Trying to Plan a Backpacking Trip. . . help me find a trail please.

[2ply]

A loop I've done is the AT from Springer to 3 Forks and use the Benton MacKaye trail to return to Springer.
http://www.bmta.org/sections/BMT-SecDescrip-01.pdf

[Catavarie]

If you're looking for people to give you specific trails to do. I'd say do an out and back on the AT or the Chatooga River Trail. Both are newbie friendly and will give you a good challenge.

[2ply]

Sorry, double post

[Lupus]

A loop I've done is the AT from Springer to 3 Forks and use the Benton MacKaye trail to return to Springer.
http://www.bmta.org/sections/BMT-SecDescrip-01.pdf

Looks like that's what, about an 10 or 11 mile trek? Looks cool.

How close can you park to the start of that hike?

What about doing that loop in reverse? Using the Benton MacKaye to go from Springer to 3 Forks, and then returning to Springer on the AT?

[2ply]

I park in the Springer lot and skip the trip to the top of Springer if doing the AT section first. The loop is about the same either way. You could hike up Springer, hit the BM to 3 forks and take the AT back to the lot at Springer.

[Lupus]

Thanks everyone, looks like I've got two great trips to work up now. The Springer to Three Forks to Springer loop, and the Coosa Loop at Vogel.

I appreciate all the suggestions. One more question, What books/resources would you recommend most for finding/planning trips like this? I did an amazon search and found several guide books available for hiking in Georgia. I was wondering which ones were the best to pickup? Also, where would you recommend I find the trail maps that I'll need?

[2ply]

The Hiking Trails of Noth Georgia by Tim Homan and Hiking Georgia by Don Pfitzer are good ones. You can check them both out at the library or Half Moon Outfitters has them and maps too.

[Lupus]

Thank you. I have to check out Half Moon. I've heard a lot about them but have never actually been in there.

[zukiguy]

My friends and I are looking for a similar area but a slightly longer hike. The Jack's River trail in the Cohutta Wilderness area looks cool. From the looks of it there are trails that crisscross the area so you can make short loops, out and back, a big figure 8. It just depends on how may miles you want to make.

[kk4df]

The Jack's River trail in the Cohutta Wilderness area looks cool.

I think there may be lots of stream crossings, based on what I've heard. I want to do trails in the Cohutta wilderness, but I'm waiting for summer for this area I think.

Walter (kk4df)