AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Benton MacKaye Trail

5.2 mi · ▲ 1,343 ft · 2 hr 24 min

Benton MacKaye Trail is a 5.2-mile out-and-back near Padena, GA. It climbs 1,343 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade. It scores 79/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi1,887 – 2,871 ft · steepest grade: 26%5.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 34.82839, -84.22987
Nearest town Padena, GA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Benton MacKaye Trail

5.2 mi · ▲ 1,343 ft · 2 hr 24 min

Elevation 1,886–2,870 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 34.82839, -84.22987

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 7:14 AM · sunset 7:58 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 1.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
  3. 1 miTurn left onto Benton MacKaye Trail, heading NE.
  4. 0.5 miTurn left, heading NE.
  5. 150 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  6. 0.6 miTurn right, heading NW.
  7. 1 miTurn right, heading N.
  8. 1.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/benton-mackaye-trail-out-back-8-km-af90

Trail surface

1% dirt99% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:14 AMSunset 7:58 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.0 mi in (~79 min). Leave by 6:19 PM for the 7:58 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:03 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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