List and general information on Blue Ridge Area Hiking Trails - Aska, Benton MacKaye, Jacks River...
Benton MacKaye Trail
Named for the regional planner who envisioned the Appalachian Trail and founded the Wilderness Society, this trail journeys deep into the most remote areas of Fannin County.
Beginning at Springer Mountain, the Benton MacKaye skirts the Ridge of Bald Mountain with occasional scenic views on the trail or a short walk from the trail. It returns to the AT to share its path up Rich Mountain just after the Springer Mountain Day Use Parking Area. When the AT leaves Rich Mountain and quickly descends to Stover Creek the BMT continues on a much more gradual descent along an old logging road. It rejoins the AT for the crossing at Three Forks. After the side path to Long Creek Falls the Benton MacKaye turns left.
Over the next 7 miles the BMT crosses no roads, and there are rarely any hikers until it crosses Forest Service Road 333 and descends into the Toccoa River Valley. Here the 265 foot swinging bridge crosses the Toccoa. From the bridge to Highway 60 is a 3 mile hike. North of Highway 60 the trail climbs Wallalah and Rhodes Mountains in a gentle arc as the trail swings from traveling northeast to northwest. In the vicinity of Wallalah the trail is treacherous; there are some excellent views from Rhodes. On the top of Rhodes Mountain the Duncan Ridge Trail leaves the BMT.
Once through Skeenah Gap, the trail offers additional scenic views of distant mountains, then begins an easy climb up Deadennen Mountain, descends to Lula Head Gap and ascends Wilscot Mountain and descends to Highway 60 in Wilscot Gap. After the gap the trail begins the steep climb to the top of Tipton Mountain, but it's worth the climb. At the top of Tipton are some excellent views regardless of season. Watch the trail blazes in this area, for its easy to get off the path.
From Tipton Mountain the trail falls to a gap, and then ascends Brawley Mountain. As the trail heads west it skirts the top of Garland Mountain. There are some excellent views of the Toccoa River Valley from the top of Garland, and there is an easy descent to Dial Road. Here the Shallowford Bridge crosses the Toccoa, and the trail follows Aska Road to Riverside Restaurant. The Benton MacKaye then turns on Stanley Creek Road. In 2.5 miles the trail returns to the forest, and begins the climb to Falls Creek Falls.
After visiting the falls on a side trail, return to the Benton MacKaye for the long climb to the top of Rocky Mountain.
Cohutta Wilderness Area Hiking Trails
For fun in the outdoors the Cohutta Wilderness Area cannot be beat. With more than 40,000 acres in Georgia and Tennessee (where it?s known as Big Frog Wilderness Area), the Cohuttas comprise the largest wilderness east of the Mississippi.
The Cohutta Mountains are part of the oldest known mountains in the world. They run from Fannin County northeast to the Tennessee-North Carolina border, where they are known as the Smoky Mountains, and once bordered a prehistoric ocean. It is from these mountains that the Cohutta Wilderness Area gets its name. As settlers moved west they avoided these mountains because of difficult access and scant level ground for farming. Only a few hardy Scot-Irish settlers scratched out a meager existence in this section of Appalachia.
Around 1900, the Cohuttas became one of the last areas of Georgia to be forested. Logging continued in these areas until World War II when the federal government took over management of the land. In 1976, 36,000 acres were deemed wilderness. Since that time more wilderness area has been added.
Within the Cohutta Mountains are peaks that rise to 4,200 feet and more than a hundred miles of hiking trails. Within the Wilderness Area itself are 13 trails that total more than 87 miles of unusual remote hiking. Other than on the popular Jacks River Trail, it is possible to hike in this area for days during the Spring and Fall and not see other backpackers.
Two rivers (Conasauga and Jacks) flow through the Cohuttas, forming the major valleys on the east and west sides of the Wilderness Areas. In the river valleys the flora is prolific. It is not uncommon to see a wide array of plant life, thickly covering any land that gets available sunlight. As the trails climb the mountains the plants lessen, mostly because the trees block the sun.
The Chamber of Commerce Scenic Drives #2 and #3 are Cohutta Mountain Adventures. Be sure to stop by the office on the way to the mountains to get the brochure detailing the drive.
Green Mountain Trail
An easy to moderate trail, it leaves from Deep Gap in the Aska Adventure Area, climbs Green Mountain where seasonal views of Lake Blue Ridge are possible, then descends to a second trailhead. On the return trip a slightly different trail can be taken.
Jacks River Trail
This moderate 16.9 mile trail will require at least one night under the stars, but it?s worth the trip. Just slightly more that halfway through the trip are the incredible Jacks River Falls. The trailhead is at Dally Gap and it ends at the Alacusy Valley on the other side of the Cohutta Wilderness. According to tradition, this trail is named for a Cherokee Indian who lived in the Cohutta Mountains. By far the most popular of the trails in the Cohutta Wilderness, Jacks River crosses the entire wilderness and intersects most of the other trails. The trail begins at Dally Gap and ends almost 17 miles later in the Alacusy Valley. Jacks River Falls at 9.2 miles is a highlight. Requires two cars.
