View our HD video review of this trail:

The hike begins at the Byron Reece Trail, accessed from GA Highway 19/129 north of Cleveland. Ascend through a forest of deciduous trees and rhododendron as the trail follows and crosses several small streams as climbs .6 miles to meet the Appalachian Trail.

At the trail junction, turn right on the Appalachian Trail to begin the ascent to the peak of Blood Mountain, the highest point of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia.

Vistas open along both sides of the trail off bald outcrops of rock during the ascent. Reach the summit of Blood Mountain at 2 miles, having climbed to the peak at 4461 feet, marked by a USGS survey marker at the summit. Take time to enjoy the views – or in our case, a serene breakfast – before the crowds ascend to the top of this extremely popular hike. When you’ve savored the view, turn around to hike back down the North face of Blood Mountain, retracing your steps along the Appalachian Trail towards the Byron Reece Trail. At the junction of the Byron Reece Trail, continue descending northward along the Appalachian Trail, passing a sizable rock that balances on an underlying rock at two small resting points.

At 4.5 miles, cross highway 19/129 at Neels Gap to the famed Walasi-Yi Center, a well-equipped hiking and backpacking store and a chance to stock up on any supplies you’d forgotten, refill on water, and pick up an extra snack for the journey. The Appalachian Trail passes through the building under an archway and continues Northbound towards Tesnatee Gap, entering the Raven Cliffs Wilderness. The trail begins to ascend towards the peak of Levelland Mountain at 3900 feet, reaching the peak of the mountain at 6 miles.

The Appalachian Trail descends the north face of Levelland Mountain, offering expansive vistas from its steep northern side. The the trail levels at Swain Gap before ascending through deciduous forest towards Rock Spring Top; a small spring to the left of the trail offers a refreshing spot to refill on water at 7 miles. Climb to the peak of Wolf Laurel Top at 7.75 miles, passing another small spring before climbing to the peak of Cowrock Mountain, reaching the summit at 9.5 miles. Several small flat areas near the peak of the mountain alongside the Appalachian Trail offer the perfect overnight camping spot – and guarantee excellent early morning sunrise views, especially in the Fall, Winter and early Spring months when leaves have fallen.

To return, leave the peak of Cowrock Mountain and retrace your steps southbound on the Appalachian Trail towards Neels Gap, again crossing Georgia Highway 19/129 to return to the Byron Reece Trail. Descend the Byron Reece Trail to the trailhead and parking area.

This metro stretch of the Hooch has long been one of our kayaking favorites for convenience – with just a short drive and coordination of drop off and pick up parking arrangements, we’re out paddling on the Chattahoochee River in minutes, enjoying some time on the water.  The scenery is mixed between preserved park areas, stately homes along the river, and the rocky cliffs along the shores of the river at Cochran Shoals south to Paces Mill, and flow on the river ranges from slow and tranquil at the Johnson Ferry put-in to lively and slightly challenging through the Chochran Shoals, Thornton Shoals and Long Island Shoals at the southern end of the trip.

We shot this video footage during our most recent paddle on the river on April 11, 2010 – and were glad to find that cleanup continues on the Chattahoochee river following the epic floods that occurred in Atlanta last fall, and that the river is returning to its former beauty.  Our trip sighted plenty of active wildlife:  3 river otters and numerous turtles were a sign of revitalization.

As always, be safe and check the daily Chattahoochee River water quality updates at http://ga2.er.usgs.gov/bacteria/ before you paddle.

Click here for Johnson Ferry put-in directions, and here for directions to the take-out at Paces Mill.  Parking is $3 at both locations – we recommend an annual parking pass, which we end up using quite often during the year at all of the metro Atlanta Chattahoochee National Recreation Area parks.

View our original ‘Kayaking the Chattahoochee’ post here.

The gorge and surrounding 12,000 acres of Linville Gorge Wilderness a wealth of fantastic hiking trails and climbing – arguably some of the best in the state of North Carolina.

It’s here, across Forest Service Road 210 from the Hawksbill Trail trailhead, that we found one of our favorite camping and backpacking spots in North Carolina. Set back from the gravel forest road and trailhead a distance of a quarter mile, several primitive campsites here, marked with circular stone rings, offer solitude from the busy Linville Gorge hiking while providing close proximity to hiking in the gorge.

The campsite itself offers fantastic views from a 30 foot rock outcrop that opens to a wide valley facing north away from Linville Gorge. Views here are expansive – and equally beautiful at sunrise and during the day.

Parking is available along Forest Road 210. Access to the campsite is across the forest road from the Hawksbill trailhead; head a quarter of a mile along the trail. The first campsite is located in a wide clearing and offers ample space for several tents around the large stone fire ring. Our campsite of choice is located to the left of the first site; turn left when you reach the large clearing and follow the trail to the large rock outcrop that juts from the ground at a 45 degree angle.

Permits are required for camping in the gorge from May 1 through October 31, available from the Linville Falls Visitor Center.

