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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

GATC Logo Black

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.

As summer starts to wind down it is hard to imagine that it is six months that we have been dealing with the Coronavirus.  With promises of a vaccine on the horizon maybe we can have hope of getting together soon.  I have missed our Third Saturday Work trips and will miss getting together at the annual meeting in a few weeks.  Our periodic Town Hall virtual meetings at least allows us to see each other, though it’s not the same.

Public lands have seen a rise in visitors and I expect this trend will continue into the fall. The Trail Ambassadors are getting ready for fall patrols, with social distancing and masks.  The Education Committee of PATHE is making plans for a busy thru-hiker season next spring.  While each year we see an increase of traffic through Basecamp, next spring could see exponentially greater numbers.  Of course, things could also be cancelled on a moment’s notice.

ATC Federal Policy Advocacy Issues

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) would like to coordinate with the A.T. Maintaining Clubs on federal policy advocacy issues and has submitted a list of policy objectives. These will be discussed at the 2020 Regional Partnership Committee meetings.

Ensuring proper public lands management and maintenance;

  • Addressing Climate Change
  • Improving the Cooperative Management System (CMS)
  • Attending to Public Lands Maintenance
  • Supporting Native Wildlife, Combating Invasive Species

Preserving the A.T. Landscape;

  • Protecting State Management Authority
  • Supporting A.T. Landscape LWCF Acquisitions
  • Promoting Private Conservation

Facilitating volunteerism and civic engagement;

  • Facilitating the Development of New Stewards
  • Enabling the Continued Competence of Stewards
  • Defending Public Input

Promoting rural economic development with an anchor in outdoor recreation

  • Preventing Inconsistent Energy Development
  • Increasing Access to the Trail
  • Providing for New Kinds of Appropriate Use
  • Supporting Gateway Communities

Spaceport Camden

Spaceport Camden is a proposed rocket launching facility to be located in eastern Camden County, Georgia.  This location is very close to Cumberland Island National Seashore, Little Cumberland Island and Jekyll Island.  It also presents a major threat to the ecology of the area.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will issue a revised Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on January 8, 2021, followed by a 45 day public comment period.  The final EIS should be issued by September 2021.

There was an EIS issued in March 2018 which has led to further study and clarification as they relate to certain environmental impacts.  This did not completely address the impacts that catastrophic events and launch disasters may have on the ecological integrity of nearby ecosystems, including Cumberland Island National Seashore and Wilderness area.

Meetings

If you have not already registered for the club’s annual meeting Saturday October 3 at 10:00am please do so at https://forms.gle/efaS5K5k2vTKadrH7.  It is important for all club members to plug into what’s going on in the club and with our partners.  Trail worker awards and T-shirts will be announced.  This year the criteria for shirts has been adjusted to compensate for the time the forest was closed.  Of particular importance, the nominating committee will present the slate for next year’s board, along with the election.

As always I encourage any member who wants to attend a board meeting to let me know.  We need more members to engage with club activities and this is an excellent opportunity.  For the foreseeable future these meeting will be held virtually.

Please continue to stay safe and healthy, someday we will look back on this as a memory.

Trail Skills Workshop

The workshop brings enhanced trail building and maintaining skills to club members.  This program will include two presentations from last spring’s Wilderness Skills Institute.  These sessions contain valuable information without regard of experience level.

Dr. Jeff Marion will discuss trail and campsite design and management.  Morgan Sommerville will present trail construction and maintenance.  Our Sawyer Coordinator Mike Cordisco will describe our sawyer program in hope of enticing more club members into the program.

Each two hour session will be held on Saturdays starting at 10:00am.  The following is the tentative schedule for the virtual workshop:

September 26            Design and Management                         Dr. Jeff Marion

October 10                Trail Maintenance & Constructions          Morgan Sommerville

October 17                Crosscut Sawyering                                    Mike Cordisco