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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.

Finally, the heat broke and we are now enjoying some cooler weather.  I expect many club members will be hiking and camping now that temperatures are more accommodating.

Recently, I met one of my backpacking buddies in the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois.  Typically we do a “big deal” hike in a western National Park, but we didn’t want to fly and Shawnee was a mid-way point for us.  He lives in Madison Wisconsin.

While not very hilly, a major elevation change could be 200 feet, there are some views.  The forest is bordered by the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.  What really made the place interesting is that 350 million years ago it was the bottom of a lake.  We are accustomed to seeing rock formed by glaciers and wind, here it was formed by water currents.  Most of the lines are horizontal and the rocks are rounded.  One particularly cool place had the tread (about three feet wide) passing between thirty foot high rocks.

Volunteer Service Agreement

Normally, this barely is worth a mention, and this may be resolved by publication.  We have a Volunteer Service Agreement (VSA) with the Chattahoochee National Forest (C-ONF) which authorizes us to do the work we do on the trail.

Just over five years ago, our Trail Ambassador program started with a separate VSA.  At the time it was decided to wait until later to combine it with the club’s VSA (which expires mid 2022).

At this point C-ONF wants to add two “sticky” points: They want all volunteers to check in and out of the forest by sending a text or email to a contact in each district.  They also want all volunteers to have first aid certification. 

I am hoping to present a Responsible Party Protocol whereby a volunteer would let someone (spouse) know where they were going and when they would be back.  This would apply for trail workers and Trail Ambassadors.  It would also direct who to call.

Thru-Hikers

It is anticipated next spring we will see banner numbers of thru-hikers and spring breakers on our trail, assuming things are not shut down.  The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) conducted a survey of hikers this year and of those who left the trail almost half said they would retry in 2021.  Many of these will start where they left off, probably north of Georgia.

We could see well over 4,000 hikers this spring, with many starting over, weekenders and spring breakers.  Of course the unemployment situation could also add many hikers.  Fortunately, most of the trail is in good condition and ready for the traffic.

We have not been allowed to service structures, principally shelters and privies.  There are a few privies in need of switching now, causing a significant impact in the area.  The upside of being closed and lower traffic many non-compliant camping sites have grown over and do not look inviting.

Appalachian Trail Tag Grants

At the annual meeting it was announced that all Appalachian Trail Tag Grant applications were approved.  This year there was approximately $53,000.00 in applications with $70,000.00 available.  Due to the COVID situation many of our ongoing projects were put on hold to next year. 

The North Georgia Mountain Authority is submitting a $3M grant application to the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program for a new visitor center at Amicalola Falls State Park.  One of the Tag Grants was for $10,000.00 is in support of their application.  We should know if this is approved by the end of the year.

Trail Skills Workshop

Recently the first program in this year’s virtual Trail Skills Workshop was held.  Jeff Marion presented his research on trail and campsite design.  This explored the factors affecting sustainable site locations and management.

Morgan Sommerville will discuss Trail Construction and Maintenance on October 10.  Our Sawyer Coordinator, Mike Cordisco, will be covering Crosscut Sawyering on October 17.  This is a great introduction to sawyering where even experienced sawyers will learn something. (Editor Note: Recordings of these sesssions are avaialble to the public and posted at https://georgia-atclub.org/who-we-are/trail-maintenance)

Wolf Pups Born on Isle Royale

Some months ago I wrote about how wolves were being reintroduced on Isle Royale in Lake Superior.  The issue, then, was whether this was in contradiction to the Wilderness Act.  Between September 2018 and September 2019 19 wolfs were relocated to the archipelago.  Their movements were tracked by Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) and by April 2020 it was estimated that 14 wolves were present.  Based on scat analysis, it is believed one female gave birth to at least two pups in 2019.