Getting there: Turn onto Forest Service Road 210, Gingercake Road, from NC 181. Turn right at the fork on FR 210. The road rises as it climbs to the ridge of Gingercake and becomes a gravel road at the entrance to the Linville Gorge Wilderness. The Hawksbill Trail and camping area are located 3 miles along Forest Road 210 from Gingercake Acres. GPS Coordinates: 35.952285,-81.892862

This hike is one of our favorites along the Appalachian Trail in Georgia – for both the interesting, stream-filled forest through which it winds as well as the significance of traveling the southernmost 4.3 miles of the Appalachian Trail to the southernmost terminus at Springer Mountain.  And Springer Mountain is a great ending destination for this hike, providing gorgeous views of the southern Georgia mountains.  It’s here that many dreams both start and end;  thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail take either their first steps here in their journey to Katahdin in Maine or are taking their last in their long journey from the North.

The hike leaves Forest Road 58 at Three Forks and heads south along the trail across a narrow wooden bridge spanning Noontoola Creek.  We rate this hike at moderately difficult;  the first half of the hike to Springer Mountain is almost solidly uphill, rising from 2600 feet elevation at Three Forks to Springer Mountain at 3782 feet – a rise of almost 1200 feet.  The payoff, though, is the return trip, traveling the same distance almost all downhill.

The Appalachian Trail extends into the mixed deciduous, pine and rhododendron forest, winding continuously along several small creeks that run downward towards the Noontoola Creek at Three Forks.

The Appalachian Trail continues to climb, more steeply as it winds, past the Stover Creek Shelter to the left of the trail.  It intersects with the winding Benton MacKaye Trail a total of 4 times along the climb to the Springer Mountain summit.  The Benton MacKaye Trail – named for the man that conceived the Appalachian Trail in the early part of the 20th century.

The trail winds more steeply upward after leaving the parking area along Forest Road 42 as it climbs upward towards the summit of Springer Mountain.  The terrain here is rocky and decidedly vertical, and vistas (especially during the late fall, winter and spring months) start to emerge to the right of the trail.

A side trail to water – and the Springer Mountain shelter and camping area – leaves to the left of the trail just before you approach the crest of the mountain at 4.1 miles.  This trail is marked by signs both old and new;  a wooden trail sign, a blue blaze on a tree (used universally on the Appalachian Trail to signify side trails leading to water), and a bent branch leading in the direction of the trail – a natural “sign” created by the Cherokee and Creek Indians that once inhabited North Georgia to indicate direction along a trail, created by weighing down a branch while it grew.

Reach the summit of Springer Mountain at 4.3 miles, and take time to enjoy the vistas of the Georgia mountains to the North.  It’s here that many dreams are both ended and started, a final white blaze leading to the bronze plaque that marks the official end of the Appalachian Trail.

When you’ve finished enjoying the views from the top of Springer Mountain, retrace your steps along the Appalachian Trail to the trailhead at Three Forks, completing the 8.6 mile out-and-back hike.

Three Forks is also one of our favorite camping spots;  many excellent primitive camp sites line the rushing shores of the Noontoola Creek.  See our review of camping along the Noontoola Creek here.  And, if you’re camping in the area, we’ve also reviewed the Appalachian Trail to Long Creek Falls which leaves from this same trailhead to the North;  click here to view our review  of the Appalachian Trail to Long Creek Falls.

GPS Coordinates: 34.671271,-84.191725.

This hike’s trailhead is Northbound, leaving from the same side of the highway as the parking area and hiking through section 24 of the Pinhoti Trail. We’ve reviewed another hike on the Pinhoti – South from Snake Creek Gap – which leaves from this same parking area. Combine the two for a 14 mile loop with the parking area as a central point.

The hike immediately begins to climb upwards from the trailhead, rising steadily to climb to the ridge of Mill Creek Mountain. The trail switches back sharply at a half mile from the trailhead, continuing to climb upwards.

Reach the ridge crest at 1 mile, marked by a large rock cairn. Continue hiking the Pinhoti Trail Northward along the ridge, passing through a forest of mixed deciduous and coniferous trees. Rock outcrops are common in the rocky terrain.

Views extend continuously off both sides of the ridge, especially in winter and spring, offering views of the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. Reach the crest of Mill Creek Mountain at 2.25 miles.

Continue hiking the Pinhoti, descending from the crest of the mountain and enjoying especially pretty views to the East. At 3.5 miles, turn around on the trail to complete this out-and-back hike, retracing your steps to the parking area. View our GPS record of this hike here on Google Maps.

Getting there: follow Interstate 75 North out of Atlanta to exit 320.  Turn left off the exit ramp onto GA 136, following GA 136 for 10.5 miles to the well-marked Pinhoti Trail parking area on your right. GPS Coordinates: 34.666111,-85.066495

Check out our HD video review of the Paces Mill / Rottenwood Creek trail:

From the parking and boat ramp area, the trail extends flat along the Chattahoochee River, following North along the river bank.

The trail passes under the huge overpass of I-75 as the Chattahoochee widens, the river becoming broad and the flow smooth.

The trail turns to the left after crossing a large bridge spanning Rottenwood Creek. Several side trails, both dirt, extend from the paved trail here;  the one closest to the river extends into a more underused section of the park and offers great trail running alongside the Chattahoochee River.

