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Getting Started
About Fannin County, GA
"Trout Capital of Georgia"
Ü Enlarge
 Designated by
the Georgia State Legislature in 2010 as Trout Capital
of
Georgia, Fannin County lies in the Appalachian Mountains,
90 miles north of Atlanta, bordering on North Carolina and
Tennessee.
Extending
from within the county seat of Blue
Ridge to the county border north, south, east and west, more than 100 miles of trout streams and rivers wind
through Fannin County across 100,000 acres of the
Chattahoochee National Forest. Blue Ridge is a quaint
mountain gateway town with art galleries, downtown shopping,
delectable restaurants, a scenic railroad, and get-away
cabins nestled on mountain ridges, in peaceful valleys
and on scenic waters.
The headquarters for the Trout Adventure
Trail in Fannin County is the
Ü
Fannin County
Chamber
of Commerce in Blue Ridge.
About Gilmer County, GA
"Georgia's Apple Capital"
Ü Enlarge
 Gilmer
County is Georgia’s Apple Capital and
contains abundant
National Forest lands,
including Springer Mountain, the southernmost terminus of
the Appalachian Trail in the Chattahoochee National Forest.
Gilmer County is located along Highway 515/GA Highway 5, about
75 miles north of Atlanta. At more
than 430 square miles
big, the heavily wooded landscape stretches across the
southernmost reach of north Georgia’s Blue Ridge
Mountains.
Ellijay,
the capital and largest town in Gilmer County is an
“Appalachian Trail Town” and is located about 40 minutes east of the Trout Adventure
Trail. The official
headquarters for the Trout Adventure Trail in Ellijay is
ÜNorth Georgia
Mountain Outfitters.
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Choose
a Trail Hiking Options for the Trout
Adventure Trail
The designated trails in the Trout Adventure
Trail system provide a variety of hiking options in length,
degree of difficulty in terrain and outdoors experiences.To plan a successful, stress-free hike, take
into account:
(1) the age, abilities, and preparedness of
the weakest hiker
on the trip;
(2) the weather and the amount of daylight
available; and ...
(3) the features the group wants to
experience on the hike.
Always allow a cushion of extra time for
unanticipated contingencies or for fun opportunities (frolic and
detour) that may present themselves in the course of the hike.
Trail Profiles
Shown
below
are five examples of hiking routes and the characteristics and highlights
found along those routes. A
more complete description of each route is found in the
associated PDF document available for printing by clicking on
the link route -- i.e., "RED". You can also view the
elevation profile of the entire trail by clicking on the
table (at right).
NOTE: A hike
of any distance anywhere along the designated trails qualifies a
child for a commemorative patch.
Ü
See Earning a Patch.
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Click on map to enlarge
Trail
Elevation Profile
Click on map to enlarge
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Route
(click for info)
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Description |
Length
(+/- miles) |
Difficulty
Rating |
Features |
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RED |
Springer Mountain parking area to Springer
Mountain and return. |
1.8 |
Moderate |
Steep uphill hike to vista view atop Springer
Mountain and start point (southern terminus) of the
Applachian Trail, and return. |
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BLUE |
Three Forks to Long Creek Falls and return. |
2.2 |
Easy |
Gentle uphill walk to beautiful falls along Long
Creek, and return. |
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RED
& BLUE |
Springer Mountain parking
area to Springer Mountain and return to vehicles.
Drive to Three Forks ...
Three Forks to Long Creek Falls and return to vehicles.
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1.8
2.2 |
Moderate
Easy |
Steep uphill hike to long-range
view and start (southern terminus) of Appalachian Trail
atop Springer Mountain, and downhill return.
Separate hike
with gentle uphill walk along trout stream to beautiful
falls, and downhill return. Both hikes feature a good
place to rest and talk before return trip. |
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GREEN |
Start at Springer Mountain parking area and hike
to Springer Mountain, descend from Springer Mountain on
Appalachian Trail to Long Creek Falls, and return to
Springer Mountain parking area on Appalachian Trail. |
10.2 |
Moderate |
Steep uphill to vista atop Springer Mountain and
start point (southern terminus) of Appalachian Trail,
and descent to Three Forks, crossing Stover Creek;
proceeds along Long Creek to waterfall and returns on
Appalachian Trail to Springer Mountain parking area.
Along the route between Three Forks and Springer
Mountain, hikers experience cathedral stand of Eastern
Hemlock trees. |
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GOLD* |
Start at Three Forks and hike to Long Creek
Falls, backtrack to Three Forks and after crossing
creek, take Benton-MacKaye Trail to highest intersection
with Appalachian Trail near top of Springer Mountain.
Turn left and ascend to top of Springer Mountain, and
descend on Appalachain Trail to Three Forks. |
12.4 |
Moderate |
Gold route covers the full extent of the Trout
Adventure Trail. The experience includes walking along
Long Creek to magnificent waterfalls and ascent on
Benton-MacKaye Trail to Springer Mountain with stream
crossings and a wonderful view during the ascent to
Springer Mountain. The Appalachian Trail to the top of
Springer Mountain affords another great view and arrival
at the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. At one
point, the hike downhill to Three Forks passes along a
cathedral stand of mature Eastern Hemlock trees. |
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CUSTOM ROUTES |
There is
virtually no limit to the customized routes available.
Planning or time constraints, abilities of the hikers,
educational experiences, and merit badge or rank
requirements for scouts can all be accommodated with
custom options of routes. |
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Easy to Moderate |
Planning the
route is part of the fun of the experience. |
* Hiking the GOLD route during 2012-13 qualifies for an
exceptional Ü
"12 Miler" commemorative
patch.
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