RANGER FIELD (VIA HICKORY FLATTS CEMETERY)

This hike starts at the Hickory Flatts Cemetery in the Chattahoochee National Forest and uses a combination of the Appalachian Trail and Benton MacKaye Trails to reach an open field at 2.4 miles after a side hike to Long Creek Falls.  The cemetery is the property of the New Bethel Church which was established in 1901 and is located 12 miles from the nearest paved road.  It has a picnic pavilion and a concrete building housing two vault toilets in the parking area.  There is also an interesting seesaw that spins 360 degrees near the pavilion which the kids will find entertaining if they are joining you on this hike.

We hiked  the short 0.2 mile distance from the cemetery to the Appalachian Trail, then followed it 0.8 miles to Long Creek Falls where we joined up with the Benton MacKaye Trail.  From here it is 1.2 miles to a wildlife opening that is occasionally visited by Army Rangers that train in the area.  If you spend some time combing the field, you will most certainly find spent ammunition clips, blanks resembling bullets, and smoke cans in the area.  If you plan to camp in the area, don’t be shocked to hear a helicopter passing by overnight.