The paved trail follows along the banks of Rottenwood Creek, turning to run over a wooden boardwalk before crossing the creek several more times on large metal bridges.

From here, the trail begins to climb significantly as it winds towards Akers Mill Road.  Continue following the winding path upwards, enjoying – especially in the winter and spring months – the view of the rumbling Rottenwood Creek below.

Begin the decent towards the falls before the trail crosses the creek one last time over a metal bridge which affords views of the sliding waterfall below the I-285 overpass.  This is the most scenic section of the park in our opinion – with a beautiful waterfall and forest nicely juxtaposed with the surrounding urbanism.  As with many of the parks in the Chattahoochee River system in Metro Atlanta, the blend of the city and nature is very nicely combined to allow for great time in the outdoors while staying close to the city.

Having undergone damage during the flood of Fall 2009 (the entire parking area was under considerable water after the Chattahoochee River overflowed its banks), the park has been cleaned up and the parking areas and trails open for use.  New restrooms have been installed in the parking area, and the state is working on further restoration of the picnic area.

Ample parking is available at the Paces Mill parking lot, located off Cobb Parkway inside Interstate 285. Parking is fee-based (currently $3 per car) or available year-round with a Chattahoochee National Recreation Area annual parking pass. GPS Coordinates: 33.869044,-84.455209

We’ve been waiting for the release of Surge and we’ve had the chance to test it on the trails of North Georgia. We have to say we’re really impressed. This little gadget is becoming one of our favorite pieces of gear and will be trekking with us – tethered to our packs – all over the trails north of Atlanta.

On the trail, it’s an extended battery that more than doubles the charge of your iPhone, plus has a solar panel for charging in the sun. We don’t chat on our phones on the trail, but drain our iPhone batteries pretty quickly using GPS apps to trace our hikes. If you find yourself running out of power (as we always do), just plug your phone into the Surge and it transfers the charge to your iPhone, juicing it up with a full charge.

The Surge is the only Apple-approved solar case for the iPhone. Size-wise, it’s a little too thick, by our standards, to use as an everyday case. It does hold the iPhone snugly, but it doesn’t provide protection for the top part of the phone when docked.

This charger does, however, deliver peace of mind that you’ll never be out of juice out on the trail. You can charge the Surge in the sun through the solar panel on the back, or through a USB connection (connected to a wall outlet or your computer) on the bottom. The USB connection (cord is included) also lets you sync your iPhone with your computer when it’s docked in the Surge.

We keep the iPhone in our standard case when on the trail, and tether the Surge to our Osprey packs to soak up the sun during our hike. When power starts to run low, we just plug the iPhone into the Surge to juice back up and then replace the Surge on our pack to soak up more rays and recharge.

As a bonus, the Surge offers a free app from the App Store that helps you plan for extended trips. The app lets you adjust for sunny or cloudy trips and app usage, and it tells you how long you’ll need to keep the Surge in the sun to keep it – and your phone – juiced up.

The Surge prices out at about the same price as the typical iPhone extended batteries on the market and adds the bonus of solar charging on the go, making it an awesome deal. This little gadget is becoming one of our favorite pieces of gear and will be trekking with us – tethered to our packs – all over the trails north of Atlanta.

Buy the Surge solar iPhone battery / charger from Amazon.com:

Surge Hybrid Solar Charger for iPhone 3G, 3G S (Black)

Check out our HD video review of this hike:

From the trailhead, the hike descends through deciduous forest towards High Shoals Creek, with the trail flattening as it approaches the creek at a half mile.

Pass several campsites before crossing a bridge over High Shoals Creek. Rhododendron is dense along the trail as it winds along the creek, beginning a descent towards the first waterfall. At .75 miles, turn left on the side trail to hike down to Blue Hole Falls, a short (20 feet tall), wide waterfall that plummets into a deep pool of water at the bottom.

Return to the main trail, turning left off the side trail, to continue on to the second and larger waterfall deeper in the forest. At 1 mile, turn left on another side trail to descend to the second falls on a series of switchbacks, hearing the sound of the waterfall amplify as you approach. A viewing platform at 1.3 miles provides a great view of High Shoals Falls as it tumbles over 50 feet down into the pool below.

Return to the trailhead by retracing your steps from the second falls.

Getting there: take GA 75 ALT out of Cleveland, Georgia to GA 75 North past Unicoi Gap to Forest Road 283. Forest Road 283 turns sharply to the right off GA 75; be careful as you approach mile marker 2 after passing through Unicoi Gap as the gravel forest road is easy to miss and a very sharp turn. Follow FR 283 1.25 miles to the trailhead on your left after fording a shallow stream. GPS Coordinates: 34.816129,-83.727107

Check out our HD video review of the GSI Pinnacle Backpacker cook set:

The set packs down to 8 by 5 and a half inches and weighs in at a light 28.2 oz – taking up very little space or weight for all it includes:

- A fry pan

- A lid with flip-up handle and built-in strainer holes

- Two cups

- A collapsable heat-proof handle that attaches to both the fry pan and pot

- Two insulated mugs with lids for sipping hot coffee or soup

- A 2 liter pot

- A stuff sack that doubles as a portable sink

The fry pan and 2L pot are both coated with Teflon Radiance technology – a scratch resistant nonstick coating that evenly disperses heat and is safe for use with metal utensils.  The Pinnacle set is specially manufactured for use over backpacking stoves. It’s perfect for everything from quick soups to gourmet trail meals;  and it gets water boiling for our morning coffee in just  3 minutes.  And the set is super easy to wash; we’ve cooked some cheesy dishes in this cookware – and have found with a just a little water, the food slides right off, thanks to the Teflon Radiance coating.

