PTA Site Map / etrail or snailtrail
The Pinhoti Trail
A Southeast Region Appalachian Trail Connector
Northbound snailtrail / Section 13
Northern Terminus / Finish Hike
173.9 ~ Jackson Chapel Trailhead
161.1 ~ High Point Trailhead
Southern Terminus / Start Hike
Reference Points ~ AL / GA State Line, Piedmont, AL
Hike Distance ~ 12.8 Miles
Hiking Time vs Distance ~ 30 Minutes = 1 Mile
Trail Blazes ~ Light Blue Vertical Rectangles
Trail Description ~ Difficult ~ Dry Rocky Ridges, Long Climbs
Driving Directions
For a weekend section hike, you may want to bring two vehicles to the trail so that you can shuttle
yourselves from one end of your chosen section to the other. First, you will need to park your
“finish hike vehicle” at your section’s northern terminus and then drive your “start hike vehicle” down
to your section’s southern terminus.
Northern Terminus / Park Finish Hike Vehicle First
173.9 ~ JACKSON CHAPEL TRAILHEAD
Southern Terminus / Park Start Hike Vehicle
161.1 ~ HIGH POINT TRAILHEAD
Hiking Directions
Southern Terminus / Start Hike
161.1 ~ HIGH POINT TRAILHEAD / US 278 ~ 800' ~ TT, RW ~ (Photo)
172.0 ~ SPRING CREEK SHELTER ~ 1065' ~ LC, TS, SW ~ (Photo)
173.4 ~ CEMENT BOX SPRING ~ SW
PTA Site Map / Top of Page ^-^
The Pinhoti Trail
A Southeast Region Appalachian Trail Connector
Northbound snailtrail / Section 13
Northern Terminus / Finish Hike
173.9 ~ Jackson Chapel Trailhead
161.1 ~ High Point Trailhead
Southern Terminus / Start Hike
Reference Points ~ AL / GA State Line, Piedmont, AL
Hike Distance ~ 12.8 Miles
Hiking Time vs Distance ~ 30 Minutes = 1 Mile
Trail Blazes ~ Light Blue Vertical Rectangles
Trail Description ~ Difficult ~ Dry Rocky Ridges, Long Climbs
Driving Directions
For a weekend section hike, you may want to bring two vehicles to the trail so that you can shuttle
yourselves from one end of your chosen section to the other. First, you will need to park your
“finish hike vehicle” at your section’s northern terminus and then drive your “start hike vehicle” down
to your section’s southern terminus.
Northern Terminus / Park Finish Hike Vehicle First
173.9 ~ JACKSON CHAPEL TRAILHEAD
- From downtown Cave Spring, GA, go west on US 411 for 2.3 miles to Jackson Chapel Road
(look for a large Mountain Springs Baptist Church sign on the left). Turn left.
Go 3.6 miles to the Jackson Chapel Trailhead parking area, on the right.
The turn in is gravel and has enough room for 4 vehicles. Please don’t block the gate.
Southern Terminus / Park Start Hike Vehicle
161.1 ~ HIGH POINT TRAILHEAD
- From the Jackson Chapel Trailhead parking area, go left on Jackson Chapel Road 3.6 miles back
out to US 411. Turn left.
Go 5.1 miles to Rock Run Road (look for a Beauty Shop and Self Storage on the left). Turn left.
Go 5.4 miles to CR 45, just past downtown Rock Run. Turn left.
Go 2.7 miles to US 278. Turn left.
Go 0.1 miles to the High Point Trailhead parking area, on the right.
Hiking Directions
Southern Terminus / Start Hike
161.1 ~ HIGH POINT TRAILHEAD / US 278 ~ 800' ~ TT, RW ~ (Photo)
- From the trailhead parking area, the north trail turns right on US 278. Go 0.3 miles, almost
to the end of the long straightaway, then enter the woods on the left at a large piece of broken
concrete drain pipe. Look for the blue blaze.
