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  • The A.T. in Georgia and the GATC
  • Put Your Money to Work on the AT
  • Road/Trail Closures

Springer Mtn Sunbeams cropThe Appalachian Trail in Georgia extends over 78 miles through the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, passing through five federally designated wilderness areas, a national recreation area, and a protected corridor.

The Trail follows the southernmost segment of the Blue Ridge chain of the Appalachian Mountains, reaching elevations above 4,000 feet at several locations. With over 50 miles of connected, GATC-maintained side trails, hiking opportunities that challenge, provide variety and breath-taking views abound. The A.T. continues into North Carolina at Bly Gap where hikers may continue their journey into the Nantahala National Forest on trail that is maintained by the Nantahala Hiking Club.

The Trail's southern terminus, located on the summit of Springer Mountain, is marked with an Appalachian Trail plaque and white blaze. You will find more information about how to prepare for a hike or backpacking trip and how to access the Appalachian Trail throughout this website.

The Georgia Appalachian Trail Club was founded on November 1, 1930 in Dahlonega, Georgia. We are an all-volunteer trail maintaining club responsible for the maintenance of over 130 miles of trail and trail facilities such as blazes, signs, shelters and privies in the north Georgia mountains. Our members, whether they have hiked the entire A.T. or are more casual about their outdoor recreation, come from all walks of life and share a passion for the Appalachian Trail and its protection for today and the future. Members of the GATC have served in leadership positions with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and previously the Appalachian Trail Conference from its earliest days. Many of our members serve on regional and trail-wide committees that direct and guide the present and future of the Appalachian Trail, as well.

In addition to maintaining and planning for the future of the A.T., we enjoy many recreational opportunities throughout the year. These trips have included day hikes, backpacks, photography, bicycle, canoeing and kayaking trips. These activities are not only in the mountains of north Georgia but in the city of Atlanta, the lakes of South Carolina, the coasts of Georgia and Florida and in many other locations throughout the southeast. We invite you to JOIN US and become a member of the leading trail maintaining club in Georgia and a leader in outdoor recreation!

Help Preserve the AT in Georgia

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As a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Charitable Organization, the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club can accept your financial donation in any amount. Donations of $100 or more may be designated to one or more of the following specific purposes:

  • General Donation
  • GATC Building Fund
  • Trail Ambassador Program
  • Outreach Programs
  • Conservation
  • Activities
  • Trail Maintenance/Repairs

Donated amounts of less than $100 will be considered a general donation. Click here to make a donation.

Sport your support when you have a Georgia AT License Plate!GATCNewPlate

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) receives $10 annually for each Georgia specialty A.T. plate purchased or renewed. Since the plate became available in 2013, Georgia license plate holders have raised over $300,000 for ATC.

Apply for Your Georgia A.T. Plate

Apply for your plate by visiting your local Tax Commissioner’s tag office, or by choosing the “Appalachian Trail Conservancy of Georgia” specialty plate when you renew your registration online. In addition to the regular vehicle registration fees, a standard, numerical A.T. license plate costs $35. There is also a one-time manufacturing fee of $25 when you first purchase your tag.

Georgia A.T. License Plate Grant Program

Each year, the ATC uses funds from the sale of Georgia A.T. license plates to provide grants to organizations and individuals who are working to help fulfill the ATC’s mission within the state of Georgia. As of 2021, nearly $500,000 has been raised through this program in support of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. Click here for a year-by-year summary of previous grantees and projects that received funding.

Create a Facebook Fundraiser in Support of Your Trail

Are you at a point in your life where those gifts you get for birthdays or other celebrations aren’t so special anymore? You can easily turn those potential gifts into a GATC Facebook Fundraisingmeaningful donation to your favorite trail – the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. If you have a Facebook account, you can set up a fundraiser that benefits the GATC, a 501c3 nonprofit. Your friends and family could donate the money they would spend on a gift to the club and perhaps get a tax benefit as a result as well. The funds generated by your Facebook fundraiser would amount to a generous gift to the Appalachian Trail here in Georgia.

To set up a benefit fundraiser, open your Facebook account and look for Menu items. Locate the Fundraiser tab (note: you may need to select "See more" to find it.) Search for the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club then set your preferences for the fundraiser.