The Pinnacle Backpacker by GSI brings high performance, reliable cooking to the trails.  We’ve found it perfect for everything from simple reheating of soups and boiling water to gourmet on the trail.  It’s high quality, and light weight – and perfect for all our hiking and backpacking adventures on the trails.

Get the best price on the Pinnacle Backpacker set from Amazon – with free shipping – by clicking here.

Or order from REI: GSI Pinnacle Backpacker Cookset.

From the Lake Winfield Scott parking area, follow Slaughter Creek south from the lake to the trailhead.

Follow the blue-blazed Slaughter Creek Trail, crossing the creek over a small wooden bridge, to the junction with Slaughter Creek Road at around .25 miles from the trailhead.

Take a right and begin hiking along the gravel road 500 feet to the trailhead of the Jarrard Trail.

Begin hiking Jarrard Trail, blazed regularly in blue, along a small stream, Lance Branch, on your left.  The vegetation here is a mix of rhododendron, a staple of the north Georgia mountains, as well as deciduous forest.  Continue ascending up the Jarrard Gap Trail to Jarrard Gap, where you’ll intersect the Appalachian Trail at 1.25 miles.  Look for the single white blazes of the Appalachian Trail, taking a left onto the trail to begin an ascent up Gaddis Mountain.

Continue hiking the Appalachian Trail, enjoying expansive vistas (especially viewable in the winter, as they were on our mid-February hike) to the left and right as the trail levels off near the top of Gaddis Mountain.

The Appalachian Trail descends toward Horsebone Gap before ascending towards Turkey Stamp Mountain, skirting the mountain along the north side of the ridge.  The trail will begin to descend again as you approach the intersection of the Freeman Trail at 2.75 miles, passing campsites to your left.

Pass the Freeman Trail junction – your hike continues along the Appalachian Trail towards Bird Gap. The Appalachian Trail intersects the Slaughter Creek Trail at 3.1 miles, turning left off the trail after it crosses the small creek.

The Slaughter Creek Trail, blazed in blue rectangular blazes, winds down along several small stream crossings that join the larger Slaughter Creek. The trail continues winding down through rhododendron and deciduous forest, leaving the Blood Mountain Wilderness at 4.8 miles.

The trail crosses Slaughter Creek a final time over a bridge before intersecting the gravel-paved Slaughter Creek road at 5.75 miles. Cross straight across the road to return back to the trailhead at Lake Winfield Scott, retracing your original route from the parking area.

Click here for a GPS map of this hike. (Note: GPS service cut out in our final mile on the hike;  the hike continues from the marked end along the Slaughter Creek Trail to the trailhead near Lake Winfield Scott).

GPS Coordinates: 34.737426,-83.973118

The trails in Red Top Mountain State Park might not offer the stunning vistas or peaceful serenity of the remote sections of the Appalachian Trail – but the Homestead Trail is within a half hour drive from Atlanta’s perimeter, affords pretty views of Lake Allatoona, and offers a decent hike along a moderate 5.5 mile, well-groomed trail.  The trail travels through a mixed pine and deciduous forest in the middle of Red Top Mountain’s peninsula, traveling North towards the lake where it follows the winding lake shore during a 3.5 mile loop.

The hike begins at the park’s visitor center, centrally located on the peninsula.  Look for the trailhead – well marked with a sign – to the left of the front porch of the visitor center.  The first portion of the trail, well-blazed with rectangular yellow blazes, travels through a mixed deciduous and evergreen forest over fairly flat terrain as the trail heads North towards the lake shore.  At 1 mile, the trial crosses Lodge Road and splits into a loop on the other side of the road.  Turn right to follow the loop counter clockwise, enjoying the solitude that the woods offer as the trail departs from the road crossing and the sounds of vehicles on the road become muffled by the terrain.

The trail winds downhill towards the lake and at 1.5 miles, the small stream that’s been following trail right begins to open up into an inlet to the lake.  This section of the trail winds continuously along the fingers of the peninsula that extend into the lake.  Well-placed benches offer a place to rest and enjoy the scenery of the rocky lake shore and the richly iron-laden soil that gives the lake’s perimeter the stunning red color along its shores.

Just after passing the 2 mile marker, a chimney  - a remnant of one of the homesteads for which this trail is named – is visible standing remotely between the trees.

Continue hiking the trail through the coniferous forest flanking the lake shore as the trail begins its ascent.  Two small peaks are visible as the trail winds towards the West side of the peninsula and the trail continues to ascend.

As the trail begins to level out and finish the loop portion near the 4 mile marker, the trail will begin to follow Lodge Road towards the road crossing.  Turn right at the trail intersection to cross Lodge Road and double back on the 1 mile hike back to the visitor center trailhead and parking area.