WILDFLOWER ~ Goats Rue ~ White ~ May
ROADKILL WARNING ~ You'll probably want to scurry right on across this highway!!
TT, HS ~ Go left on US 278 for 7.5 miles to Piedmont. Map
TT, HS ~ Go right 13.4 miles to Cedartown, GA.
RW ~ Turn right on US 278 and go 0.1 miles to a creek running along the left side of the road.
NEXT RW ~ 1.7 miles.
- There is a dedication marker for the completion of the ATA Section here at the beginning of
the trail on the right. The Gerald Willis family owns all of the land surrounding the trail from
here to a point up past Hurricane Creek and have always been good friends of the hiking
community. They have also granted a land easement for the trail corridor to pass through their
property. The marker also recognizes the Forever Wild Land Trust, who purchased a 594 acre
trail corridor from mile 168.9 up to the 171.2 ~ Georgia State Line. These two actions are a
big part of what allowed the ATA Section to become a reality. Thank you.
HISTORY ~ 3-10 A new trail sign with distance to shelters and landmarks is in place.
- Keep a sharp eye on the blazes through these winding open pit iron ore mines. It's kinda like the
old Scream Machine at Six Flags !
MINERAL ~ Hematite (red iron ore) The Alabama state mineral.
- Follow the switchbacks downhill 0.2 miles to the spring. Once you cross the spring turn left and
go 25 yards on the road bed, then go back in the woods on the right for the 0.2 mile switchbacks
up to the shelter.
RW ~ This is the water source for the Davis Mountain Shelter.
NEXT RW ~ 3.3 miles.
- The trail goes straight for 10 yards past the shelter on a 4 wheeler road, which then turns left
and the trail goes straight.
Winter views from the shelter are mostly southern with Augusta Mine Ridge as the centerpiece.
The Alabama Trails Association built their first trail shelter up here on this classic Rocky Top
(9) in June of 2004. The major funding for this project was provided through a generous grant
from the Alabama Power Foundation and additional funding by Alabama Outdoors and the ATA.
Over 2 years of serious leg work was done before construction even began on the site. The
building of this shelter was the joint effort of four Alabama and Georgia trail clubs and some
pretty dedicated hikers! A big thanks go out to everyone involved!
WILDFLOWER ~ Blazing Star ~ Purple ~ September
LC, TS ~ The shelter is on the right just off trail and plenty of campsites are nearby. There is
a metal fire ring with a grill top at the shelter.
- This is the first of 6 old woods roads that the trail will go straight across in the next 0.4
miles.
INDIAN TRAIL TREE (not authentic) ~ Look for this tree just past the crossing. It's on the
left about 15' off trail.
- There is a distant northeast winter view of just the top of Indian Mountain here at the
beginning of the switchbacks. The part of the mountain that you can see is around 4.4 trail
miles away at the 168.2 ~ 1500 Foot Overlook.
FLOWERING TREE ~ Service Berry ~ White ~ April
- When you reach the bottom of the switchbacks the trail goes straight across this dirt road.
- The trail turns right on this dirt road. There is a Pinhoti trail sign across the road pointing to
the right for northbounders and another one pointing left for southbounders. Go 0.2 miles down
the road and look closely for another trail sign on the right pointing NB'ers to the left back
into the woods and SB'ers back up the road.
- This rocky spot is a great place to lay back and watch Hawks floating the thermals above the
lake at eye level. The ATA Section has several of the best overlooks on the Pinhoti.
- Visions of Dante's H E double L! Just imagine what it was like to build this downhill section of
trail !! There are great views of Indian Mountain across the valley for the next 0.4 miles. The
trail reaches the top of the Indian Mountain ridge straight out in front of you 1.6 miles away
and travels east and then northeast to the State Line.
WILDFLOWER ~ Wild Iris ~ Purple ~ March
FUNGUS ~ Stump
- At the bottom of the switchbacks the trail comes to a road bed at the creek. Turn left and go
15 yards to the bridge, on the right.
