Benton MacKaye Trail & South Fork

11.2 mi · ▲ 2,212 ft · 4 hr 50 min

Benton MacKaye Trail & South Fork is an 11.2-mile out-and-back near Colwell, GA. It climbs 2,212 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade. It scores 88/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi2,494 – 3,730 ft · steepest grade: 18%11.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 34.86822, -84.51449
Nearest town Colwell, GA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Benton MacKaye Trail & South Fork

11.2 mi · ▲ 2,212 ft · 4 hr 50 min

Elevation 2,495–3,729 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 34.86822, -84.51449

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 7:15 AM · sunset 8:00 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 1.7 miTurn right onto Benton MacKaye Trail, heading W.
  3. 2.3 miBear right onto South Fork, heading NW.
  4. 1.6 miReach Benton MacKaye Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  5. 1.6 miBear left onto Benton MacKaye Trail, heading E.
  6. 2.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  7. 1.7 miArrive back at the trailhead.

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

Weather

Sunrise 7:15 AMSunset 8:00 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.3 mi in (~52 min). Leave by 6:47 PM for the 8:00 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:46 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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