You don’t need to hike 2,000 miles to enjoy the Appalachian Trail, or the many other trails in Georgia. Here are five short strolls for the beginning day-hiker, suggested by the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club:
Springer Mountain
2 miles, round trip
This easy-to-moderate one-mile hike takes you to the top of Springer, which is the official beginning of the 2,189-mile Appalachian Trail. Hike south on the Appalachian Trail from the parking area. You also will cross the Benton MacKaye Trail, and a side trail leading east to the Springer Mountain shelter. Another .2 miles south on the Appalachian Trail brings you to the summit, with views to the west. To return, retrace your hike north to the parking area.
To get there: Heading east on Ga. 52 from Amicalola Falls State Park, travel 6.8 miles, and turn left on Nimblewill Church Road; bear right at Nimblewill Church, and turn left onto Forest Service Road 28. Follow the Forest Service roads about 10 miles to the parking lot at the foot of Springer.
Woody Gap to Big Cedar Mountain
2 miles, round trip
Start at Woody Gap and hike to the 1 mile point on the summit of Big Cedar Mountain, a great rock outcrop viewing area. The well-maintained trail is moderate, with an elevation gain of 500 feet.
To get there: From Dahlonega, follow Ga. 60 for 13.3 miles to the top of the ridge; there is parking on either side of the road. Follow the white paint blazes of the Appalachian Trail to the right, northeast, toward Blood Mountain.
Rocktown Trail
2 miles, round trip
This easy hike in the Cumberland Plateau in northwestern Georgia winds through a maze of unusual sandstone rock boulders similar to the hoodoos of southern Utah.
To get there: From the U.S. 27-Ga. 193 junction in LaFayette, travel Ga. 193 north for 2.8 miles before turning left onto Chamberlain Road. This turn is marked with a Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area sign. Proceed 3.4 miles on Chamberlain Road, then turn right onto a wide gravel road at a large WMA sign. Continue on the gravel road (you will pass a Department of Natural Resources check station, stay right at the fork at mile 3.5) for 4.7 miles to the top of Pigeon Mountain. Turn left onto a one-lane gravel road with a dead-end sign. Follow the road 0.7 miles to the trailhead parking area.
Bear Hair Gap Trail
3.6 mile loop
Beginning in Vogel State Park, this moderate loop trail offers diverse woodland habitats and a view of Lake Trahlyta from the overlook. Traveling counterclockwise, follow the orange blazes uphill for 1.3 miles to a spur trail that leads to the overlook. Returning to the trail from the overlook, continue walking counterclockwise around the loop. The remainder of the trail is downhill, winding through the Blood Mountain Wilderness until it re-enters Vogel State Park.
To get there: Vogel State Park is located on the west side of U.S. 19-129. From Turners Corner, where U.S. 19 joins U.S. 129, continue north on U.S. 19-129 for approximately 10.5 miles to the park sign and entrance road. Once inside the park, to reach the access trail, turn left immediately after the visitor center. Just before the road forks, look for a set of stone steps and a Nature Trail sign to the right. Follow the green-blazed access trail 0.1 mile from the first trail sign, past a wooden overlook, to the second sign. All of the park's trails begin and end here.
Blood Mountain/Freeman Trail Loop
4 miles, round trip
Blood Mountain is the highest point on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia, offering views and a historic stone shelter. Park at the Byron Herbert Reece parking area north of Neel Gap off U.S. 19. The trail heads southwest out of the parking lot, behind the kiosk. Ascend the Byron Reese Trail for about 1 mile, then turn right and follow the Appalachian Trail to the summit. Retrace your steps, turning left at the intersection to follow the Reese trail back to the parking lot.
To get there: Take U.S. 129 north from Cleveland, continuing when it joins U.S. 19. Reach Mountain Crossings at Neel Gap in 18 miles. Continue about .6 miles to the entrance of the Byron Herbert Reece parking area on the left. Hiker parking is not allowed at Mountain Crossings.
When the Atlanta audience at a recent sneak preview of "A Walk in the Woods" saw aerial views of Amicalola Falls and Neel Gap up on the screen, they burst into applause and "oohs" and "aahs."
Robert Redford and Nick Nolte are the big names in this comedy about the misadventures of two middle-aged men on the Appalachian Trail. But, when the film opens Wednesday, the hikers may find themselves upstaged by the landscape. And much of that glamorous landscape is in Georgia.
"The trail really was one of the stars," said Beth Rothermel, president of the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club, who was at the preview. "I think it's going to inspire people to come out."
In fact, Rothermel is bracing for an onslaught.
The Appalachian Trail, a 2,189-mile footpath from Georgia to Maine, engages 2 million to 3 million day-hikers each year. Annually, thousands of heartier enthusiasts attempt a “through-hike” along the entire length of the trail, and most of them start at the trail’s southern terminus, on Springer Mountain in Georgia.
Consequently, some shelters and campsites in the first section of the trail are pretty beat up. Hawk Mountain Shelter, for example, is 7.6 miles north of Springer, a spot where many tenderfooted northbounders find their energy giving out. It’s a way-station that’s worse for wear.
Last week, a few trail experts scouted out campsites near Hawk Mountain, looking for alternatives that could spread out the impact and take some pressure off the shelter, Rothermel said.
The GATC also is putting more ridge-runners on the trail next spring, when the largest of influx of hikers is expected. These folks will answer questions, re-direct lost hikers, pick up trash and offer safety suggestions.
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the national organization that cares for the trail, also is preparing for a boost in visitors. Executive Director-CEO Ron Tipton said voluntary registration for overnight campers will help the organization manage the use of the trail, making it possible to collect data on how many hikers are on the trail at any given time, and where they’re headed.
Hikers can register at the ATC website (which is being renovated).
Tipton and Rothermel both stressed that overnight hikers should learn about about the trail before they set out, and said the organization is working with outfitter REI to sponsor hiker education classes.
You can use the REI website to find a class nearby.
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