Appalachian Trail (WLT) - Member Hike

Hike Name: Appalachian Trail (WLT)
Country: United States
State: Georgia
Nearby Town: Cleveland
Rating: 1 star
Directions: From ATLANTA, GA on CAPITOL AVE - go < 0.1 mi
2. Turn on MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DR - go 0.2 mi
3. Turn onto I-85 NORTH - go 31.6 mi
4. Take fork onto I-985 NORTH toward GAINESVILLE - go 23.7 mi
5. Take exit #24/GA-13 SOUTH toward NEW HOLLAND - go 0.3 mi
6. Turn on JESSE JEWELL PKY - go 0.7 mi
7. Turn on LIMESTONE PKY[US-129] - go 1.6 mi
8. Turn on CLARK BRIDGE RD[GA-284] - go 0.3 mi
9. Turn on CLEVELAND RD[US-129-BUS] - go 1.2 mi
10. CLEVELAND RD becomes US-129 - go 19.3 mi
11. Arrive at the center of CLEVELAND, GA
(That's as close as we can get you without angering the Gods by giving up this place.)
Total Hike Distance: 4.20 miles
Hike Difficulty: Moderate
Permit Required: No
Hike Type: In & Out, Backtrack Hike
Hike Starts/Ends: Richard Russell Scenic Highway
Trails Used: Appalachian Trail
Backcountry Campsites: No
Backcountry Water Sources: Springs
Management: U.S. Forest Service
Contact Information: Chattahoochee National Forest
National Forest Service
990 E. Main Street, Suite #1
Blue Ridge, GA 30513
(706) 632-3031
Best Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Users: Hikers, Dogs
Road Conditions: Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads
Hike Summary: The Chattahoochee National Forest is one of two National Forests in the State of Georgia, and it takes its name from the Chattahoochee River whose headwaters begin in the North Georgia mountains. The River and the area were given the name by the English settlers who heard it from the Indians that once lived here. The Chattahoochee National Forest was created when the Forest Service purchased 31,000 acres in Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin and Union Counties from the Gennett family in 1911 for $7.00 per acre. In the beginning, the Chattahoochee was part of the Nantahala and Cherokee National Forests in North Carolina and Tennessee, but eventually the Forest Service made additional land purchases and expanded the Chattahoochee to its current size of nearly 750,000 acres.

The walk to WLT is an in-and-out, backtrack hike that is ideal for day hiking, but it can also be done as an overnight backpacking trip. This hike starts along the Richard Russell Scenic Highway and ascends around 700' feet to a scenic overlook. There are spectacular views to the east, south and west from here and its a great place to take a break after the long climb from the parking area. From here, the Appalachian Trail continues another mile to WLT. It drops in to a gap where there is a campsite to the left and a blue-blazed side trail down to a piped spring to the right. The final climb to WLT is about 250 feet where there are outstanding 180 degree views in the summer and 360 degree views in the winter.

Hiker:

BirdShooter


47,200 points


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