CHATTOOGA RIVER TRAIL – BOOKS

Hiking Trails of the Southern Nantahala Wilderness, the Ellicott Wilderness, and the Chattooga National Wild and Scenic River

The scenic areas described in this book offer a wide variety of possibilities: you can dayhike a short trail, backpack a 23-mile segment of the Appalachian Trail, or finish all of the 37.5 mile Chattooga River Trail. This easy-to-follow guide will help both the novice hikers and experienced backpackers to enjoy trips into the wilderness.

Birdshooter’s Take: Tim Homan’s book has nearly 40 pages dedicated to the Chattooga River Trail (which shares some of it’s pathway with the Foothills and Bartram Trails) and he provides detailed information including directions to the trailhead, highs/lows of the hike, campsites, and tips for the hiker. My Recommendation: This is the ONLY trail guide that is currently available for the Chattooga River Trail. If you plan to day hike or thru-hike it, I highly recommend this book.

Long Trails Of The Southeast

Trekking the Appalachian Trail is no longer the solitary experience it once was. Backpackers looking for a less crowded, long-trail experience should grab Long Trails of the Southeast to discover the many other long-hike opportunities available in the Southeast. Long Trails covers 7 trails in 8 states, for a total of 600 miles of trails. Each trail description is divided into segments, and includes at-a-glance information offering details on length, trail condition, high-points, difficulty, tips, and trailhead directions. Vivid trail reports describe exactly what’s encountered along the way. Finally, a Trail Log provides mile-by-mile descriptions of the entire trail, including road crossings, water sources, shelters, and more. Whether hiking a trail in one outing or knocking it off in sections, hiking enthusiasts must have Long Trails of the Southeast as a part of their library.

Birdshooter’s Take: Johnny Molloy’s book has detailed information for many of the well known long distance trails in the Southeast including directions to the trailhead, highs/lows of the hike, campsites, and tips for the hiker. It DOES NOT include a section on the Chattooga River Trail My Recommendation: A portion of the Chattooga River Trail is on the Bartram Trail and this book has 50 pages dedicated to the path named for William Bartram. You may want to use this book to supplement Tim Homan’s book, but it does not have a section specifically dedicated to the Chattooga River Trail.

Hiking Trails Of North Georgia

The Hiking Trails of North Georgia is an indispensable resource, whether you’re planning a leisurely afternoon walk or a strenuous backpacking trip. The convenient new format of this updated third edition will enable you to explore North Georgia’s beautiful natural area with intelligence and ease.

Birdshooter’s Take: This is another of Tim Homan’s guidebooks and one of the first ones that I used for Georgia hiking trails. It has 124 hikes in the State with 11 maps and precise directions to the trailheads. The book is designed for both hikers and backpackers but focuses only on the trails in North Georgia. It also includes sections of the Appalachian Trail, Benton MacKaye Trial, Duncan Ridge Trail, and Bartram Trail in Georgia. My Recommendation: If you hike a lot in North Georgia, this is the best book out there. If you just want information on the Chattooga River Trail, get Tim Homan’s other book (shown above). Hiking Georgia has some information on the Chattooga River Trail but not nearly as much as the Hiking Trails of the Ellicott Wilderness, and the Chattooga National Wild and Scenic River.

The Travels of William Bartram: Naturalist’s Edition

In 1773, naturalist and writer William Bartram set out from Philadelphia on a four-year journey ranging from the Carolinas to Florida and Mississippi. Combining precise and detailed scientific observations with a profound appreciation of nature, he produced a written account of his journey that would later influence both scientists and poets. 31 photos. 12 illustrations. 4 maps.

Birdshooter’s Take: This is not a guidebook but a historical account of Bartram’s travels. My Recommendation: One of a number of good books on the travels of William Bartram.

Guide To The Foothills Trail

The Foothills Trail Conference has created this comprehensive guide to the Foothills Trail which is currently in its third edition. It includes the history of the trail, helpful information for backcountry hikers, section descriptions and maps, supplemental information on spur trails and parking areas and a profile of the terrain on the trail. It is the currently the best source of data available on the Foothills Trail.

Birdshooter’s Take: This is a guidebook for the Foothills Trail which shares roughly 1/3 of the Chattooga River route. My Recommendation: Get Tim Homan’s book shown at the top of this page if you plan to thru-hike the Chattooga River Trail. You might consider using this book to supplement Homan’s book, especially if you plan to hike the entire Foothills Trail at some point in the future. Note: This guide is only available in select stores or via direct mail order. Click the link above titled “Guide To The Foothills Trail” for a link to the Foothills Trail website to order directly from the trail club.

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