Appalachian Trail Conservancy Taps Cinda Waldbuesser to Guide Trail into Next Century

doinda Merrill Waldbuesser will lead the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) as its 11th president and CEO, following an Oct. 21 board announcement.

Waldbuesser will assume the role of incoming president and CEO on Monday, November 17, ensuring a handover period with the organization’s current head, Sandra Marra, until the end of the year. Marra announced in April that he planned to retire from office after 2025.

Who is Cinda Merrill Walduesser?

Waldbuesser is an executive with more than two decades of leadership experience in conservation and the public sector. Most recently, she served as Deputy Regional Director for the Northeast Region of the National Park Service. In that role, he provided executive leadership for $1.5 million acre national park units from Maine to Virginia, including supporting 22 park superintendents who manage the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Shenandoah National Park, and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

The ATC CEO Search and Transition Committee, which informed the national search, highlighted Waldbuesser’s continued focus on stewardship, access and connecting people across public lands. His experience collaborating with broad coalitions and building support is expected to help ATC strengthen protection of the Appalachian Trail. Waldbuesser will be based in Pennsylvania and plans to travel to all 14 trail states in 2026 to meet with staff and stakeholders.

What are the goals of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy?

The ATC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and management of the Appalachian Trail. Its objectives are fundamentally structured around three central priorities: landscape conservation, responsible trail management and community participation.

For conservation, the ATC aims to protect priority lands to ensure the trail and its surroundings remain connected and resilient to climate change. In terms of management, the ATC works to maintain the route and facilities to the highest possible standards, encouraging responsible use among the millions of visitors who experience the route each year. Finally, they focus on breaking down barriers and creating access so everyone can experience the trail, while managing a broad community of volunteers and partners who help maintain the AT.

ATC works to maintain the trail and surrounding structures such as shelters, signage and toilets. Photo via Wikimedia Commons

How does ATC interact with hikers?

The ATC manages the agglomeration through a voluntary registration system in ATCam.orgwhich helps prospective hikers spread out their start dates to mitigate the social and ecological impacts of high traffic, especially in the far south in the spring.

Along the way, ATC maintains a presence through Ridgerunners and caregivers who serve as primary human contact, acting as educators and advocates who emphasize Leave No Trace principles. These staff members also collect valuable data on maintenance needs and wildlife encounters, and are trained to assist injured hikers and request help in emergencies.

Finally, ATC provides vital logistics resources, including planning advice, safety information, and condition updates, and formally recognizes those who complete the course in 12 months as “2,000-milers,” operating this recognition under an honor system.

While the ATC will continue its work with hikers and surrounding communities, Waldbuesser’s strategic focus will be on the high-level collaboration necessary to sustain the AT corridor for the next 100 years. Their mandate is clear: balance the trail’s immense popularity with responsible management.

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