Benton MacKaye Trail Appalachian Trail

1 Springer Mountain (Trail Terminus for AT & BMT)2 Three Forks3 Long Creek Falls4 Woody Gap5 Neels Gap, Walasi-Yi Center6 Tesnatee Gap, Richard Russell Scenic Hwy.7 Unicoi Gap8 Toccoa River & Swinging Bridge9 Wilscot Gap, Hwy 60 10 Shallowford Bridge11 Stanley Creek Rd.12 Fall Branch Falls13 Dyer Gap14 Watson Gap15 Jacks River Trail (Dally Gap)16 Thunder Rock Campground

Main Welcome Center McCaysville Visitor Center Highway Number

1

64

Morganton

Toccoa River

Oc oee R i ve r

Toc

coa R iver Mineral

Bluff

Helen

Hiwassee

YoungHarris

Aska Road

Nantahala Gorge40 milesAsheville110 miles

12975alt

115

255

68

64

76old

60

515

5

2

52

52515

60spur

180

129

19

12960

60

76

288

17

180

19

348

75

75

12952

69

75

175

McCaysville

Copperhill

Blue Ridge

Ellijay

Blairsville

Dahlonega

Murphy

Epworth

Cleveland

F S 64

FS

22

TENNESSEE

GEORGIA

NO

RTH C

ARO

LINA

GEORGIA

NORTH CAROLINA

GEORGIA

74

64

GEORGIAMAP AREA

N10 MILES

©2018 TreasureMaps®.com All rights reserved

Atlanta75 miles

Amicalola Falls

CohuttaWilderness

Benton MacKaye

Trail

SpringerMountain

VogelState Park

BR Scenic RR

OcoeeWhitewater

Center

MercierOrchards

Rich Mtn.Wilderness

BrasstownBald

Chattanooga70 miles

LakeBlue

Ridge

Appalachian Trail

Cooper CreekScenic Area

ThreeForks 2

Suches

8#Outdoor Adventure:Hiking the Appalachian

and Benton MacKaye Trails

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4

6

91011

3

12

13

14

15

FS 58

FS 4

2

16

Big FrogWilderness

5

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AT Trail Section Distances (miles)(6.9) Springer Mountain - Three Forks - Long Creek Falls(1.1) Three Forks - Long Creek Falls(15.3) Long Creek Falls - Woody Gap(9.2) Woody Gap - Blood Mountain(2.1) Blood Mountain - Neels Gap(5.7) Neels Gap - Tesnatee Gap(14.9) Tesnatee Gap - Unicoi Gap

BMT Trail Section Distances (miles)(6.0) Springer Mountain - Three Forks (1.1) Three Forks - Long Creek Falls(8.8) Three Forks - Swinging Bridge(14.5) Swinging Bridge - Wilscot Gap(7.5) Wilscot Gap - Shallowford Bridge(33.0) Shallowford Bridge - Dyer Gap(24.1) Dyer Gap - US 64

4 Woody Gap. From Three Forks the combined AT/BMT continues northeast toward Long Creek Falls where the trails split. The BMT goes north, and the AT continues east past Hawk Mountain to Hightower Gap and on to Woody Gap.

5 Neels Gap. The AT climbs over challenging terrain up Blood Mountain and down to Neels Gap & Walasi-Yi Center.

6 Tesnatee Gap, Richard Russell Scenic Highway. The AT crosses one of the most beautiful scenic highways in Georgia

7 Unicoi Gap, Hwy. 75 AT access from Hwy. 75.

8 Toccoa River & Swinging Bridge. A 260-foot suspension bridge crosses the Toccoa River on the Benton MacKaye Trail. From the intersection of Hwy 515 and Hwy 5 (McDonalds) in Blue Ridge, follow Hwy 515 East approximately 4 miles to the traffic light at Hwy 60. Turn right and go to the stop sign; then turn left on Hwy 60. Go 1.5 miles into Morganton, then turn right on Hwy 60 South toward Dahlonega for 11.3 miles passing Skeenah Mill. Another .7 miles on the right is FS 816, turn right and follow ROUGH gravel road about 3 miles to the parking area. Short hike down to the Toccoa River, BMT & Swinging Bridge. Parking lot - N 34°44.350' W084°10.213'

9 Wilscot Gap. BMT access from Hwy. 60.

10 Shallowford Bridge. The BMT crosses the Toccoa River here over an historic steel bridge.

The hiking trails of Fannin County include some of the most legendary in the USA. The Appalachian Trail and Benton MacKaye Trail (pronounced mack-eye) begin here on Springer Mountain. Whether you are out for a day hike or a longer multi-day hike, Blue Ridge is the perfect starting point for your hike, picking up gear, supplies & advice.

The Appalachian Trail (AT) begins at the top of Springer Mountain and continues 2,200 miles all the way to Maine. The rugged terrain of the trail can be used for short hikes or longer multi-day hikes with shuttles you setup near access points. The Benton MacKaye Trail (BMT) is a footpath of nearly 300 miles through the Appalachian mountains of the southeastern United States. It is designed for foot travel in the tradition of the Appalachian Trail (AT). Blue Ridge has been designated as the first Benton MacKaye Trail Town.