The old bridge was stolen and has now been replaced with a nice suspension bridge. The
materials for the new bridge were furnished by the Alabama Power Foundation. Thanks guys !
LC, RW ~ Continue on the roadbed 0.1 miles past the bridge to a large, flat, grassy area by the
creek.
NEXT RW ~ 0.5 miles.
UPDATE JUNE, 05 ~ The bridge has been struck twice by big floating trees this year. Repairs
have been made and a plan to eliminate the problem is underway.
- The trail goes straight across the road.
Your ascent of Indian Mountain begins here. About 0.1 miles in, look for a huge Oak on the right
that is at least 100 years old.
LOCAL HISTORY - Bluffton (web site) ~ (pta page)
PARKING ~ Salem Church is 0.6 miles to the right.
WILDBERRY ~ Green Dragon ~ Red Berry ~ May
- When you get to the old road bed, turn right and go 0.1 miles to Hawkins Hollow.
- The trail goes around the left side of the Beaver Pond.
NEXT RW ~ 0.1 miles.
FLOWERING TREE ~ Mimosa ~ Pink ~ May
UPDATE NOV, 04 ~ A new ladder has been installed for the climb down the rock face beside the
pond.
- This bridge was built by the ATA Trail Crew on March 17, 2007.
NEXT RW ~ 0.1 miles.
- The campsite is about halfway through this rocky, steep sided hollow. There are some large rock
formations on the ridge up behind the camp.
NEXT RW ~ 1.1 miles.
UPDATE JAN, 05 ~ The ATA has built a raised 10' x 12' tent platform at this site.
UPDATE JUNE, 05 ~ A pic-a-nic table has been built here by the ATA.
- After the creek crossing, look for the first turn on the right.
- On the second road bed, turn left and go 20', then turn right through the big Pine blowdown.
This is a smaller version of The Pitts / 1.
- The trail goes straight across 2 more old road beds.
WILDFLOWER ~ Aster ~ Blue ~ ??
LC ~ On the second road bed you can turn left and go 50 yards to some flat, leafy, grassy
campsites with no fire rings.
RW ~ Turn right on the road bed and go downhill 100 yards to a future side trail on the right
that will carry you about 50 yards through the woods to a year round spring.
NEXT RW ~ 4.1 miles.
- You can see into Georgia here on the left and if you look to the right you can see Davis
Mountain in the foreground 2.6 trail miles away, Augusta Mine Ridge behind that 11.6 trail miles
away, Oakey Mountain behind that 18.7 trail miles away and Dugger Mountain behind that 25.7
trail miles away.
- Up near the top of the climb the trees thin out for good winter views looking south.
UPDATE 04 ~ This view is only half of what it was 5 years ago because of a mass of fast
growing Pines.
- HISTORY ~ September 18, 1997. The State of Alabama's Forever Wild program has
purchased a 514 acre tract for the Pinhoti Trail corridor. This mountainous hardwood forest was
purchased with assistance of the Conservation Fund.
HISTORY ~ December 3, 2001. Another 80 acres has been purchased by Forever Wild that
completes this acquisition project that allows the Pinhoti Trail to connect with the Appalachian
Trail in north Georgia.
- The trail goes through an open rocky area with a very broad view of Georgia.
LC ~ Continue north on the trail about 100' to a few nice leafy flat spots on the left complete
with a new metal fire ring and grill top. There is also a small view of Weiss Lake from the
campsite.
- The trail goes through the campsite, then makes an immediate right turn to circle around the
hill crest for 40 yards, then turns left off the 4 wheeler road.
This is the highest trail elevation on Indian Mountain. During WW 2 this area was used as a
military training site.
