Hikes: Georgia

Hike Name Len Foote Hike Inn Trail
Closest Town Dahlonega
Difficulty Level** Easy to Moderate
Distance 10 miles round trip (recommend overnight stay at the Inn)
Features Amicalola Falls, Len Foote Hike Inn
Description Hike from the Amicalola Lodge to the Len Foote Hike Inn along a pleasant trail winding through the woods.  The Len Foote Hike Inn can only be reached by hiking.   Return by the same route, or for the adventurous, continue I mile to the A.T. Approach Trail, turn left, and head southwest 4.3 miles back to the Amicalola Lodge.  The A.T. Approach Trail route is hillier.
Directions Go to Amicalola State Park in Dawsonville, GA and stop at the visitors center which has maps of the trails;  you will need to sign in there if you are planning to stay at the Len Foote Hike Inn (reservations are needed for the Inn:  http://hike-inn.com/).  http://www.gastateparks.org/AmicalolaFalls/Trails  From the visitors center, drive to the top of falls and park in the Len Foote Hike Inn parking lot and follow the signs to the Len Foote Hike Inn Trail (follow the lime green paint blazes).

 

Hike Name Springer Mountain
Closest Town Dahlonega
Difficulty Level** Easy to moderate
Distance 2 miles roundtrip
Features Views from the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail; A.T. shelter & tent sites.
Description From the parking lot at the trailhead off Forest Service 42, hike south on the A.T. across FS42 and begin the steady climb up Springer Mountain.  After .8 miles, reach the junction with the Benton MacKaye Trail, and 50 feet beyond the side trail leading east to the Springer Mountain A.T. Shelter, tent sites, privies and spring.  Another .2 mile south on the A.T. brings you to the summit of Springer Mountain and the southern terminus of the A.T. with great views to the west.  To return, retrace your hike north on the Appalachian Trail to reach FS 42.
Directions From GA Hwy. 52, 9.5 miles east of Amicalola Falls State Park or 8.5 miles west of Dahlonega, turn north at Grizzle's old store (closed, sign for store is damaged).
Go 2.0 miles and turn right on USFS Road #28 (look for sign that points to Georgia Wildlife Management Area on left and sign to Jones Creek Road on right).
After 2.2 miles, bear left at fork onto USFS Road #77 and go 5.1 miles.
Take hard left onto USFS Road #42 and go 2.7 miles to A.T., passing a Benton MacKaye Trail crossing (diamond blazes) along the way. There is a large parking area along north side of road.

NOTE: These Forest Service roads can be quite rough, and may be impassable by car or van in winter or very wet weather. Contact the Chattahoochee National Forest Toccoa Ranger District in Blue Ridge, Georgia (706) 632-3031 for current road conditions.

 

Hike Name Woody Gap to Big Cedar Mountain
Closest Town Suches, Dahlonega
Difficulty Level** Moderate to strenuous
Elevation Gain 500 feet
Distance 2 miles, round trip
Features Vista/View, Dogs allowed, Cliffs or rocky outcrop
Description This is an out and back hike:  start at Woody Gap and hike to the 1 mile point (summit of Big Cedar Mountain) a great rock outcrop/viewing area known as “Preaching Rock”.  This is a smooth, well maintained trail without overly steep ascents. 
Directions  From Dahlonega, follow Georgia Highway 60 north for 13.3 miles to the top of the ridge, an area with parking on either side of the road.  There is a toilet facility here (modern outhouse style - no water available).  Follow the white paint blazes of the Appalachian Trail to the right, northeast, toward Blood Mountain.

