The Appalachian Trail travels 76 miles in
Georgia. It all starts or ends on the Appalachian Trail at Springer
Mountain, the southern terminus of the trail. Some may find it surprising
that the AT never falls under 2500 feet in elevation in Georgia with a high
point of 4461 feet at Blood Mountain.
Blood Mountain is the most visited spot along the
Appalachian Trail south of Clingmans Dome and the 40,000 visitors per year has
taken its toll on the area as well as the shelter located near the summit.
The trail in Georgia features many steep up and downs and those trying to get an
early spring start could find cold rain, sleet or snow in these higher
elevations in the southern Appalachians.
To reach the southern terminus of the Appalachian
Trail on the 3782 foot summit of Springer Mountain, you have three options.
The first and most popular is to begin at the visitor center at Amicalola Falls
State Park and take the 8.8 mile Approach Trail to Springer Mountain. This
trail is steep at times and climbs almost the whole way with an elevation gain
of over 2000 feet.
First blaze and plaque on Springer Mountain
Another option is to take USFS 28 to Nimblewill
Gap and then take the Approach Trail another 2.8 miles to the summit of Springer
Mountain. This option requires driving on some rough and at times, muddy
forest service roads.
The quickest and easiest way to get to the
southern terminus at Springer Mountain is to take USFS 42 to the crossing of the
Appalachian Trail about one mile north of the summit. This will mean
retracing your steps, however it will save you many miles compared to hiking the Approach
Trail. USFS 42 is a well graded gravel road that is suitable for all
vehicles.
View from Tray Mountain
It all starts at Springer Mountain and as you
hike north you'll find other memorable places along the Appalachian Trail in
Georgia including Long Creek Falls, Sassafras Mountain, Justus Mountain, Ramrock
Mountain, Big Cedar Mountain, Blood Mountain, Levelland Mountain, Wolf Laurel
Top, Cowrock Mountain, Wildcat Mountain, Poor Mountain, Sheep Rock Top, Blue
Mountain, Rocky Mountain, Cheese Factory Site, Tray Mountain, Kelly Knob, and
Powell Mountain.
Use the links above to explore different sections
of the AT in Georgia (links under construction).
We recommend purchasing any of the following books for those
looking for more information on hiking the Appalachian Trail in Georgia:
Appalachian Trail Guide to North Carolina-Georgia
Exploring the Appalachian Trail: Georgia North Carolina Tennessee
How to Hike the A.T.: The Nitty-Gritty Details of a Long-Distance Trek
