You may remember reporter Wyatt Massey shared the Pilchers Pond section of Pinhoti Trail a few weeks ago. Today’s hike is another section of the trail courtesy of Times Free Press editor Alison Gerber (and her mutt Lila).
The Pinhoti Trail runs 335 miles along the Southern Appalachians from Polk County, Alabama, to the Benton Mackaye Trail in Georgia. A portion of it passes through rugged backcountry in North Georgia, where it’s nicknamed the “Dughoti” because it traverses Dug Gap Mountain.
Pinhoti Trail from Dug Gap to Snake Creek Gap
- Type: Point to point
- Distance: 15.3 miles
- Difficulty: Rated difficult by AllTrails, and there are some steep ascents and descents, but much of it is flat.
- Time: Depends on how much of the trail you hike. Many hikers do an in-and-out hike on part of the trail rather than the entire 15-mile length.
- Traffic level: Moderate to low
- Drive time from downtown: 40 minutes to Dug Gap; 45 minutes to Snake Creek
- Dog-friendly: Yes, but dogs must be leashed.
- Directions and more information
Highlights of the trail:
– The trail is steep in parts with exposed rock and some dramatic scenery and pretty mountain/ridge views. You’ll find wildflowers in the spring. Mountain bikers and horseback riders use parts of the trial.
– There are two ways to explore this portion of the trail: start at Dug Gap Mountain Road in Whitfield County, where there is limited parking along the road, or start at Snake Creek Gap off Highway 136 in Walker County, where there’s a large parking area near the trailhead. The path covers 15 miles from Highway 136 to Dug Gap Road.
– If you start at Highway 136, the trail climbs Mill Creek Mountain, follows the ridgeline and eventually descends the mountain. An AllTrails reviewer who ran the trail in May described it perfectly: “Big ole’ switchbacking climb straight out the gate. Chirping birds and frequent wildflowers. Levels out atop a scenic ridge line. Dips and winds through a few shallow dales and creeks. Then opens wide into Jeep forest road tracks and then returns to single track.”
– If you start at the Dug Gap Mountain Road side, you’ll hike uphill on a gravel road to get to the trail. There’s a pretty view of Mill Creek Valley on the right (where the photos below were taken). You’ll hit a cluster of cell towers and the trail veers off to the left. You can often hike this portion without seeing any other hikers.
– Winter is the best time to explore this portion of the Pinhoti Trail; in the late spring and summer some parts are overgrown with poisonous ivy.
– Fun fact: Pinhoti is the Creek Indian term for turkey’s home.
For more info on the Pinhoti Trail, go here.
Happy trails!