At first glance, north Georgia wouldn't appear to be a mecca for hikers. But every spring, hundreds of the world's most dedicated hikers gather about 90 miles north of Atlanta at Springer Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest to begin a 2,179-mile hike of the Appalachian Trail, all the way to Mount Katahdin in Maine. The popularity of the trail and the region's untamed forests have led to the creation of hiking clubs in north Georgia.
Clubs
The best-known hiking club in north Georgia is the Appalachian Trail Club, which helps to maintain parts of the Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain to the North Carolina border. The Benton MacKaye Trail Association is another well-known club, maintaining a 288-mile-long trail network. Mountain High Hikers sponsors walks throughout the southern Appalachians in north Georgia and North Carolina. While not a club, North Georgia Mountain Outfitters in East Ellijay also sponsors frequent hikes in the region.
Places
Besides the Appalachian and Benton MacKaye trails, hiking clubs in the region walk through the Cohutta Wilderness, a 60-square-mile area in Georgia and Tennessee; Amicolola Falls State Park near Dawsonville, home to the state's highest waterfall; and Fort Mountain State Park in the Chattahoochee National Forest.
Geography
The Blue Ridge Mountains of northern Georgia are filled with rugged terrain; the Appalachian Trail Conference rates the 76.4-mile hike from Springer Mountain to North Carolina as a difficulty level of "6" on a scale of 10. The elevation ranges from about 2,500 feet to 4,800 feet. About 90 percent of the Blue Ridge is covered with forests, mostly oak and hickory. Water and wildlife are both abundant.
Activities
Hiking clubs in north Georgia sponsor frequent hikes and trail-maintenance activities. The Benton MacKaye Trail Club, for example, sets aside the second and fourth Saturday of each month for work trips. A coalition of hiking and conservation organizations are raising money to create a specialty Appalachian Trail license plate for Georgia drivers, with revenue-sharing proceeds dedicated to trail maintenance and projects.
Seasons
Although northern Georgia is part of a temperate climatological zone, year-round hiking isn't encouraged. If you begin to hike the length of the Appalachian Trail in March, you may wind up hunkered down in shelters until spring snow and ice storms clear out. Mid- and late summer hiking can be dangerous, since temperatures and humidity tend to be extreme, so you'll need to take extra precautions. Fall is considered to be excellent hiking weather, especially with the change in colors of foliage.
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