Guided Hikes with the Benton McKaye Trail Association

Benton MacKaye Trail Association Guided Hikes

Typically BMT schedules four or five hikes per month, some “leisure” hikes shorter and easier and some 5 to 8 miles with moderate difficulty. In addition, we have occasional backpacking hikes and more difficult ones that might be called “hardy hikes.” Occasionally, we co-sponsor hikes with other organizations. Some, but not all, of our hikes are “dog friendly.” Although there are more hikes in Georgia than in the other states, you will find hikes in all three BMT states: Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

Scheduled Hikes

CLICK THE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE SCHEDULED HIKES!


APRIL

April 3rd (Wednesday) Trails of Jack Rabbit. TR 750, 756, 757 and 754. This creates a loop. The hike is moderate and approximately 5 miles. Contact Hike Leader Ralph Collinson at bmtahikeleaderrc@bmta.org.

April 5th (Tuesday) Quartz Loop and BMT to Thunder Rock. Easy/moderate 5 plus miles. Contact Hike Leader Ralph Collinson at bmtahikeleaderrc@bmta.org.

April 7th (Sunday) Upper Springer Mountain Loop. This is a 5-mile moderate hike which will stop at both the BMT and the AT Southern termini. Beautiful views.
Contact Hike Leader Kelly Motter at bmtahikeleaderkm@bmta.org

April 10th (Wednesday) Tobacco Pouch Trail to Buice Falls to Fall Creek Falls and return on Fall Creek Trail. Moderate/strenuous approximately 8 miles with views of the cascades. GA WMA license required. Contact Hike Leader Steve Dennison at bmtahikeleadersd@bmta.org

April 12th (Friday) Flat Creek Loop. DOG-FRIENDLY HIKE (adult humans may bring a leashed dog). Moderate 5.6-mile loop hike featuring Flat Creek.
Contact Hike Leader Ken Cissna at bmtahikeleaderkc@bmta.org

April 14th (Sunday) BMT Hwy 60 to Suspension Bridge and return. Moderate/strenuous. Approximately 8 miles long with 1800 ft elevation gain.
Contact Hike Leader Kelly Motter at bmtahikeleaderkm@bmta.org

April 17th (Wednesday) Brasstown Bald in and out 4-mile moderate hike on the Wagon Train Trail.
Contact Hike Leader Ralph Collinson at bmtahikeleaderrc@bmta.org

April 19th (Friday) BMT - Hudson Gap, out and back. DOG-FRIENDLY HIKE (adult humans may bring a leashed dog). Moderate 4-5 miles Come out to see spring wildflowers. Contact Hike Leader Ken Cissna at bmtahikeleaderkc@bmta.org

MAY

May 1st (Wednesday) Lady Slippers! Mulky Gap near Blairsville. Easy/moderate 1.5 miles. Before embarking on the hike, hikers will go across the road to see a huge garden of thousands of pink lady slippers. The hike itself begins on an old logging road. Trillium, showy orcus, wild geranium, wild iris and dutchman’s pipe are just a few of the spring beauties to be seen. For the return, we’ll switch to the Duncan Ridge Trail where there are flame azaleas as well as some super-sized pink lady slippers. Contact Hike Leaders Joy and Frank Forehand at bmtahikeleaderjf@bmta.org

May 3rd (Friday) BMT: From Thunder Rock Campground, up Thunder Rock Express Trail, across Chestnut Mtn Trail and down BMT. DOG-FRIENDLY HIKE (adult humans may bring a leashed dog). Moderate 5.2-mile loop. Contact Hike Leader Ken Cissna at bmtahikeleaderkc@bmta.org

May 8th (Wednesday) Lady Slipper Hike. BMT at Weaver Creek in Blue Ridge. Moderate/strenuous 3.8 miles. This will be a SLOW, LEISURELY hike to enjoy the wildflowers. Initially we’ll pass by beautiful mountain laurel groves peppered with flame azaleas. Stop for lunch at the water cutoff beside some of the largest lady slippers on the section. As we stroll back to the trailhead, we’ll pass numerous gardens of the pink beauties. Contact Hike Leaders Joy and Frank Forehand at bmtahikeleaderjf@bmta.org

May 17th (Friday) Amadahy Trail. DOG-FRIENDLY HIKE (adult humans may bring a leashed dog). Easy/moderate 5 miles along the shore of Carter’s Lake. Lunch at the marine campground. Contact Hike Leader Ken Cissna at bmtahikeleaderkc@bmta.org

May 21st (Tuesday) Turtletown Creek Falls. Moderate 5 miles. Turtletown Creek plus two of the most beautiful falls you’ll ever see on a short hike. Contact Hike Leader Ralph Collinson at bmtahikeleaderrc@bmta.org

May 29th (Wednesday) Pickens Nose overlook on the AT. Enjoy this beautiful view on a moderate, short trail (under 3 miles). Contact Hike Leader Ralph Collinson at bmtahikeleaderrc@bmta.org

May 31st (Friday) Wilscot Gap to Brawley Tower, Payne Gap and return. Moderate/strenuous 12.6 miles. Option for a shorter version Wilscot Gap to Brawley Tower and return 6.2 miles round trip. Contact Hike Leader Steve Dennison at bmtahikeleadersd@bmta.org

May 31st (Friday) Fightingtown Creek Nature Park. The Creekside Trail. Easy/moderate 3.5 miles. DOG-FRIENDLY HIKE (adult humans may bring a leashed dog). Contact Hike Leader Ken Cissna at bmtahikeleaderkc@bmta.org.

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Check out more great hiking info on the Benton MacKaye Trail

*Please refer to: BMTA COVID-19 Hiker Guidelines and BMTA COVID-19 Maintenance Guidelines.