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| AT Approach to Springer Mt. |
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By following this hike, you will be following in the footsteps of thousands of hikers who have dedicated many grueling months of their lives to hike northwards to Mount Katahdin in Maine, over two thousand miles away. Our hike here travels a total of 8.5 miles on the Appalachian Approach Trail to Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. The trail begins out the back door of the Amicalola Falls State Park visitors center, on the right soon after entering the park. After registering with the rangers at the center, and exiting the building, the trail beings it's long upward journey. After one mile in the woods, and then a short distance on gravel road, the trail reaches a parking area for the top of the falls. A short detour to the left delivers the hiker to the top of the falls. The trail itself continues upwards one half mile to cross Little Amicalola Creek and a dirt road. The trail then rolls up and down, and climbs to High Shoals Road after another 1.5 miles. The trail climbs another 1.5 miles past this road to reach the top of Frosty Mountain with a clearing off to the right. The path then decends for one half mile to cross Forest Service Road 46. The trail travels another mile, rolling up and down again, to decend to Nimbwell Gap. Here begins the final climb to the top of Springer. After a mile, the trail decends into Black Gap, where a shelter can be found. This is a fine area to camp, but why stop so short of the goal? A climb of the final 1.5 mile reaches the crest of Springer Mountain with views to the west. The area on top of Springer Mountain has been overcamped through the years. Continue north on the main trail to a spur trail on the right leading to shelter and camping. A short hike on this spur leads to camping areas, shelter, privies, and communal fire pits. Food should be hung with the cable systems provided. To reach the State Park from the intersection of Hwy. 515 and Hwy. 52 in East Ellijay, head east, remaining on Hwy. 52 veering left at its intersection with Hwy.183 after 18 miles. The park entrance is on the left, less than one mile further. |
| AT to Hawk Mountain |
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This is a nice seven mile each way, out and back, backpack trip on the Appalachian Trail (AT). The hike passes by old growth Hemlocks, pretty streams, waterfalls, camps overnight at an AT trail shelter, and is the most moderate stretch of the AT in Georgia. Be advised, however, this is not a flat hike. Some upwards hiking is required in both directions. The hike begins at a large parking area where the AT intersects Forest Service Road (FS) 42, about one trail mile north of Springer Mountain. The hike begins by proceeding north, away from Springer. Soon the white diamond blazed Benton MacKaye Trail (BMT) crosses the trail. Stay on the rectangular blazed AT for this hike. The BMT loops around the AT a few times and adds extra miles onto the hike. For the first three miles, the AT intersects the BMT three times. Towards the latter part of this section, after passing the new Stover Creek Shelter, look for old growth Hemlocks along side Stover Creek. After the final AT and BMT intersection, where the two trails merge into one, the hike crosses a footbridge over Chester Creek to arrive at Three Forks (see Springer Mountain Area Hiking Trails) after about three miles of hiking. Cross the gravel road and continue north alongside Long Creek for a mile to a blue blazed trail to the left leading to pretty Long Creek Falls. It is just beyond this point that the AT and BMT diverge, with the AT leading off to the right. After another mile of hiking, the trail passes a wildlife clearing on the right and crosses a gravel road, then continues two more miles to the Hawk Mountain Shelter, with plenty of camping nearby. This shelter area also provides a cable system for hanging food, a privy, and a fairly reliable spring. If, during dry summer months, the spring is dry, the closest reliable water is three miles back at Long Creek Falls. The shelter may be crowded on weekends or the early spring AT thru-hiker season. There is plenty of area for camping if one wants to be away from the crowd. To get to the trailhead from the intersection of highways 515 and 52, take Hwy. 52 4.8 miles to left turn onto Big Creek Road. Follow this road, as it changes names to Double Head Gap Road, 12.6 miles to right turn on to graveled FS 42. Follow FS 42 6.75 miles to AT/Springer Mtn. trailhead parking on the left. |
| Springer Mountain Area Hiking Trails |
