Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests

The hiking trails in the Georgia National Forests offer experiences for everyone from expert backpacker to the novice hiker. You'll find nationally known trails such as the Bartram, Appalachian, Duncan Ridge, and Benton MacKaye. You'll also find short, easy trails such as the half mile Sosebee Cove Trail and the half-mile Lakeshore Trail at Dockery Lake. The Forest Supervisor distributes for free a nifty, but slightly outdated Trail Guide that features.

Wildlife Opening: An easy walk with good views, waterfalls and fishing
Long Creek Falls: A short and easy walk through the forest
Benton Mackaye - Stanley Gap Loop: A lightly used, short route through logging areas. Features a double waterfall
Free Knob Loop: Diverse trail that goes up a knob, along the river, and through a mature pine forest
Fall Branch Falls: Short, mere quarter mile trail to double set of falls, rhododendron-filled forest, and wildlife food plot

Wildlife Opening
Via Appalachian Trail, Benton MacKaye Trail and Duncan Ridge Trail

This trail utilizes a part of the world famous Appalachian Trail (AT), a National Scenic Trail, and a portion of the combined Duncan Ridge National Recreation Trail and the Benton MacKaye Trail, a general forest trail. Other attractions are Long Creek Falls, the view at the top, fishing and camping opportunities and the magnificent hemlocks at Three Forks. This is an in-and-back trail walk.

Length: 4.4 Miles (7 K)
Rating: Easy
Use: Moderate
Recommended Season: Any time of year.
Hiking Time: About two and one-half hours round trip.
Use Restrictions: No motorized vehicles allowed on trail. Trail designed for day hikers, not recommended for horses.
Travel Time: About one hour from Blue Ridge to trailhead.
Road Conditions: Paved or dirt-gravel all weather roads suitable for sedans. Parking is off-road at trailhead.
USGS Map: Noontootla, GA quad.

Trailhead Location: The trail begins at Three Forks, a popular dispersed recreation area in southeast corner of District. The hike follows 2 X 6" white painted blazes of the Appalachian Trail north to side trail to waterfalls and beyond to junction with the Duncan Ridge Trail. Occasionally, white diamond blazes of Benton MacKaye Trail are present as it is contiguous with the other two trails through this part of the forest.

Trail Layout: Trail begins on north side of road on AT alongside Long Creek. There are three short ascents before reaching blue-blazed side trail to falls at 1.1 miles. The blue-blazed Duncan Ridge Trail and white diamond blazed Benton MacKaye Trail turn northwest above falls. The first one-half mile beyond falls and across Long Creek on USFS bridge is flat through large laurel-rhododendron thicket. The second half mile is an ascent to a large wildlife opening at the top. Return to parking area back along same trail.

Access: From Blue Ridge travel east on E. First St. (top of hill from door of Toccoa Ranger Station) to Aska Road (1.5 miles). South on Aska Road to end (13.5 miles). Turn right onto Newport Road, go 4.5 miles to end. Turn left onto Doublehead Gap Road, cross a new concrete bridge and come onto dirt-gravel road. Continue 0.3 miles to intersection with dirt-gravel USFS Road 58 from right. Turn onto USFS 58 and continue east into forest and uphill 6.5 miles to Three Forks. Noontootla Creek, a trout stream, is on right as you ascend.

Long Creek Falls
Via Appalachian Trail - Benton MacKaye Trail

This trail utilizes a part of the world famous Appalachian Trail (AT), 2,035 miles continuously marked footpath from Georgia to Maine. The trail begins in a grove of stately hemlocks and follows Long Creek 1 mile upstream to a short blue blazed side trail that leads to the falls. Up stream 0.1 mile from the falls the Appalachian Trail heads northeast toward Hawk Mountain, the Benton MacKaye and Duncan Ridge Trails turn north toward the Toccoa River.

Length: 2.2 miles round trip (3.5 K)
Rating: Easy
Use: Moderate
Recommended Season: Any time of year.
Hiking Time: About one and one-half hours round trip.
Use Restrictions: No motorized vehicles, horses or bicycles allowed on trail. Trail designed for day hikers.
Travel Time: About one hour from Blue Ridge to trailhead.
Road Conditions: Paved or dirt-gravel all weather roads suitable for sedans. Parking is off-road at trailhead.
USGS Map: Noontootla, GA quad.

Trailhead Location: The trail begins at Three Forks, a popular dispersed recreation area in the southeast corner of the District. The hike follows the 2 x 6" white painted blazes of the Appalachian Trail north to the side trail. Occasionally, the white diamonds of the Benton MacKaye Trail may also be seen as the two trails are contiguous through this part of the forest.

Trail Layout: The trail begins on the north side of the road and starts as a relatively gradual hike alongside Long Creek. There are three short ascents before reaching the blue blazed side trail to the falls at 1.1 miles. Return to parking area by walking back along the same trail.

Access: From Blue Ridge travel east on E. First St. (top of hill from door of Toccoa Ranger Station) to Aska Road (1.5 miles). South on Aska Road to end (13.5 miles). Turn right onto Newport Road, go 4.5 miles to end. Turn left onto Doublehead Gap Road, cross a new concrete bridge and come onto dirt-gravel road. Continue on this road about 0.3 miles to intersection with dirt-gravel USFS Road 58 intersecting sharply from right. Turn onto USFS 58 and continue east into forest and uphill 6.5 miles to Three Forks. Noontootla Creek, a beautiful trout stream, is on the right as you ascend.

