Named for the regional planner who envisioned
the Appalachian Trail and founded the Wilderness Society, this trail
begins in Fannin County near Blue Ridge Georgia and extends all the
way to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.While the Appalachian
Trail follows the eastern crest of the Appalachian Mountains, the
Benton MacKaye follows the western crest.
After 25 years of all-volunteer effort, the
complete trail is now open. The first part of the trail runs from
Springer Mountain near Blue Ridge Georgia to US Hwy 64 near the Ocoee
River in Tennessee, a distance of 90.9 miles.
The second part of the trail was completed
in February 2005. and adds 100 miles to the trail. It extends from
the Ocoee River heading north, along the Tennessee / North Carolina
line to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at Twentymile Ranger
Station.
The third part of the trail is within the Great
Smoky Mountains National Park . The route crosses the Appilation trail
twice, at opposite ends of the park, making a giant loop of over 158
miles within the park.
The Begining of the trail details:
Beginning at Springer Mountain, the Benton
MacKaye skirts the ridge of Bald Mountain with occasional scenic views
on the trail or a short walk from the trail. It returns to the AT
to share its path up Rich Mountain just after the Springer Mountain
Day Use Parking Area. When the AT leaves Rich Mountain and quickly
descends to Stover Creek the trail continues on a much more gradual
descent along an old logging road. It rejoins the AT for the crossing
at Three Forks. After the side path to Long Creek Falls the Benton
MacKaye turns left.
Over the next 7 miles the trail crosses no
roads, and there are rarely any hikers until it crosses Forest Service
Road 333 and descends into the Toccoa River Valley. Here the 265 foot
swinging bridge crosses the Toccoa. From the bridge to Highway 60
is a 3 mile hike. North of Highway 60 the trail climbs Wallalah and
Rhodes Mountains in a gentle arc as the trail swings from traveling
northeast to northwest. In the vicinity of Wallalah the trail is treacherous
; there are some excellent views from Rhodes. On the top of Rhodes
Mountain the Duncan Ridge Trail leaves theBenton MacKaye Trail.
Once through Skeenah Gap, the trail offers
additional scenic views of distant mountains, then begins an easy
climb up Deadennen Mountain, descends to Lula Head Gap and ascends
Wilscot Mountain and descends to Highway 60 in Wilscot Gap. After
the gap the trail begins the steep climb to the top of Tipton Mountain,
but its worth the climb. At the top of Tipton are some excellent views
regardless of season. Watch the trail blazes in this area, for its
easy to get off the path.
From Tipton Mountain the trail falls to a gap,
then ascends Brawley Mountain. As the trail heads west it skirts the
top of Garland Mountain. There are some excellent views of the Toccoa
River Valley from the top of Garland, and there is an easy descent
to Dial Road. Here the Shallowford Bridge crosses the Toccoa, and
the trail follows Aska Road to Riverside Restaurant. The Benton MacKaye
then turns on Stanley Creek Road. In 2.5 miles the trail returns to
the forest, and begins the climb to Falls Creek Falls.
After visiting the falls on a side trail, return
to the Benton MacKaye for the long climb to the top of Rocky Mountain.
The end of the trail:
Within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the trail is marked
with a white diamond trailmarker with the words "Benton MacKaye
Trail" on a green background, This section extends about 100
miles from the Twentymile Ranger Station in the southwest corner of
the park to the northeast boundary near Davenport Gap.The route crosses
the Appilation trail twice, at opposite ends of the park, making a
giant loop of over 158 miles within the park.
