Springer Mountain (via Nimblewill Gap)

Springer Mountain (3,782 feet) is located deep within the Chattahoochee National Forest and is the summit of the iconic southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. This remote peak is famously marked by a bronze plaque depicting a northbound hiker and the trail’s very first white blaze – signifying the start of a 2,190-mile journey to Maine on the A.T.. Every spring, between 2,000 and 3,000 thru-hikers congregate here to sign the official trail register housed in a stone vault behind the plaque and they officially begin a trek through the rugged North Georgia wilderness headed for Mt. Katahdin in the northeast.

There are no paved roads that lead directly to Springer Mountain. Most hikers choose the grueling 8.8-mile Approach Trail from Amicalola Falls State Park, while some seek a shorter route from the USFS Road 42 parking area for a roughly one-mile trek to the peak. Another notable path ascends the summit from Nimblewill Gap, offering a gradual climb that passes the Black Mountain Shelter. Regardless of the route, the mountain provides a scenic sanctuary of hardwoods and high-altitude views that define the beginning of one of the world’s most famous long-distance footpaths. On this hike, we approached Springer Mountain from Nimblewill Gap at USFS 28 and made a gradual climb to the summit passing the Black Mountain Shelter on the way at 3410 feet.