Benton Mackaye - Stanley Gap Loop
Via Benton MacKaye Trail, Stanley Gap Trail and Rock Creek Road

This trail offers a pleasant hike through a typical Southern Appalachian hardwood forest. Views of surrounding mountains and an opportunity to view a double waterfall add to the hiking experience. The trail passes through multiple use national forest and various aspects of timber and wildlife management may be viewed. The return road walk bypasses an old road on which a short walk leads to a fine trout stream, Stanley Creek.

Length: 2.5 Miles (3.9 K)
Rating: Easy
Use: Light
Recommended Season: Any time of year. Autumn leaf color change and winter vistas are attractive. Waterfall flow is usually greatest in spring. Rhododendron and mountain laurel contribute to late spring attractiveness.
Hiking Time: About one and one-half hour.
Use Restrictions: No motorized vehicles allowed on trail. Mountain bicycles are permitted on the initial Stanley Gap Trail segment. Trail designed for day hikers, not recommended for horses.
Travel Time: About forty minutes from Blue Ridge to Stanley Gap.
Road Conditions: Paved and all-weather dirt/gravel roads suitable for sedans.
USGS Map: Blue Ridge, GA Quadrangle.

Trailhead Location: The trail begins and ends at Stanley Gap (Elev. 2317'). A small off-road parking area is at the trailhead. If desired, visitors may park in small area near Fall Branch (Elev. 1950') and hike trail from the other end. Details of this terminus are described in the Fall Branch Trail also available from the District once.

Trail Layout: The trail, on an old road bed at Stanley Gap, begins as a gradual climb toward summit of Rocky Mountain. Almost immediately, on the left, is a regenerating pine stand. After passing timber stand, trail enters woods and continues through forest until reaching intersection with Benton MacKaye Trail coming in from east. Turn onto BMT and follow downhill past regenerating hardwood stand; switchback and descend to waterfalls. Continue down road bed to parking area and wildlife foodplot opening on south side of Rock Creek Road. Turn right on road and begin return walk to vehicle. About three-fourths mile pass road on left leading 200 yards to Stanley Creek. Continue on road to gap and return to parking area.

Access: From Blue Ridge travel east on E. First St. (top of hill from door of Toccoa Ranger Station) to Aska Road (1.5 miles). South on Aska Road to intersection with Stanley Creek road (8.2 miles). Turn west, continue 4.2 miles to parking area at Stanley Gap. Stanley Creek Road becomes Rock Creek Road after crossing Fannin/Gilmer County line.

Free Knob Loop
Via Benton MacKaye Trail and Dial Road
This trail combines a woodland trail walk ascending, crossing and descending a small knob with a return road walk alongside the Toccoa River. The ascending portion is just strenuous enough to provide a feeling of healthy outdoor exercise and the river walk provides a nice contrast to the forested setting. The eastern end is through a beautiful mature pine grove on a needle carpeted trail.

Length: 2.5 Miles (4 K)
Rating: Easy-Moderate
Use: Light
Recommended Season: Any time of year, but winter is best. From the ridgeline atop the knob views of the head of the lake (to the north) and the Toccoa River (to the south) may be obtained almost simultaneously.
Hiking Time: About one hour round trip.
Use Restrictions: No motorized vehicles allowed on trail. Trail designed for day hikers, not recommended for horses.
Travel Time: About thirty minutes from Blue Ridge to trailhead.
Road Conditions: Paved or dirt-gravel all weather roads suitable for sedans. Parking is off-road at trailhead.
USGS Map(s): Wilscot, GA and Blue Ridge, GA

Trailhead Location: The trail begins at an intersection on the Dial Road near Tilley Bend Church where the road forks with one part turning south toward Dial, GA and the other part turning north toward Morganton, GA.

Trail Layout: The trail ascends Free Knob with the lower eastern portion passing through a pine grove. The trail climbs steeply just before reaching the ridgeline. The walk across the top is gentle. After crossing a logging road the trail reenters general forest and descends to road alongside river. Turn left and walk along river (upstream) to return to vehicle parking.

Access: From Blue Ridge travel east on E. First St. (top of hill from door of Toccoa Ranger Station) to Aska Road (1.5 miles). South on Aska Road to Shallowford Bridge. Turn left across river and immediate right on dirt-gravel road leading to Dial, GA. At 0.4 miles come to point where trail enters road from forest. Continue east on road to parking area at 1.2 miles.

Fall Branch Falls
Via Benton MacKaye Trail
This is a short, quarter mile trail to a double set of waterfalls that also features a Georgia Game and Fish Wildlife foodplot, fishing, mountain laurel and rhododendron growing along trail and creekbank. The trail follows the white diamonds of Benton MacKaye Trail. Beyond the falls, the Benton MacKaye continues turning sharply to the southwest ascending Rocky Mountain.

Trailhead Location: The trail begins on the north side of the road and starts its ascent to the top of the falls. An unmarked trail on your right leads to the base of the falls (50 yards) where an observation deck offers a spectacular view of the waterfalls. Water volume will vary from season to season.

Access: From Forest Service office, travel east 1.5 miles on East First Street (US 76) to Aska Road (Harmony Church is on your left). Turn right, go south 8 miles. Turn right on a dirt/gravel road (Toccoa River Outpost on your left). Trail is 3.2 miles on your right from turnoff, just past Forest Warden Garfield Stanley's home.

Alternate Route: From FS office, travel south on East First Street 1.1 mile to Hwy. 515. Continue south 6.1 miles on 515. Cross Rock Creek, turn right on Co. Rd. 150. Take a quick right on Co. Rd. 152 and then another right going underneath the overpass. You should be heading east, following Rock Creek upstream. Pavement ends 1.8 miles on Rock Creek Road. Continue on dirt/gravel road and the trail is on your left 4.1 miles after end of the pavement, directly across from a Georgia Game and Fish Wildlife foodplot.