Chances are, you’ve heard of the Appalachian Trail. You might even conceive it as an American institution—stretching 2,190 miles from its southern terminus on Springer Mountain, Georgia, to its northern end on Mount Katahdin, Maine—that hosts 3 million visitors per year. And while it is, certainly, a treasure that attracts bucket-listers on end-to-end thru-hikes, the AT is also series of trail sections that serve local residents, visitors, and day hikers. Some of those sections—critical to the integrity of the entire trail—aren’t immune to modern threats. Such was the case of Corbin Hill, a piece of the AT near Pawling, New York.

One of the most accessible and visited portions of the trail, given its proximity to and accessibility from New York City, Corbin Hill is also one of the most at risk of development given that Pawling has the only mass transit stop along the entire AT.

As such, it’s no surprise that Corbin Hill almost became a 50-unit subdivision. But through public opposition, the opportunity arose to protect this land. In 2018, in collaboration with several partners, Trust for Public Land helped to permanently protect 219 critical acres of this congressionally designated National Scenic Trail.

Corbin Hill’s protection ensures the picturesque views of Harlem Valley are not interrupted by housing developments, that ecologically sensitive habitats remain intact, and that this special place along the Appalachian Trail can be enjoyed by all. Trust for Public Land has transferred the property to the National Park Service, which permanently protects and stewards the land.