor enthusiasts participating in hiking, backpacking, and volunteer trail work.

BMTA's revenue is generated from three streams: tiered annual membership dues ($15 student/retired, $20 individual, $30 family, $50 business/corporate), Trail Store sales of sectional guidebooks ($12 each for Georgia, Tennessee/NC, and Smokies sections), Trails Illustrated maps ($11.95–$14.95), and branded merchandise, plus voluntary donations that fund trail maintenance, tools, training, and conservation. The product portfolio consists of printed guidebooks, topographic maps, apparel/accessories, and complimentary completion patches and rockers (300-Miler, Thru Hiker, 500-Miler, 1,000-Miler). Distribution is primarily through the bmta.org e-commerce Trail Store and direct public access to the trail itself, supplemented by festival and event presence across the three states.

The organization runs a community-led go-to-market model: volunteer-led public hikes, monthly maintenance work trips (second Saturday in Georgia, fourth Saturday in Tennessee/NC), digital outreach through the website, email newsletter, Facebook, Instagram, and curated YouTube content. Strategic partnerships anchor the operation — co-management agreements with the USFS and NPS provide the regulatory basis for trail stewardship, while alliances with the Cherokee Hiking Club, Graham County Friends, Tapoco Lodge, and the Alabama and Georgia Pinhoti Trail Associations extend volunteer capacity and commercial infrastructure. There is no proprietary technology platform, mobile app, or AI/ML capability; the value proposition is fundamentally physical and experiential rather than digital.

Name

Benton MacKaye Trail Association, Inc.

Legal name

Benton MacKaye Trail Association, Inc.

Website

https://bmta.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Benton MacKaye Trail Association, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1980 that constructs, maintains, and preserves the 287.6-mile Benton MacKaye Trail across Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, serving more than 850 hiking, backpacking, and volunteer members through trail work, guided hikes, guidebooks, maps, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Recreation and Trail Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Hiking, Trekking & Mountain Guiding (THAJABAA)

Keywords

• Trail maintenance services
• Hiking guidebooks
• Nonprofit conservation
• Volunteer trail work
• Outdoor recreation association

Headquarters

HQ city

Cherrylog

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from individuals, families, students, retirees, and businesses provide recurring revenue. Members receive access to volunteer opportunities, hikes, and the organization's conservation efforts.
2. Trail Store Sales: Sale of trail guidebooks (Georgia, Tennessee/NC, and Smokies sections), maps (Trails Illustrated #229 and #316), and merchandise (hats, shirts, tote bags). These are one-time product purchases.
3. Donations: Voluntary donations from supporters to fund trail maintenance, construction materials, tool replacement, training, and conservation efforts on the Benton MacKaye Trail.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Benton MacKaye Trail Association maintains the 287.6-mile Benton MacKaye Trail across Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The association sells sectional trail guidebooks, topographic maps, and branded merchandise through its Trail Store, organizes public hikes and maintenance work trips, and offers tiered memberships and volunteer opportunities to support trail preservation and conservation in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

Product overview

The Benton MacKaye Trail Association offers a portfolio of trail guides, maps, merchandise, and achievement items for hikers of the Benton MacKaye Trail. The core products are three sectional trail guidebooks (Georgia, Tennessee/NC, and Smokies sections) that provide detailed trailhead directions, maps, elevation guides, and hiking tips. These are complemented by National Geographic Trails Illustrated topographic maps of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The association also sells branded merchandise (hats, shirts, tote bags) and provides complimentary achievement patches and rockers (300-Miler, Thru Hiker, 500-Miler, 1,000-Miler) to hikers who complete trail milestones.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Benton MacKaye Trail Guide – Georgia Section Comprehensive section-by-section guide to the Benton MacKaye Trail in Georgia, including trailhead directions, maps, elevation guides, and hiking tips. Format is 4.25" x 11", 48 pages, full-color on heavy duty stock. Priced at $12.00. For hikers, backpackers, and outdoor enthusiasts planning trips in the Georgia section.
• Benton MacKaye Trail Guide – Tennessee / North Carolina Section Comprehensive section-by-section guide to the Benton MacKaye Trail in Tennessee and North Carolina, including trailhead directions, maps, elevation guides, and hiking tips. Format is 4.25" x 11", 48 pages, full-color on heavy duty stock. For hikers, backpackers, and outdoor enthusiasts planning trips in the TN/NC section.
• Benton MacKaye Trail Guide – Smokies Section Detailed guide to the Benton MacKaye Trail section within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, covering trailhead directions, maps, elevation guides, and tips. Format is 4.25" x 11", 48 pages, full-color on heavy duty stock. For hikers, backpackers, and outdoor enthusiasts planning trips in the Smokies section.
• Trails Illustrated #229 – Great Smoky Mountains National Park Map Two-sided topographic map covering the entire Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Priced at $14.95. For hikers and backpackers navigating the Smokies section of the Benton MacKaye Trail.
• Trails Illustrated #316 – Cades Cove, Elkmont Map Topographic map covering the eastern section of the Benton MacKaye Trail within Great Smoky Mountains National Park, from the eastern end of Lakeshore Trail to Big Creek Terminus. Priced at $11.95. For hikers navigating the eastern Smokies portion of the trail.
• Trail Store Branded Merchandise Apparel and accessories including hats, shirts, and tote bags featuring Benton MacKaye Trail branding. Sold through the Trail Store to hikers, members, and supporters of the association.
• BMTA Annual Membership Tiered annual membership program for individuals, families, students, retirees, and businesses/corporations. Pricing: Student $15/year, Retired $15/year, Individual $20/year, Family $30/year, Business/Corporate $50/year. Members support trail maintenance and gain access to volunteer opportunities, hikes, and conservation efforts.
• BMT Completion Patches and Rockers Complimentary patches and rockers awarded to hikers completing Benton MacKaye Trail milestones, including 300-Miler, Thru Hiker, 500-Miler (BMT/AT Loop), and 1,000-Miler designations. For hikers who complete qualifying trail journeys.