GPS Coordinates: 34.149584,-84.707036

This hike draws its cool factor from more than its history and fame, however – it loops 5.1 miles, affords views from two expansive vistas, fords 3 major streams, and travels through beautiful Georgian forest.

Begin by crossing Forest Road 42 from the parking area to begin your ascent up Springer Mountain.  The hike is upward through rocky terrain in a deciduous forest – and, while our January hike didn’t afford much greenery other than the striking green moss that grows over the abundant rock outcrops here, the leafless trees allowed continuous views of the ridgeline off to the right.

At .75 miles, you’ll encounter a trail junction where the Appalachain Trail crosses the beginning of the Benton MacKaye Trail.  Continue straight ahead on the white rectangle blazed Appalachian Trail for now;  the peak of Springer Mountain is just ahead and you’ll be returning soon to this trail junction.

Shortly after, a side trail, marked in rectangular blue blazes, leads to an Appalachian Trail shelter, spring water, and backpacking camp sites.

Continue ascending to the top of Springer Mountain.   At the peak, enjoy the wide expansive view of the North Georgia ridgelines here at the official end of the Appalachian Trail.  It’s here that many dreams of beginning – or finally ending – the trail have become reality for through hikers on the trail.  A plaque and final rectangular white blaze mark the official end of the trail, and a vault built into the side of the rock outcrop hides a log book that through hikers use to mark their beginning or end of the long journey.

After you’ve had the fill of the vista, begin descending Springer Mountain the same way you came, back toward the junction with the Benton MacKaye Trail that you passed on the way up.  Take the blue-blazed trail to water if your water bottles are in need of refilling as ours were.  The side trail is also worth the short jaunt to see the shelter that marks the beginning of the adventure for South to North through hikers on the trail.

Continue descending Springer Mountain to the junction of the Benton MacKaye trail, and turn right at the trail junction.  The Benton MacKaye trail is blazed with a white diamond along its length.

Shortly after the turnoff from the Appalachian Trail, you’ll pass a plaque dedicated to Benton MacKaye set into a large mossy rock outcrop.  We left a rock here at the base of the plaque – a symbol of thanks for his help in conceiving the trail that’s become so beloved to so many.

At mile 2.5, a small sign, simply engraved with the word “view”, points to a side trail to the right.  The view here is expansive and not to be missed, looking out over a steep face of rock Southwest towards the Etowah River.

Return to the Benton MacKaye Trail and continue the descent towards Forest Road 42, crossing through several large groves of evergreen holly.

Cross FR 42 at the junction and continue the trail on the other side, clearly marked with a white diamond blaze.  You’ll hear the sounds of a tumbling stream to your right as you parallel, and then swing away from, the forest road.  Note the change of vegetation that begins to occur;  while the hike to this point has been through deciduous forest, the growth turns evergreen as pine, rhododendron, and evergreen underbrush emerge.

Continue through the evergreen forest and make three stream crossings – made fairly easily even in high water by carefully jumping from stone to stone – and continue to hike along the rushing creek.

At 4.8 miles, almost at the end of your journey, you’ll encounter another trail junction where the Benton MacKaye Trail crosses the Appalachian Trail.

Turn right here at the intersection to hike the remaining .3 miles to the parking area.  Click here to view this loop hike as recorded by GPS on Google Maps.

GPS Coordinates: 34.637315,-84.195030

Check out our HD video review of Cochran Shoals:

The trail’s first mile and a half winds along the banks of the Chattahoochee River, providing pretty scenery that contrasts with the surrounding suburbs of Atlanta. The trail passes through varied terrain; wetlands, river banks, and young forest as it loops around after approaching the Columns Drive parking area at the North end of the park.

Just after looping around from the Columns Drive parking area, a dirt path extends upward from the main Cochran Shoals trail which connects with the Sope Creek recreation area (see our Sope Creek review here).

Expect plenty of traffic on the trail, especially on weekends and nightly during the warmer months. Despite a large parking area, spaces can be limited during peak times – and parking is available for a $3 per use fee, or if you’re a frequent visitor to the Chattahoochee parks (as we are), a better value is the annual parking pass for $25, available from the park’s website here.

GPS Coordinates: 33.901731,-84.443858

The trailhead is located on the far side of the parking lot towards the bridge;  from the trailhead, you’ll begin a climb up a moderate incline, following along the banks of Dodd Creek.  The hiking trail follows Dodd Creek the entire hike to Raven Cliff Falls – and varies along the way as it courses over multiple waterfalls, travels lightly over a gravelled bed in some sections, and slows to become a deep stream over large boulders in parts.

As you begin to descend the initial incline, look to your left where you’ll see a camping area and the widest section of Dodd Creek on the trail.  Here, the creek turns a horseshoe-shaped bend and deepens to form a great swimming hole, 4-5 feet deep in sections.  Our Labrador Retriever found this a perfect place for both a pre-hike and post-hike swim.