This guide is a general guide only. Please make sure you are adequately prepared for wilderness hiking.

Appalachian Trail & Benton MacKaye TrailFROM THE START, SOUTH OF BLUE RIDGE:1 Springer Mountain. This is the starting point of both the BMT and the Appalachian Trail. From Blue Ridge, take Aska Rd., 13.5 miles until it dead ends into Newport Road. Turn right on Newport Road, go 4.5 miles until it dead ends into Doublehead Gap. Turn right on Doublehead Gap and go 2 miles to FS road 42 (on the left). Turn left and go approxi-mately 6.5 to 7 miles to parking area on your left at Big Stamp Gap. From the parking lot take the trail back across the road for a .9 mile hike to the summit. Parking lot - N 34°38.262' W084°11.712'

2 Three Forks. A junction of the Benton MacKaye Trail and Appalachian Trail. Go 13.5 miles south on Aska Road to its end. Turn right onto Newport Road, go 4.5 miles to end. Turn left onto Doublehead Gap Road, cross a concrete bridge and come to a dirt gravel road. Continue on this road .3 miles to the intersection with dirt-gravel FS Road 58, intersecting sharply from the right. Turn right (east) into the forest and drive 5.3 miles to Three Forks. Noontootla Creek is on the right as you drive. The 1.1 mile trail to Long Creek Falls begins on the north side of the road (on the left). N 34°39.815' W084°11.053'

3 Long Creek Falls. A pretty hike alongside Long Creek to the falls. There are three short ascents before reaching the blue blazed side trail to the falls at 1.1 miles. N 34°39.815' W084°11.053' is the trailhead fix.

12 Fall Branch Falls. A double waterfall with mountain laurel and rhododendron growing along the trail and creek bank. The hike to the falls is about 30 minutes round trip. In Blue Ridge, follow Aska Road south for eight miles. Turn right on Stanley Creek Rd. 11 (Toccoa Riverside Restaurant is on the left). The trailhead is about three miles on the right (.2 miles from where pavement ends). Parking lot - N 34°47.017' W084°18.166' Waterfall - N 34°47.198' W084°18.370'

Benton MacKaye TrailFROM WEST OF BLUE RIDGE:13 & 14 Dyer Gap & Watson Gap. The BMT traverses the Cohutta/Big Frog Wilderness northward from here to the Ocoee Whitewater Center. From Blue Ridge travel north on Hwy 5 for 3.9 miles to Hwy 2, take a left and and go west on Hwy 2 until the road turns into a gravel Forest Service road to Watson Gap. From the four-way intersection at Watson Gap turn left and drive 2.5 miles to Dyer Gap.

15 Dally Gap. From the four-way intersection at Watson Gap turn right and uphill onto FS 22, then go 3.4 miles to the trailhead at Dally AT/BMTGap. Jacks River Trail access here.

16 Thunder Rock Campground. This is a nice place to stop, park, start a hike or set up shuttles for long hikes. From Blue Ridge take GA 5 north to McCaysville, then turn left on Tennessee Highway 68. In Ducktown, take U.S. 64 west to the Thunder Rock Campground on the left.

A Word to the Wise … Be prepared for wilderness. Get info from www.appalachiantrail.org and www.bmta.org plus the USFS web site at www.fs.fed.us/conf/. It is highly recom-mended to get USFS maps, Trails Illustrated map #777 for detailed terrain and trail info and carry the 10 essentials. The law of the forest is “leave no trace”. See www.LNT.org for info. Please pack in all you will need and pack out all your trash. If you build a fire, never leave it unattended. Use good judgment when hiking, particularly around waterfalls where rocks are often wet, moss covered and slippery. If hiking during hunting season, wear a brightly colored vest.

Main Welcome Center: 152A Orvin Lance Drive, Blue Ridge, GA 30513 1-800-899-MTNS Caboose Visitor Center: 230 Roberts Way, Blue RIdge Downtown McCaysville Visitor Center: 53 East Market St.www.BlueRidgeMountains.comwww.facebook.com/blueridgegeorgia

8# D a v e n p o r t G a pD a v e n p o r t G a p

G E O R G I A

N O R T H C A R O L I N A

G E O R G I A

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T E N N E S S E E

N O R T H C A R O L I N A

T E N N E S S E E

N O R T H C A R O L I N A

S p r i n g e r M t n .S p r i n g e r M t n .

