Springer Mountain Parking Area -- Springer Mountain, GA
N 34° 37.510 W 084° 11.609
16S E 757297 N 3835058
The parking area for the hike to the summit of Springer Mountain on the Applalachian Trail off of Forest Service Road 42 at the base of Springer Mountain
Waymark Code: WMWRBH
Location: Georgia, United States
Date Posted: 10/06/2017
Views: 3
AT hikers can park here at Springer Mountain for 14 days, although the day Blasterz were here we think some cars have been here much longer than that -- maybe a month or more.
Lucky hikers will be here when the peaches on the tree a kind AT volunteer planted here long ago are ripe. Trail magic! :)
The Springer Mountain parking area is located on US Forest Service Road 42.
From the GA Hikes websiote: (
visit link)
"Springer Mountain
Trail Length: 1.9 miles
Type of trail: In and out
County: Gilmer County, GA
Our rating: E
Features: scenic
Usage: Medium
Added on: January 01, 1995
Last hiked: April 24, 2015
Updated on: January 11, 2016
Overview
This Appalachian Trail day hike follows the trail from FS 42 to the top of Springer Mountain. It is the shortest approach to the starting point of the Appalachian Trail.
Springer Mountain Day Hike
The southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail lies almost exactly in the middle of a line drawn from Ellijay to Dahlonega (History of Dahlonega, Georgia), and 8 miles north of Amicalola Falls State Park. Springer is one of the few places in Georgia never forested, mostly because the ground is so rocky that trees don't grow well in the soil. This made it less than worthwhile for companies to attempt to harvest what little lumber there is on top of the mountain.
On Forest Service Road 42 a day-use fee-based parking area has been developed allowing access by foot to both the top of Springer and nearby Three Forks. From this parking area cross the road to the well-marked trail to Springer Mountain. The path is blazed with the familiar white rectangle of the AT, and a blaze is always visible when you are on the path.
From the parking lot to the top of Springer Mountain the trail climbs constantly but never sharply. This is a wide trail, as is all of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. The major problem with this footpath is the rocky ground; it is very easy to misstep and possibly fall. The Georgia Appalachian Trail Club has done a great job reworking the trail, adding steps in a couple of places and a unique water control network. It is obvious that they have spent much time improving the quality of this hike. . . "