SPRINGER MOUNTAIN (VIA AMICALOLA FALLS)
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
799 West Washington Street
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
(304) 535-6331
The southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail is located at Springer Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest. The nearest road is U.S. Forest Service Road 42 which is located 0.9 miles northbound on the A.T. Many hikers that plan a day, overnight, or long distance trip on the Trail start from this USFS parking area. The lot, however, is about two hours from Amicalola Falls State Park and many long distance hikers choose to start their journey on the A.T. from the base of the falls at the State Park.
The Approach Trail is a connector trail to the Appalachian Trail and the 8.1 mile blue-blazed route starts at the visitors center in Amicalola Falls State Park. It is a very difficult ascent and a surprisingly challenging descent. The reason is that Woody Knob, Frosty Mountain and Black Mountain are located on this route and there is a fair amount of elevation change regardless of your direction. If you choose to ascend from the base of Amicalola Falls (1,700 feet) to Springer Mountain (3,782 feet) you will climb well over 2000 feet by the time you reach Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the A.T.
I’ve hiked the Approach Trail numerous times in both directions, but my most memorable is undoubtedly the first trip in 1994 when I started my thru-hike. After lugging 57 pounds up and down mountains all day, I was really happy to reach the summit of Springer Mountain and see the last blue blaze of the Approach Trail and the first white blaze of the Appalachian Trail.
- click to view a short video slideshow of my 1994 hike on the Appalachian Trail
- click to see trail photos from this hike to Springer Mountain: April 10, 1994
- click to view a trail journal from the Appalachian Trail in North Georgia: April 10, 1994
- click to read a Daytimer report for this backpacking trip on the A.T. April 10,1994 (password required)
- click to view hiking and backpacking maps from the Approach Trail: area map, detailed map, profile map (password required)
- click for Georgia Appalachian Trail overview map, Georgia Appalachian Trail profile map (password required)
- click for Springer Mountain to Sassafrass Mountain profile map, Amicalola Falls to Three Forks trail map (password required)
- click for more hikes on the A.T. from USFS 42 to the summit of Springer Mountain
- click for more information on the Appalachian Trail
- click for the Long Trail discussion forum
- click for the Southeastern Destinations discussion forum
- click for Appalachian Trail hiking and backpacking books
- click for Benton MacKaye Trail hiking and backpacking books
- click to access the guidebook Appalachian Trail: Georgia-North Carolina which has details on this destination
- click for other Georgia hiking and backpacking books
- click for other hikes on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia
- click here to add your hike, trip report, or feedback for this destination
Speak Your Mind