The Georgia AT
The Georgia AT stretches 78.5 miles from Springer Mountain to the Georgia-North Carolina border near Bly Gap. About a third of the people who attempt a thru hike of the AT never make it past the GA-NC border. The Georgia AT is known as one of the more difficult states, but I believe that is more because it is the state most thru hikers begin their journey and were they begin to cut their teeth.
The Georgia AT is known for its significant elevation gain/loss over relatively shorter distances. The Georgia AT also crosses several significant roadways and/or forest roads making it ideal for day, overnight, and section hiking.
The Georgia AT is known for its significant elevation gain/loss over relatively shorter distances. The Georgia AT also crosses several significant roadways and/or forest roads making it ideal for day, overnight, and section hiking.
In Georgia there are several easily accessible trailheads for short day hikes some of the most popular include:
AT Approach Trail | 9.8 miles point-to-point hike Springer Mountain | 1.8 mile out-and-back hike Springer To Long Creek Falls Loop | 13.4 miles Big Ceder Mountain | 2.2 mile out-and-back hike Blood Mountain | 4.8 mile out-and-back hike Blood Mountain Loop | 6 miles Cowrock Mountain | 2 mile out-and-back hike Wildcat Mountain | 1 mile out-and-back hike Rocky Mountain | 2.8 mile out-and-back hike |
Overnight/Section Hikes
The Georgia AT also has several locations for overnight and section hikes, including:
Springer to Woody Gap | 21 miles Woody Gap to Neel Gap | 10.7 miles Neel Gap to Unicoi Gap | 21.2 miles Unicoi Gap to Dicks Creek Gap | 16.7 miles Dicks Creek Gap to GA-NC Border | 8.9 miles As broken up above, each one of these starting/ending locations has parking and is fairly easily accessible except for GA-NC border. The Dicks Creek to the GA-NC must be completed as an out and back hike or as part of a longer section from Dicks Creek Gap to Deep Gap NC. |
This website, however, will follow my travels through the Georgia AT. Where possible, I will explain how to break these longer sections into smaller sections and overnight hikes.
I did the Georgia AT more or less in three sections. The first section was a longer section from Springer Mountain to Unicoi Gap over 3 1/2 days. The second section was Unicoi Gap to Dicks Creek Gap over 3 days. The third and final section was Dicks Creek Gap to Deep Gap, NC, which is approximately 7 miles passed the GA-NC border. This last hike was done over 1 1/3 days.
I did the Georgia AT more or less in three sections. The first section was a longer section from Springer Mountain to Unicoi Gap over 3 1/2 days. The second section was Unicoi Gap to Dicks Creek Gap over 3 days. The third and final section was Dicks Creek Gap to Deep Gap, NC, which is approximately 7 miles passed the GA-NC border. This last hike was done over 1 1/3 days.