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Springer Mountain is world famous as the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail (AT), a 2,100-mile foot trail leading north to Maine. Three trails converge on this mountaintop. The AT, Benton MackKaye Trail (BMT), and the AT Approach Trail. The BMT winds east, then west, crossing the AT, then east again, crossing the AT a second time, then finally west back to the AT, to form a triple loop. Loop hikes of five to ten miles are available here. The Springer Mountain and Three Forks area is accessed via graveled Forest Service Roads (FS) 42 and 58. Best route for access is from Big Creek/Double Head Gap Road. Big Creek Road is found, from Hwy 515, east on Hwy 52 4.8 miles on the left. Follow Big Creek/Double Head Gap Road 12.6 miles to FS 42 on the right. Follow FS 42 6.75 miles to Springer Mountain trailhead parking on left. The trail to the top of Springer Mountain is across the road, heading south. A map of the area is posted in the parking area. Follow Big Creek/Double Head Gap Road 15.25 miles from Hwy 52 to FS 58, also on the right, just after the road transitions from paved to gravel. Follow FS 58 5.4 miles to Three Forks and the AT/BMT trail crossing. The trail heads south to the right and north to the left. |
| BMT to Big Frog Mountain |
| Length Approx 6.7 miles one way. This hike follows the Hemp Top Trail north, into Tennessee, then turns west onto the Licklog Trail for a short a short distance, to the top of Big Frog Mountain. The Hemp Top Trail begins at Dally Gap (2585 ft.), best accessed from Hwy 5 north of Blue Ridge. After one mile, the Benton MacKaye Trail joins the trail at Spanish Oak Gap (2920 ft.), sharining its treadway all the way to this hike's end atop Big Frog Mountain. Penitentiary Branch Trail, leading down to Jacks River, intersects from the left after another 1.5 miles. The trail climbs for a little less than two miles, veering left to drop below the crest of Hemp Top Mtn. (3580 ft.). The trail then decends about 1.25 mi to Double Spring Gap (3220 ft.). This is a unique gap as it is the Tennessee State Line and the Tenessee Valley Divide. The spring to the left flows west then south to eventually empty into the ocean past Mobile, Alabama. The spring to the right flows east then north to the Tennessee then Ohio Rivers, into the Mississippi and into the ocean past New Orleans. From this point the trail climbs .5 mile to intersect Licklog Trail. Keep left, climbing another .5 mile to the top of Big Frog Mtn. (4224 ft.). This is primarily a ridgecrest and upper slope trail with numerous winter views and some summer views. Directions to Dally Gap from East Ellijay: Travel north on Hwy. 515 to where Hwy 5 turns left, heading north, above the city of Blue Ridge. Travel north on Hwy 5 about 3.7 miles, to turn left, west, on Old SR 2. Follow this road about 10.5 mi. to Watson Gap. Turn right onto FS 22 and travel about 3.6 mi. to Dally Gap. |
| BMT to Scroggins Knob |
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This is a wonderful hike which can be approached as either a long dayhike or a somewhat leisurely backpack trip. The distance from trailhead to the high point of Scroggins Knob is 5.5 miles, making the dayhike roundtrip 11 miles. The hiking is moderate with some short, strenuous uphill stretches. This can be a great hike for the winter season. The trail follows ridgline for much of it's length which provides nice wintertime views. Also, it's relatively short length means a shorter backpacking time as the winter sun sets early. Along the trail are a number of campsites scattered among the limited flat spots of ground making a trip of any shorter length possible. The recommended starting point for this hike is where the Benton McKaye Trail (BMT) leaves Rock Creek Road at Fall Branch, a pretty stream. It is possible to start this hike from Stanley Gap on the Stanley Gap Trail, but this would miss Fall Branch Falls and save relatively little length. The waterfall comes up on the right after one half mile on the BMT from the trailhead. A nice platform has been erected from which to enjoy the water cascading through the sunbeams. The BMT then continues uphill for one additional mile to its intersection with the Stanley Gap Trail. These two trails share the same path for the next two miles. Continue hiking upwards for another mile and one half to where the trail has obtained it's highest point on Rocky Mountain. The trail itself skirts below the summit of the mountain as it begins to drop in elevation. After hiking down one half mile, the Stanley Gap Trail splits right heading towards Deep Gap. Continuing downwards another mile, rock piles on the right of the trail indicate a spur trail to possible water. The trail then continues downwards another half mile, reaches a gap, and begins a short climb. The campsite destination of this hike is reached after a climb of one half mile. The campsite on top of Scroggins Knob is found to the left of the trail as the trail continues, heading downhill. It is possible to continue this hike onwards, but soon the hike approaches private property, the highway, and civilization. To reach the trailhead of this hike from the intersection of Hwy. 515 at First Street, near our store in East Ellijay, head north on the highway for 14.5 miles. Turn right onto Rock Creek Connector, passing in front of Rock Creek Baptist, then turn right onto Rock Creek Road. Travel Rock Creek Road, passing a Game Management station on the left, past Stanley Gap/Stanley Gap Trailhead at mile six and reaching our BMT trailhead in another .8 mile. The trail heads out from the left side of the roadway. |
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Appalachian Trail-Benton MacKaye Trail Hikes 
