Benton MacKaye Trail
13.5 mi · ▲ 1,968 ft · 5 hr 29 min
Benton MacKaye Trail is a 13.5-mile out-and-back near Hurst, GA. It climbs 1,968 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly gravel. It scores 55/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Benton MacKaye Trail
13.5 mi · ▲ 1,968 ft · 5 hr 29 min
Elevation 2,190–3,038 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Benton MacKaye Trail · 34.80794, -84.18773
Weather Sep 6: sunrise 7:14 AM · sunset 7:58 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Benton MacKaye Trail, heading E.
- 2.2 miTurn right onto Seabolt Mountain Road, heading SW.
- 1.3 miSharp right onto West Skeenah Road, heading NW.
- 3 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading NW.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
- 2.6 miSharp left onto Seabolt Mountain Road, heading NE.
- 1.3 miTurn left onto Benton MacKaye Trail, heading NE.
- 2.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.4 mi in (~51 min). Leave by 6:47 PM for the 7:58 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Benton MacKaye Trail Trailhead
- Benton MacKaye Trail Loop 3.9 mi · ▲ 967 ft
- Benton MacKaye Trail Loop 3.9 mi · ▲ 967 ft
- Brawley Mountain 4.7 mi · ▲ 902 ft
- Benton MacKaye Trail 5.3 mi · ▲ 1,265 ft
- Wilscot Mountain Road via Benton MacKaye Trail 7.5 mi · ▲ 1,549 ft
- Brawley Mountain–Persimmon Hill, 3 summits 10.4 mi · ▲ 2,138 ft
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