All the money raised through your fundraiser will benefit the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club. Your fundraiser will also help spread the word about the good work this club does to protect, maintain and advocate for the Appalachian Trail here in Georgia.

The Approach Trail is rerouted from the Amicalola Falls State Park Visitor Center to the top of the falls due to storm damage and reconstruction. Hikers can follow either the AFSP TrailsWest Ridge or East Ridge Trails to bypass the area. More details are available at the park visitor center.

Well it seems like fall has finally arrived!  I can’t believe it was so hot into October, and it is a relief to finally have some cool weather.  I sure hope we get some good foliage and winter holds off for a couple of months.

Member Engagement

Early in my term as club president the board held a retreat at the Hike Inn to discuss strategic planning.  From that it seems to me the most important strategy is Member Engagement.  In order to thrive long term, more members need to participate throughout the club.  This includes with committees, trail sections, Trail Ambassadors etc.

Tom Lamb, Trails Director, is starting an initiative to have two or more overseers on each section.  Doing trail work with a partner will make it more fun, by virtue of having someone to talk with and share the load.  It will also make for a safer work environment.

At the recent annual meeting the Forest Service recognized many members who do a lot of work “behind the scenes”.  Their work provides a solid foundation for the club and we are grateful for their commitment.  Many of these individuals are the only ones that know certain areas of the club’s workings.  We need to augment their efforts with another member who is trained to take over, or at least share the load.

Engaging members across the club takes some effort by all parties.  Board members need to use their committees more, which means we need more people on committees.  I am hoping that new members will reach out and join groups that interest them. 

PATHE

Recently the Protecting the Appalachian Trail Hiking Experience committee, PATHE, met at Forest Service headquarters in Gainesville.  Not much has happened over the summer and the spirit of the meeting was to refocus and reenergize to go forward.

The NEPA Campsite is in the process of categorizing the trail and campsites in Georgia with a number between 1 and 5, representing Wilderness Areas to Front country.  This will provide a prescription to manage these areas.  The Campsite Committee of the Stewardship Council of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy is also working on this same programming.  Club member Bill Bryant is influential on the PATHE committee and was recently appointed chair of the Stewardship Council’s Campsite Committee.

Discussions of a Bear Resistant Storage Container order continued.  The Chattahoochee National Forest wants a forest wide order that would include all front and back country campsites.  I support this initiative mainly because visitors need to become aware of the impacts they have on the resource.  Food storage is not for the benefit of campers, rather for the protection of the animals.  We don’t want animals to become dependent on humans as a source for food.

A.T. Caucus

Since 2018, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail Caucus (A.T. Caucus) has provided a convening space for Members of Congress, on a non-partisan basis, who are enthusiastic about the Trail.  The Caucus works directly with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) to help members stay informed on trail issue.  Additionally, they will be informed about bills and hearings in Congress that are of special importance to the Trail.

Doug Collins of District 1 is the only Georgia representative on the Caucus.  Please contact your representative and ask that they join the Caucus.

Clean Water

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) attack on the Clean Water Act is a major concern. It could severely restrict the ability of states to participate in the permitting and licensing of major infrastructure, that can have a major impact on the Trail landscape, such as pipelines and transmission lines.

The target of this attack is Section 401 of the Clean Water Act which would limit the ability of local and state governments.  This would allow developers and industry to basically ignore the public good.  Section 401 is similar to the Cooperative Agreement under which the A.T. is managed, with all parties having a voice in decisions.

National Park Service Value

A recent economic analysis places the value of the United States National Park System at over $100 billion.  Consider the agencies annual operating budget of $2.5 billion and a maintenance backlog between $12 and $20 billion and something is out of balance.  “America’s Best Idea” needs some better ideas to address the needed maintenance.

The ATC, has conducted an inventory of the trail and associated structures.  This has taken several years to compile as all the water bars, rock steps, shelters etc. have been counted and valuated. That analysis places the value of the A.T. at $28.43 a foot or almost $330 million.

I would hope that Americans would find ways to support our parks.  Some national parks are starting to charge admission and exploring other means of generating revenue. Approximately $36 billion is generated in local economies.

Board Meetings

As a reminder, club board meetings are open and members are encouraged to attend.  Typically we meet at the Kennesaw REI store on the second or third Sunday of odd months.  Please let me know if you are interested so I can provide specific details.

See y’all on the trail.

See y’all on the trail.