Lake Blue Ridge Loop Trail
This easy trail begins as a hike along the shore of Lake Blue Ridge, and then meanders through the woods on the return trip. Distance .6 miles
Jacks River Trail
This moderate 16.9 mile trail will require at least one night under the stars, but it?s worth the trip. Just slightly more that halfway through the trip are the incredible Jacks River Falls. The trailhead is at Dally Gap and it ends at the Alacusy Valley on the other side of the Cohutta Wilderness. According to tradition, this trail is named for a Cherokee Indian who lived in the Cohutta Mountains. By far the most popular of the trails in the Cohutta Wilderness, Jacks River crosses the entire wilderness and intersects most of the other trails. The trail begins at Dally Gap and ends almost 17 miles later in the Alacusy Valley. Jacks River Falls at 9.2 miles is a highlight. Requires two cars.
Stanley Gap Trail
This moderate to difficult point-to-point trail is 4.6 miles and if you want to day hike; it will take two cars, one parked at Deep Gap, the other at Stanley Gap. From Deep Gap the trail climbs Davenport Mountain, and then joins the Benton MacKaye for a brief stretch as it climbs Rocky Mountain. From the top of this mountain the trail descends rapidly (read steeply) into Stanley Gap.
Swinging Bridge (Benton MacKaye Trail)
A popular destination for day-hikers, Benton MacKaye Trail through hikers, and paddlers making the journey down the Toccoa River Canoe Trail is the swinging bridge over the Toccoa River. This 265 foot long bridge is the longest swinging bridge east of the Mississippi River.
In 1976 the Forest Service, along with the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club replaced a dangerous ford of the Toccoa River in this area. The bridge, built by a private contractor, was completed in 1977 and has become a landmark in Fannin County and a popular camping spot in the Blue Ridge Wildlife Management Area.
The Benton MacKaye Trail and the swinging bridge are only open to foot traffic. Camping by the Toccoa River on either side of the river is extremely popular and it is unmanaged. Plan on a weekday visit to secure a site.
To get to the swinging bridge: The swinging bridge is 14.3 miles from the start of the Benton MacKaye Trail at Springer Mountain.
The Appalachian Trail
Springer Mountain in southern Fannin County is the start of a 2,000+ mile trek to Maine's Mount Katahdin known as the Appalachian Trail. As the trail follows the eastern ridge of the Appalachian Mountains it passes through 14 states, and although the slogan is "Maine to Georgia," most people hike the trail the other way, Georgia to Maine. Georgia's mild climate plays a role in this, since hikers like to start the 6 month trek in April. Another reason: the toughest part of the trail, in New Hampshire and Maine is saved for last, when hikers are in condition to handle it.
Georgia has nearly eighty miles of the AT running from Springer Mountain on the Fannin-Gilmer line to Bly Gap, where the trail enters North Carolina. Some excellent backpacking adventures await those who decide to hike the Georgia portion of this National Scenic Trail.
The Appalachian Trail begins at Springer, and follows a rocky ridge line almost due north to the Springer Mountain Parking Area. It climbs and descends Rich Mountain before reaching Three Forks. This is the well known confluence of Stover, Long, and Chester Creek to form Noontootla Creek. From here the trail climbs along and near Long Creek to Long Creek Falls, one of the area's most popular waterfalls. A few steps after this waterfall the Benton MacKaye Trail comes off to the left, and the Duncan Ridge Trail begins.
From this point the Appalachian Trail makes a wide right turn and begins the climb to Hawk Mountain. As you walk along the ridge before Hawk Mountain, you leave Fannin County and enter Union County. There is a scenic view of the Etowah River Valley
headwaters from the top of this peak. The AT then returns to Forest Service Road 42 at Hightower Gap. This gap is where Forest Service Road 69, home to the Chattahoochee Fish Hatchery and the Swinging Bridge on the Benton MacKaye Trail, ends.
On the Appalachian Trail there are three shelters for hikers:
Springer Mountain Shelter (0.2 miles after the start of the AT) - Spring for water and privy Stovall Creek Shelter - (2.5 miles) - Stovall Creek for water Hawk Mountain Shelter (Union County) (7.6 miles) - Headwaters of Long Creek for water, privy Please note: After Hawk Mountain the next shelter is on Gooch Mountain (14.9 miles)
There are three day-use parking areas covering the Fannin County section of the Appalachian Trail, two on FS 42 (Springer Mountain and Hightower Gap) and on FS 58 at Three Forks that is heavily used because of Long Creek Falls.
A Hiking Map with Directions
This is a PDF map from the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce and visitors Center. 'View Website' to download now! #1 recommended hike from SCCR guests is Fall Branch Falls.
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