For Hikers
Your Basecamp on the Appalachian Trail
Trailheads, waterfalls, and the state's highest peak are all a short drive from your porch. This is where thru-hikers take a zero and day-hikers make it their whole trip.
Trailheads, waterfalls, and the state's highest peak are all a short drive from your porch. This is where thru-hikers take a zero and day-hikers make it their whole trip.
Wake up, lace your boots, and be on the trail before the coffee's cold.
Tap a spot on the list to see the drive from Misty Mountain: real places, real routes, real drive times.
The Appalachian Trail begins at Springer Mountain and stretches all the way to Katahdin, Maine, over 5 million steps for anyone who walks it end to end. Most Georgia AT trailheads are within easy reach of Misty Mountain, and mid-March brings the year's biggest wave of thru-hikers heading north.
We're a few miles off the trail around a hiker's third or fourth day out, close enough that plenty of thru-hikers shuttle in from Neel Gap / Mountain Crossing to take a zero, do laundry, and sleep in a real bed before heading back out.
Hover or tap a trailhead to see how close it really is. Sorted nearest to farthest.
Distances are driving miles from Misty Mountain to each Appalachian Trail access point in Georgia, from Neel Gap, just 10 miles away, out to the approach at Amicalola Falls.
The trails around Misty Mountain range from easy strolls to seriously challenging climbs. These are the ones guests and thru-hikers mention most.
A ridgeline stretch of the AT with rock outcrops and long views back toward the valley.
Wooded serenity climbing to the highest point on the AT in Georgia, with a stone shelter at the summit.
A rocky overlook that's become one of the most photographed spots on the Georgia AT.
A gentle approach trail near Three Forks that rewards a short walk with a proper waterfall.
A quieter, less-trafficked route with a backcountry shelter, good for hikers looking to get away from the crowds.
One of the longest swinging bridges east of the Mississippi, reachable via the Benton MacKaye Trail. High clearance recommended for the last third-mile of forest road.
North Georgia has more falling water than any one trip can cover. Helton Creek and Anna Ruby are on the map above; here's what else is worth chasing.
If your group isn't all hikers, nobody's left behind.
Kayak the Toccoa River, raft the Nantahala or Ocoee, or tube the Chattahoochee or Nottely.
Legal USFS 4x4 trail systems at Beasley Knob and Davenport Mountain, minutes away.
Local stables run horseback trail rides for roughly $35–$50 an hour, a favorite for non-hikers in the group.
Jack Rabbit Mountain in Hiawassee, Bull & Jack Mountain in Dahlonega, and Helen's trail system are all close by.
After Mountain Crossing's iconic Shoe Tree and a few thousand feet of climbing, a real bed, a hot fireplace, and a warm porch go a long way. We've hosted more than a few thru-hikers taking a well-earned zero day: laundry, resupply, a good night's sleep, and back on trail the next morning.
Many of our cabins are pet-friendly for the four-legged hiking partners, and the Lodge offers cozy suites with fireplaces for solo hikers or smaller groups.
Book your stay and we'll point you to whichever trailhead fits your day.