Nantahala National Forest

Chattahoochee National Forest

Cherokee National Forest

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Cherokee National Forest

Cohutta Wilderness

Eastern Cherokee Indian Reservation

Fontana Lake

Tellico Lake

Mark Trail Wilderness

Citico Creek Wilderness

Ed Jenkins National Recreation Area

Brasstown Wilderness

Chatuge Lake

Hiwassee Lake

Watts Bar Lake

Southern Nantahala Wilderness

Rich Mountain Wilderness

Watts Bar Lake

Tray Mountain Wilderness

Big Frog Wilderness

Fort Loudoun Lake

Carters Lake

Southern Nantahala Wilderness

Ocoee Lake

Nottely Lake

Eastern Cherokee Indian Reservation

Blue Ridge Lake

Ellicott Rock Wilderness

Little Frog Mountain Wilderness

Bald River Gorge Wilderness

Gee Creek Wilderness

Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness

Apalachia Lake

Ellicott Rock Wilderness

Fort Loudoun Lake

L ittle River

Tuckasegee RiverTellico River

Valley River

Chattooga River

Chestuee Creek

Hiwassee River

Conasauga C r eek

ChaugaR

iver

Nottely River

P igeon River

Cartecay River

Lit tle Tennessee River

Abrams Creek

Toccoa River

Cullasaja River

Oostanaula Creek

Chattahoochee River

Soco Creek

Citico Creek

Scott Creek

Nantaha la River

Coner oss Creek

Tulula Cree kS n owbird

Creek

Jonathan s Cre

e k

Chestatee River

Tennessee River

NorthM

ou

seC

reek

Tallulah River

Cheoah River

Tugaloo RiverCoosawattee River

Holly Cr eek

Brasstown Creek

Hiwassee River

Hiwassee River

Toccoa River

I 75 S

I 75 N

US HWY 19

US HWY 76

US

HW

Y23

I 40 E

US HWY 11

I 40W

US HWY 129

US HWY 64

STATEH

WY

68STATE

HW

Y60

STATEH

WY

107

STATE HWY 52

STATE HWY 17

US HWY 123

STATEH

WY

11

US HWY 321

FOOTHILLSPKWY

STATE HWY 115

STATE HWY 39 US HWY 74

STATE HWY 1442

STATE HWY 165

STATEHW

Y197

STATE HWY 2

US HWY 411

STATEH

WY

28

STATE HWY 360

STATE

HWY

315

WARWOMAN RD

STATE

HWY

58

STAT

EH

WY

5

STATE HWY 322

STATEHW

Y294

BALLPLAY RD

STATE HWY 307

OLD HWY 76

STATE HWY 1307

STATE HWY 106

STATE HWY 356

STATE HWY 281

STATE HWY 336

STATE HWY 13

STATE HWY 30

BLUE RIDGE HWY

STAT

EH

WY

95

STATE HWY 72

HWY

75S

STATE HWY 163

STATE HWY 325

STATE HWY 105

STATE

HWY

75

STATE HWY 136

STATE HWY 310

US

HW

Y27

6

STATE HWY 60 SPUR

STATE HWY 382

STATE HWY 9

STAT

EHW

Y18

4

STATE HWY 385

STATE

HWY

183

STATE HWY 1505

TELLICO

PKWY

STATEHW

Y1314

STATEHW

Y66

STAT

EH

WY

1646

PD CREEK RD

E HUNT RD

LAKE RABUN RD

STATE HWY 116

OLD

HW

Y5

S

USHW

Y19 BUS

HAYES RD

OLD

GLO

RY

RD

OLD US HWY 76

SUGARLIMB RDGR

OVE

ST

STATEH

WY

5

US HWY 64

STATEH

WY

30

STATEHW

Y136

STATE HWY 28

US HWY 129

STAT

EH

WY

322

STATE HWY 136

US HWY 411

STATE HWY 52

US HWY 64

SylvaAddie

Alcoa

Tiger

Helen

Niota

Almond AlarkaLauada

Balsam

FarnerMarble

Topton

Vonore

Loudon

Mentor

Toccoa

Murphy

Benton

Etowah

Athens

Webster

Andrews

AlnwickWalland

Clayton

Dillard

Ellijay

Franklin

WhittierCherokee

Townsend

Rockford

Walhalla

Cashiers

Demorest

Lakemont

Ducktown

Ten Mile

Glenville

Cullowhee

Dillsboro

Hazelwood

Tallassee

Greenback

Maryville

Highlands

Habersham

Hollywood

Cleveland

Morganton

Culberson

Hiawassee

Brasstown

Englewood

Santeetlah

West Union

Sky Valley

Mount Airy

Copperhill

Hayesville

Cherry Log

Sweetwater

Bryson City

Lenoir City

Eastanollee

WestminsterTurnerville

Blairsville

McCaysville

Pigeon Forge

Robbinsville

Mount Vernon

Madisonville

Friendsville

Young Harris

East Ellijay

Philadelphia

Maggie Valley

Mountain CityMineral Bluff

Pittman Center

Tellico Plains

Scaly Mountain

Tallulah Falls

Fontana Village

Village of Forest Hills

This map is provided for general reference onlyand is not intended as a detailed map for the purposes of navigation.

©2005 The Benton MacKaye Trail Association.

0 5 10 15 202.5Miles

The BentonMacKaye Trail

Stream

LakeCity or Town

Roads

Appalachian Trail

Benton MacKaye Trail

State Border

National Forest

National Park

green box references detail map area on front

Outdoor Adventure: Hiking the Appalachian and Benton MacKaye Trails

Appalachian Trail &Benton MacKaye Trail