National designation sought for Benton MacKaye Trail that traces 300-mile path through Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina

The Benton MacKaye Trail Association is seeking congressional approval for the trail in Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina to be designated a National Scenic Trail, which would boost the number of long-distance trails in the U.S. with that designation to an even dozen.

The almost 300-mile Benton MacKaye Trail traces an 82-mile path in Georgia and 206 miles more along the Tennessee/North Carolina border, including lands in the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee, Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in Georgia and Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina, according to a news release from the trail association's board of directors.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park contains 93 miles of the Benton MacKaye Trail, making it the longest trail in the Smokies.

A National Scenic Trail designation would be timely, according to association president Ken Cissna.

"This year marks the 100-year anniversary of Benton MacKaye's treatise, 'An Appalachian Trail: A Project in Regional Planning.' That essay was the initial blueprint for the [Appalachian Trail]," Cissna said in a news release.

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The trail is named for visionary forester Benton MacKaye, known for his advocacy for the Appalachian Trail, according to the release. Today's route closely resembles MacKaye's proposed southern spur that extended the Appalachian Trail into north-central Georgia.

"I think Benton MacKaye would have been pleased with the trail today," Cissna said. "The striking vistas, rushing waterfalls, the iconic 'swinging bridge' and the pleasantly secluded forest pathways that wind through six wilderness areas as well as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park make the Benton MacKaye Trail a perfect candidate for designation as a National Scenic Trail."

Currently, the Benton MacKaye Trail and Appalachian Trail start at the same point on Springer Mountain in Georgia, and the two trails overlap at first, intersecting four times in the first 7 miles before going their separate ways at Long Creek Falls, officials said. Those portions are good choices for day hikes.

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Benton MacKaye Trail

From Long Creek Falls, the trail heads north to cross the Toccoa River on the iconic swinging bridge in Fannin County, Georgia, before turning west to traverse numerous summits ranging from 2,500 to 3,500 feet in elevation, passing Fall Branch Falls through the Cohutta Wilderness Area and Big Frog Wilderness Area.

The trail eventually crosses into Tennessee at the remote Double Spring Gap in Polk County, Tennessee, followed by dramatic crossings over the Ocoee and Hiwassee rivers. The trail then ascends to the boundary ridge between Tennessee and North Carolina near Sandy Gap where hikers get 360-degree views.

After tracing solo paths for 180 miles, the trail meets up with its sibling Appalachian Trail near Fontana Dam then enters the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, sticking close to Fontana Lake. From there, it climbs to the top of Mount Sterling - the trail's highest point at 5,842 feet - and then descends to Big Creek in North Carolina, the trail's remote northern terminus about 5 miles south of Interstate 40.

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According to the park service, the designation comes through a four-step process.

First, an amendment to the National Trails System Act must be passed requesting a feasibility study; second, the feasibility study must be conducted, the park service states in a description of the steps. Third, if the feasibility study recommends the trail be established, an act must be introduced seeking to add the trail to the National Trails System. Finally, once the trail is established, a comprehensive management and use plan that outlines the roles of the federal government and its partners must be created.

"Altogether this process has taken anywhere from six to 15 years," the park service states. "Because of this dialogue back and forth between Congress and the administrative agency over many years, a trail is most likely to succeed in this process if there is a strong, well-organized, citizen-based organization at work on behalf of the trail."

The Benton MacKaye Trail Association has 729 active members and has been around for more than 40 years. Richard Harris, the association's maintenance director for Tennessee and North Carolina, said members believe they have a good chance of getting the trail added.

Contact Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569. Follow him on Twitter @BenBenton.