As you wind back around to follow Dodd Creek, the forest canopy changes along your journey from pine and rhodedendron to tulip poplar and maple – providing a shaded journey for most of the way.  The trail crosses the creek at a large wooden bridge before beginning an ascent up, taking you to a slightly higher elevation than the creek for most of your journey.

The rise and fall of the trail is moderate, making for a fairly easy hike.   This, coupled with the magnificent waterfall at the end and the moderate distance of 5 miles, makes this trail much more highly travelled than most that we hike – but we found the trail traffic well worth the payoff at the end. The falls are stunning.

You’ll cross a y-shaped stream junction and another bridge as you continue your hike to the falls, passing multiple small waterfalls along the way.

You’ll hear the roar of the falls as the trail leads to Raven Cliff Falls, and will see the lower falls as the trail turns towards Raven Cliff.  Continue hiking on a rocky trail towards the cliff;  as you approach, you’ll see the huge gash that the rushing water has cut in the cliff, literally splitting it in two.

After taking time to enjoy the falls, depart Raven Cliff on the same trail to return to the trailhead, enjoying the rushing sounds of Dodd Creek along the way.

Click here to see our trail as recorded by GPS on Google Maps. GPS Coordinates: 34.709969,-83.788837

This hike is easy to moderate and travels 8 miles out and back along the joined Appalachian and Benton McKaye Trails to the Long Creek Falls trail which travels to a scenic waterfall.  From there, you’ll retrace your steps along the Long Creek Falls trail to the intersection of the Appalacian and Benton McKaye Trails, where you’ll head out on the Appalachian Trail for a few additional miles before returning to the trailhead.  Total elevation change each way is a little over 800 feet.

The Three Forks area is named for the convergence of three creeks to form the Noontoola Creek here in the Blue Ridge Wildlife Area of the Chattahoochee National Forest.  From the parking area, the trailhead for this hike is on the opposite side of the forest road from the wooden bridge that crosses Chester Creek.  Depart the trailhead and start hiking  North on the Appalachian Trail with Long Creek running on the left side of the trail.  You’re actually hiking on two trails;  here, the Appalachian Trail has converged with the Benton McKaye Trail, another of the famed long distance trails in Georgia (and was named for the founder of the Appalachain Trail, Benton McKaye).

Climb up on a moderate grade as you travel North along the trail, rising above the Long Creek through a forest of pine, poplar and rhodedendron.  The leaves were nearing their peak of change during our hike in mid-October and added to the scenery of the forest.  You’ll pass many campsites along the stream that are used by Appalachian Trail through-hikers on their journey between Maine and Georgia.  The stream becomes louder as you continue to climb;  it drops over a series of small waterfalls as it descends towards the trailhead.

At just over a mile, you’ll reach a marked trail junction;  from here, a trail leads North to Long Creek Falls (marked with a blue blaze);  the Benton McKaye Trail splits off to the Northwest (marked with a white diamond), and the Appalachian Trail continues its journey North to Maine (marked with its signature white rectangular blaze).  As you approach the trail junction, notice the double white rectangular blaze – so marked along the Appalachian Trail to signify that a trail junction is approaching within 25-50 feet.

From this intersection, follow the blue blazes to Long Creek Falls, a double waterfall that drops over 50 feet between the lower and upper falls.  Large strewn rocks below the falls make the perfect place to relax for a water break (or lunch) while enjoying the rushing sounds of the waterfall.

Once you’ve had your fill of the falls, return along the blue blazed trail to the intersection with the Appalachian and Benton McKaye Trails, and turn left to follow the white rectangular blazes of the Appalachian Trail.  You’ll continue to climb along the Appalachian Trail, switching back several times as you hike away from Long Creek Falls.  The forest opens up here, having been extensively logged in the past, and offers a change in scenery as the open canopy replaces the rhododendron from the earlier part of this hike with deciduous shrubs on the forest floor.  Small streams and dry creek beds continually cross the trail.

At around 1.8 miles, you’ll approach a farmed clearing to your right just before the intersection of Forest Road 251.  Continue hiking the Appalachian Trail through mixed deciduous and coniferous forest, ascending towards Hightower Mountain before descending towards Hightower Gap.  Reach Hightower Gap at Forest Service Road 69/42 at 8 miles; from here, turn back on the Appalachian Trail to return towards Long Creek Falls and to the parking area at the trailhead.

As we descended along the trail after passing Long Creek Falls, we took advantage of one of the vacant camping areas along the trail to allow our black lab – who is always up a for a good swim – to play in Long Creek while we rested and had a snack.

On your way in to the trail on FR 58, you’ve passed one of our favorite camping areas in Georgia, along the Noontoola Creek at Three Forks.  Click here for our review of this camp site – this beautiful area is well worth a stay overnight.

Leaving from this same trailhead is the 8.6 mile out-and-back hike from Three Forks to Springer Mountain along the Appalachian Trail.  Click here to view our review of Three Forks to Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.

GPS Coordinates: 34.671271,-84.191725.

Camping is allowed in dedicated campsites only – look for parking spaces off the road and existing fire rings.  The sites are primitive – offering no amenities other than the stone fire rings – but offer the ultimate in beauty in the surrounding Chattahoochee National Forest and the tumbling Noontoola Creek that runs beside the camp sites.