Quantifiable outcome

• 287.6 miles of maintained trail across 3 states
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United States Forest Service (USFS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1980The BMTA works in partnership with the USFS (Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest and Cherokee National Forest) to maintain the Benton MacKaye Trail on public lands. The association operates under permits and collaborates on trail maintenance, following USFS guidelines and safety protocols.
• National Park Service (NPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe BMTA collaborates with the National Park Service for the 93 miles of BMT that traverse the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This includes adherence to park regulations, backcountry camping permits, and trail maintenance coordination within the park.
• Alabama Pinhoti Trail Association (APTA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 1,000 Mile Challenge, a collaborative initiative combining the Appalachian Trail, Benton MacKaye Trail, and Pinhoti Trail to create an approximately 1,000-mile route through Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
• Georgia Pinhoti Trail Association (GPTA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 1,000 Mile Challenge, working together to promote the combined trail route and recognize hikers who complete the challenge.
• Cherokee Hiking ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization that maintains sections of the BMT in Tennessee, specifically the Hiwassee River section.
• Graham County FriendsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer group that maintains several BMT trail sections in North Carolina, including the Yellow Creek Ridge area.
• Tapoco LodgeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusiness/corporate member of BMTA. The BMT passes through the lodge property. Popular with hikers for food, lodging, pizza, and cold beer. Accepts mail drops for hikers with reservations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Sierra Club: Large established outdoor recreation and conservation nonprofit that organizes group hikes, outings, and conservation advocacy nationwide. Broader in scope than BMTA but operates in overlapping outdoor recreation and conservation territory.
• American Hiking Society: National nonprofit dedicated to hiking advocacy and supporting local trail organizations. Comparable in promoting hiking and supporting trail stewardship organizations, though operating as an umbrella advocacy body rather than managing a specific trail.

Direct peers

• North Country Trail Association: Nonprofit supporting the 4,800-mile North Country National Scenic Trail via volunteer trailbuilders and membership support. Directly comparable in scale, mission, and operational model to BMTA.
• Pacific Crest Trail Association: Nonprofit steward of the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail. Closely mirrors BMTA's structure: membership dues, trail maintenance volunteers, sectional guidebooks, partnerships with USFS/NPS, and a recognized long-distance hiking brand.
• Arizona Trail Association: Nonprofit steward of the 800-mile Arizona Trail. Operates with analogous volunteer stewardship, membership dues, sectional trail guides, and partnerships with USFS for trail maintenance.
• Florida Trail Association: Volunteer-based nonprofit that builds and maintains the Florida Trail. Shares BMTA's chapter-based volunteer structure, guidebook sales, and membership tiers for trail stewardship.
• Appalachian Trail Conservancy: The most comparable peer: a nonprofit membership organization that maintains, promotes, and protects the Appalachian Trail. Operates with a similar volunteer-and-membership model, partnerships with NPS/USFS, guidebooks, and thru-hiker resources — directly relevant as BMTA's 1,000 Mile Challenge partner.
• Ice Age Trail Alliance: Nonprofit that supports the Ice Age National Scenic Trail through volunteer-built segments. Similar volunteer chapter model, membership fees, guidebook/map products, and federal land management partnerships.
• Continental Divide Trail Coalition: Nonprofit organization dedicated to completing, protecting, and promoting the Continental Divide Trail. Comparable in mission, volunteer-driven trail maintenance, and guide/membership model to BMTA.
• Pinhoti Trail Alliance: Nonprofit organization that maintains the Pinhoti Trail in Alabama and Georgia. BMTA's direct partner in the 1,000 Mile Challenge with overlapping volunteer, guidebook, and trail stewardship model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbmta.org%2F
• Facebookfacebook.com/BentonMacKayeTrail
• Instagraminstagram.com/official_benton_mackaye_trail
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/benton-mackaye-trail-association-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Benton MacKaye Trail Association, Inc.