Hawk Mountain (via Hightower Gap)

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.  This hike to Hawk Mountain Shelter starts at Hightower Gap in the forest and climbs about 500 feet over 0.5 miles to a blue-blazed side trail that leads to the shelter. It’s a 0.2 mile hike from here down to the shelter which has plenty of campsites, a privy, and a stream for a water source (located a distance from the privy of course). The two story shelter was built around 1993 and can accommodate about 12 hikers.

Hawk Mountain Shelter is a prominent waypoint situated roughly 8.1 miles north of the Appalachian Trail’s southern terminus at Springer Mountain. This two-story wooden structure was rebuilt by the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club and it serves as a popular early stop for northbound thru-hikers.  Due to its high traffic, the surrounding four-acre area became one of the largest camping impact zones on the AT, leading to the construction of a newer, designated Hawk Mountain Campsite located 0.7 miles south to help manage the “bubble” of spring hikers. Visitors to the site can find essential amenities including a privy, a seasonal stream for water, and bear cables for food storage, though those seeking a view must take a short side trip to the summit of Hawk Mountain to see the historic “G 23” aviation beacon.