The moss-lined, roaring creek cascades down in small waterfalls along many of the sites – providing great background noise at night (nothing beats falling asleep to the sound of a waterfall in a beautiful section of forest).

The campsites here are set back from the Forest Service Road far enough for decent privacy – and are very generously spaced from other sites (ours was nearly a half mile from the nearest sites).  You’ll be camping around a mile from the convergence of the Benton McKaye Trail and the famed Appalachian Trail – making these sites an excellent base camp for day hikes along either of these famed trails – check out our review of the hike along the Appalachian and Benton McKaye from FR 58 to Long Creek Falls.  Also leaving from this same trailhead, southbound towards Springer Mountain, is our trail review of the 8.6 mile hike of the Appalachian Trail from Three Forks to Springer Mountain, traveling to the Southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.  From the campsite, venture further South on FR 58 to the intersection of the Benton McKaye and Appalachian Trails.

Getting there: from Atlanta, take 75 North to 575 towards Ellijay.  In Ellijay, turn right onto the ramp to GA 52.  At the foot of the ramp, turn left to head East on 52, and travel 4.75 miles to Big Creek Road.  Follow Big Creek Road for 15 miles (.4 miles after the pavement ends) and take a right on Forest Road 58.  After passing several residences on FR58, enter the Blue Ridge Wildlife Managment Area of the Chattahoochee National Forest.

Campsites will be visible along the Noontoola Creek, which winds to the right side of FR 58.  Our campsite was about halfway to the intersection of FR 58 and the Benton McKaye and Appalachian Trails at GPS coordinates 34.671271,-84.191725.  

Click here to view the hiking trail review North from Snake Creek Gap, leaving from this same parking area.

This 7 mile out-and-back hike (click here for a GPS map of our route) climbs up from the trailhead onto Horn Mountain and then follows the ridge line of the mountain south through craggy fields of rock.  The beauty of the forest here is stunning, filled with thick sections of moss covered rock, wildflowers, and new growth trees cloaked in bright green leaves.  From the parking lot, cross GA 136W – the trailhead is on the opposite side of the road from the parking lot.

You’ll leave the trailhead and hike 3.5 miles out – and then retrace your route 3.5 miles back to the trailhead – for a pleasurable 3 to 3.5 hour hike at a decent pace.    The trail is one of the most well-marked we’ve seen, blazed continuously in white as well as accompanying Pinhoti trail signs – designated by a turkey’s foot – the length of the trail.

The forest here is extremely young, dominated by hickory, oak, dogwood, and tulip popular.  The forest here is re-emerging after a history of heavy logging in the area, providing a stark contrast of scenery to many of the other trails we’ve hiked in North Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

As you climb upward on the trail, you’ll notice the rocky terrain emerging – gray rock, from large boulders to the weathered grit that forms the trail – outnumbers the trees here in the hills and valleys of the mountainside.

As you climb the mountain, you’ll pass a small spring that’s been piped to prevent trail erosion on the right side of the trail, and you’ll notice the valleys becoming dramatically deeper as the trail begins to switch back as it climbs upward.  The steepest climb on the trail occurs just before reaching the summit at 1.7 miles.  You’ve climbed 500 feet from the trailhead to reach the summit, which is littered with large outcrops of rock and tossed boulders.

Continue hiking the trail, traveling along the mountain ridge.  The trail continues to travel through rock-littered, mossy forest and passes through wildflowers that catch the sparse sunlight that leaks through the tree canopy overhead.

At 2.7 miles, you’ll reach another peak that offers views of Johns Mountain to the right of the trail and Chestnut Mountain to the left.  The trail begins a long decent here as you hike down the South side of the mountain and, after passing two small springs that run over the trail, adjoins an old dirt logging trail at 3.5 miles from the trailhead.  Turn around to return to the trailhead to complete your 7 mile hike.

We travelled the trail in mid-October – at the start of the leaf changes here in this area – and enjoyed the sparse views through the dense foliage of the surrounding mountains along the trail.  We’ll be returning – for sure – this winter to take in the views that the trail was hiding while this primarily deciduous forest was hiding in the fall.   The views that we did see along the trail were beautiful – there are two ridges on either side of this hiking ridge that run in close proximity the whole length of the trail, offering pretty views from the trail.

Getting there: follow Interstate 75 North out of Atlanta to exit 320. Turn left off the exit ramp onto GA 136, following GA 136 for 10.5 miles to the well-marked Pinhoti Trail parking area on your right. The trailhead is across the street from the parking area. GPS Coordinates: 34.666111,-85.066495

Just outside the 285 Perimeter , Sope Creek offers a series of trails through preserved forest with connecting trails to the well-used Cochran Shoals park on the Hooch (which offers additional hiking as well as an excellent 5k running path – where we trained for our half marathon several years ago).  Part of the charm of these trails, compared to Cochran Shoals, is that they’re much less often used by visitors, and while on the trails, we’re able to relax and forget that we’re in the Atlanta suburbs.  The park is an awesome alternative to a trip to North Georgia – some time in the woods with some pretty scenery without the drive.

