Every year thousands of people set out from Springer Mountain to walk the Appalachian Trail to Maine. You do not need to go that far to stand at the start. A short hike from a forest road gets you to the summit plaque, and the drive there is closer to Ellijay than most people expect.

The hike

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy describes a 2.0-mile round trip from the parking lot on Forest Service Road 42:

  1. From the lot, cross the road and hike south on the A.T. The trail climbs steadily.
  2. After 0.8 miles, pass the junction with the Benton MacKaye Trail.
  3. Another 0.2 miles brings you to the summit, the southern end of the A.T., with views to the west.
  4. Return the way you came.

At the top you will find a bronze plaque of a hiker set into the rock and a register where thru-hikers sign in. The Benton MacKaye Trail, which runs about 288 miles through Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina according to its trail association, also begins at Springer; that trail passes Long Creek Falls and the Toccoa River swinging bridge.

Directions

The ATC lists Dahlonega as the closest town. Its directions start from GA-52, the same road that runs east from Ellijay:

  1. From GA-52, take Forest Service Road 28 (look for the Jones Creek sign).
  2. After 2.2 miles, take the left fork onto Forest Service Road 77 and go 5.1 miles to Winding Stair Gap.
  3. Take a hard left onto Forest Service Road 42 and drive 2.7 miles to the A.T. crossing. The large parking area is on the north side of the road.

Long-term parking is allowed here for up to 14 days.

These are rough gravel roads. The ATC warns that they can be impassable by car or van in winter or very wet weather. Call the Blue Ridge Ranger District at (706) 745-6928 for current road conditions before you go, and fill up on gas in Ellijay or Dahlonega. Cell service is unreliable.

The approach trail

Before forest roads reached the summit, hikers walked in from Amicalola Falls State Park on the approach trail, which is roughly 8.5 miles one way. Many thru-hikers still start there. It is a full day of climbing, so most day hikers choose the forest road. Our hiking guide covers Amicalola Falls itself.

When to go

Spring is thru-hiker season, and on March and April mornings the summit can be busy with people starting their trip north. Fall brings color and clear views. Summer is green and shaded but humid. In any season, pack water and a layer; the summit is breezy.

Sources and further reading

Facts in this article were checked against these sources on October 30, 2026. Hours, fees and seasons change, so confirm before you go.