Benton MacKaye & Duncan Ridge Trail is an 8.9-mile out-and-back in Blue Ridge Wildlife Management Area near Swan, GA. It climbs 1,699 ft, with sections as steep as 24% grade. It scores 82/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
0 mi1,913 – 3,166 ft · steepest grade: 24%9.1 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 34.73898, -84.17015
Nearest town Swan, GA
Directions
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Benton MacKaye & Duncan Ridge Trail
8.9 mi · ▲ 1,699 ft · 3 hr 49 min
Elevation 1,913–3,168 ft
Out & Back · Blue Ridge Wildlife Management Area
Trailhead: 34.73898, -84.17015
Weather Sep 6: sunrise 7:14 AM · sunset 7:58 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Benton MacKaye & Duncan Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 4.5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 4.5 miTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
5% dirt1% boardwalk94% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 7:14 AMSunset 7:58 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~32 min). Leave by 7:06 PM for the 7:58 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:35 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- John Dick Creek Road & Toccoa River Road 2.7 mi · ▲ 311 ft
- Seed Production Road via Toccoa River Road 2.9 mi · ▲ 323 ft
- Benton MacKaye & Duncan Ridge Trail 8.9 mi · ▲ 1,699 ft
- Bryson Gap Road–Bryson-Benton Connector, 5 sights 12.8 mi · ▲ 1,747 ft
- Mill Creek Road via Benton MacKaye & Duncan Ridge Trail 14.5 mi · ▲ 2,962 ft
- Long Creek Falls & Long Creek Falls view via Benton MacKaye & Duncan Ridge Trail 15.5 mi · ▲ 3,277 ft
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Hikes near Swan, Georgia