Sope Creek borders the East side of the park and runs past the ruins of a paper mill from the 19th century.  The paper mill, built in 1855, destroyed by Union armies during the Civil War and rebuilt several years later, operated until 1902.  The remnants of the foundation and first story walls stand silently in the woods next to Sope Creek.

3-4 miles of hiking trails, well-marked with blue blazes, wind through the woods, intersecting each other as they run beside Sope Creek, around the picturesque Sibley Pond, and ultimately connecting to the Cochran Shoals park.

We’d rate all trails as easy to moderate in difficulty – the moderate trails being the few that descend to Sope Creek and the paper mill ruins at the North section of the park.  The Northern trails run close to Paper Mill Road and are accompanied by the sounds (and sights) of traffic  - hike in on one of the many trails deeper in the park (trail maps are numerous and posted at the parking area and throughout the network of trails) to escape traffic noise and get a little more enjoyment of nature.  The woods here are moderately thick – quickly buffering the sounds of the surrounding suburbs and – we’ve found – letting our minds pretend we’re further from the city as we hike along.

GPS Coordinates: 33.939515,-84.441905

This hike travels a total of 7.4 miles out and back –  most of the “out” portion of the trip extends level or downhill, providing a moderately challenging uphill climb for the first half of the “and back” half of the hike.

From the trailhead, the hike begins in a dense section of rhododendron – and the flattest part of the hike.

This lesser-travelled trail rises slightly to the ridgeline – and as the rhododendron begins to clear – starts to offer amazing views of blue mountain vistas on both sides of the trail.  Running a ridge line for much of the 3.7 miles out and back, the trail is often the highest point for many miles, with the edges of the ridge dropping sharply to your left and right as you hike along.

Ash and birch trees overtake the rhododendron as the vistas start to show on the left and right sides of the trail.

Rocky outcrops dot the entire trail, providing excellent viewing platforms for the wondrous views on the hike.  Closing in on 1.5 miles from the trailhead, the trail travels through an interesting slice in rock just several feet wide before winding behind a huge overhanging ledge of granite.

Beginning around 2 miles from the trailhead, the ash, cherry and birch begin to subside to make way for more dense thickets of rhododendron.

\

The trail drops sharply here, and the dense forest becomes dark as the sunlight struggles to make its way through the dense foliage.

The trail drops through a moderately flat section of forest opening back up to oak and coniferous trees in a high canopy.  Pass an interesting, white cube of granite that sits just off the trail and suggests a resting point before beginning the upcoming ascent of the ridgeline.  Ascend to another high point of the trail at 3.7 miles and enjoy the spectacular vistas from the top on top of exposed rock before turning and beginning the trek back to the trailhead.

While some sections of the hike out were ascents, most descended – a  fact you’ll start to notice as much of the first half of the return hike is sharply uphill.  Be sure, though, to take time to admire the ridgeline views from the return direction, as you’ll notice a different perspective to the views as well as additional vantage points to take in the vistas.

Getting there: from the Brasstown Bald parking area, take the paved path to the left – away from the gift shop and shuttle busses and towards the restrooms – to find the Arkaquah Trail departing from the paved path.

Returning to Atlanta from the hike, you’ll pass FR 44 to your right just after passing the Appalachian Trail on GA 75;  if you’d like to make a weekend of the Arkaquah Trail, see our review of the excellent primitive camping along FR 44 – one of our favorites in the Chattahoochee National Forest.

It’s here, along FR 44, that we’ve found our favorite campsites – a string of primitive sites with stone fire rings and gravel turnoffs for parking off the side of the Forest Road.  Here, many streams converge and flow past the large campsites to meet with the Chattahoochee River downstream.  The sites are distributed along 3 miles of the Forest Road. Depending on the site you pick, your nearest campground will be up to a half mile from the next nearest site.

The proximity of the sites to hiking on the nearby Appalachian Trail, along with the serenity that the private campsites offer, make these a perfect weekend camping getaway that’s not too far from home.   Just North of the campsites on GA 75 is one of our favorite hikes, Indian Grave Gap.  Follow GA 75 North of FR 44 approximately 4 miles to Unicoi Gap, and hike northward on the Appalacian Trail toward Adidas Gap.  This 5 mile hike is strenuous but affords breathtaking views of the Chattahoochee National Forest from the top.

How to find the campsites?  It’s easy – take GA 75 North from Cleveland 17 miles (you’ll pass through Helen on the way).  You’ll pass Andrews Cove Campground on your right  - and several miles later, you’ll see a sign for the Upper Chattahoochee Campground and a turnoff for Forest Road 44 on your left.  FR 44 is gravel but easily drivable – follow along the road, enjoying the scenery, until you come across primitive campsites around 2 miles in on both sides of the road.

Camping here is free, and some sites are more private than others – though no cost means no facilities, so bring plenty of drinking water.  If you decide the primitive sites aren’t your thing and prefer full facilities instead, continue on FR44 for another few miles to the Upper Chattahoochee Campground, which offers 34 family campsites with full water and bathroom facilities at the cost of $12 a night (and very small sites that border with your neighbors) – but still shares in the beauty of the area and proximity to hiking. GPS Coordinates: 34.789946,-83.760924