 

Hike Name 3 Forks to Long Creek Falls
Closest Town  Suches
Difficulty Level** Easy
Elevation Gain  100’
Distance 1.8 miles, round trip
Features Waterfall, swimming hole
Description From USFS 58 at Three Forks, follow the A.T. to the northeast as it ascends gently on an old dirt road.  At 0.8 mi. a blue-blazed trail leads left, one tenth mile to Long Creek Falls, a 25-ft. high waterfall surrounded by hemlocks, with a beautiful pool at its base.
Directions From GA Hwy. 52, 9.5 miles east of Amicalola Falls State Park or 8.5 miles west of Dahlonega, turn north at Grizzle's old store (closed, sign for store is damaged).
Go 2.0 miles and turn right on USFS Road #28 (look for sign that points to Georgia Wildlife Management Area on left and sign to Jones Creek Road on right).
After 2.2 miles, bear left at fork onto USFS Road #77 and go 5.1 miles.
Go straight across FS #42 at top of ridge and continue on FS #58 downhill about 2.5 miles to Three Forks where the A.T. crosses the road and Stover Creek, Long Creek and Chester Creek join.

NOTE: These Forest Service roads can be quite rough, and may be impassable by car or van in winter or very wet weather. Contact the Chattahoochee National Forest Toccoa Ranger District in Blue Ridge, Georgia (706) 632-3031 for current road conditions.

 

Hike Name Blood Mountain/Freeman Trail
Closest Town  Blairsville
Difficulty Level**  Moderate
Distance 6.2 mile loop
Features  Views from summit rocks of Blood Mountain, highest point on A.T. in Georgia.
Description Park at Byron Herbert Reece Parking area north of Neels Gap off Hwy 19. Trail heads southwest out of the parking lot. Ascend trail, steep at times, for about one mile then cross over the A.T. and continue south and west along the Freeman Trail.  The Freeman Trail contours gently around the south side of Blood Mountain for 1.8 miles but is very rocky. The Freeman Trail intersects with the A.T. again at Bird Gap. Go northeast/right for 1.2 miles, ascending to summit of  Blood Mountain, highest point on the A.T. in Georgia @ 4461’.  From summit it is 1.2 miles to the side trail back to the Byron Reece Parking lot.  Cross over top of Blood Mountain and rock outcrops following white paint blazes, being alert in one half mile for 90 degree left turn from rock slabs into woods.  Descend along A.T. to the Freeman Trail and Byron Reece Trail jct., turn left and retrace steps back to the parking lot.
Directions From the south follow US 129 north from Cleveland, GA. US 19 later joins. The Walasi-YI center, an outfitting store, is reached in 18 miles.  Continue about .6 miles to entrance of Byron Herbert Reece parking area, on left.  Hiker parking is not allowed at Walasi-Yi Center.
From the north follow US 19/129 south 13 miles from Blairsville to the Bryon Herbert Reece Parking area, entrance on the right.

 

Hike Name Source of the Chattahoochee
Closest Town Hiwassee
Difficulty Level** Moderate to strenuous
Elevation Gain  
Distance 4.8 miles Round Trip
Features Spring that is the source of the Chattahoochee River
Description From the trailhead at Jack’s Gap (elevation 2,960 feet) on Georgia 180, hike south, ascending, on Jack’s Knob Trail.  At mile 1.9, you will reach rock outcroppings before descending to Chattahoochee Gap on the A.T.  Follow the sign and blue blazes 200 yards to Chattahoochee Spring – the source of the Chattahoochee River. 
Directions The trailhead lies on the east side of Jack’s Gap at the intersection of Georgia 180 and the 180 spur to Brasstown Bald (Georgia’s highpoint @ 4788’).

 

Hike Name Tray Mountain
Closest Town Helen
Difficulty Level** Easy to Moderate
Elevation Gain  600’
Distance 1.6 mile Round Trip
Features Excellent views in all directions from rock outcrops at summit of Tray Mountain @ 4430’.  (.6 mile further to Montray A.T. shelter.)
Description From Tray Gap parking lot head north and east up switchbacked trail.  Elevation gain is about 600’.
Directions From Helen, GA go north on 17/75. Take a right on FS 79 and follow 79 to Tray Gap parking area approximately 9 miles.