- Dr. McGehee (see page 2) had an apparent heart attack and died near here while on a trail
construction trip with the Alabama Trails Association on February 17, 2001. He was an active
member of several local, state and national outdoor groups and also taught Wilderness First
Aid across Alabama. The marker was furnished by the Huntsville Sierra Club Chapter who, with
help from the ATA, carried it up the mountain on Sept. 15, 2001.
- On a clear winter day you can see Weiss Lake from the rocky overlook on the left. Weiss Lake
is just below Center, AL, which is just below Little River Canyon, which is on the southern most
tip of Lookout Mountain.
- The trail continues past the sign along the ridge line for about 50', then starts veering off to
the right down the east slope.
- Welcome to Georgia! The trail continues straight past the sign board.
In July 2005, the Conservation Fund purchased a 650 acre, 2.7 mile trail corridor from the
state line to the first road crossing on the Georgia side, Jackson Chapel Road. As of the fall of
2007, trail construction is still ongoing by members of the Alabama Trails Association,
Appalachian Trail Club of Alabama, Horn Mountain Trail Club, Georgia Pinhoti Trail Association,
Alabama Hiking Trail Society and the North Alabama Sierra Club.
172.0 ~ SPRING CREEK SHELTER ~ 1065' ~ LC, TS, SW ~ (Photo)
- Look for the shelter side trail on the left. This sheter was completed in October 2008 by the
Alabama Trails Association and friends. It is the first trail shelter built on the Georgia
section of the Pinhoti Trail. You'll find 7 Shagbark Hickory trees within 50' of the shelter
site.
SW ~ Go north for 0.1 miles to a good spring.
UPDATE ~ On April 21st, 2007, a picnic table was constructed here by the ATA, ATCA and the
HMTC.
- A new footbridge was built across the creek in March, 2007 and was named in recognition of
ATA member Gene Padgham, whose many years of tireless dedication to the Pinhoti Trail are
well known to all.
- The trail goes straight across the road.
- The trail crosses this road diagonally to the right.
This road marks the beginning of a recent clear cut that is just starting to grow back.
- The trail goes straight across the road.
173.4 ~ CEMENT BOX SPRING ~ SW
- Look for a short side trail on the right that will take you to an old concrete spring box. The
box is about 2 1/2 feet square and is a good running water source that was put here many years
ago, probably by the Augusta Mining Company.
- Along through here you will see one of the old open pit iron ore mines that are scattered
throughout this part of Alabama and Georgia.
LC ~ The trail follows an old road bed through some of this section and you'll find many level
places for camping.
MINERAL ~ Hematite (red iron ore) The Alabama state mineral.
- The trail comes out at the trailhead parking area by the gated Jeep road.
RW ~ Turn right on Jackson Chapel road and go 100 yards. Look for Hematite Creek running
under the road.
PTA Site Map / Top of Page ^-^
| Millennium Legacy Trail |
Section 13 Hike Planner
CS ~ Convenience Store
0
TT ~ Trail Town
161.1
SC ~ Small Camp
0
LC ~ Large Camp
163.1, 166.0, 166.7, 167.8, 169.1, 170.2, 171.1,
172.0, 173.6
TS ~ Trail Shelter
163.1, 172.0
SW ~ Seasonal Water
171.9, 172.0, 172.1, 173.3, 173.4
RW ~ Reliable Water
161.1, 162.7, 166.0, 166.5, 166.6, 166.7, 166.8,
167.8, 173.9
HS ~ Hot Shower
0
CS ~ Convenience Store
0
TT ~ Trail Town
161.1
SC ~ Small Camp
0
LC ~ Large Camp
163.1, 166.0, 166.7, 167.8, 169.1, 170.2, 171.1,
172.0, 173.6
TS ~ Trail Shelter
163.1, 172.0
SW ~ Seasonal Water
171.9, 172.0, 172.1, 173.3, 173.4
RW ~ Reliable Water
161.1, 162.7, 166.0, 166.5, 166.6, 166.7, 166.8,
167.8, 173.9
HS ~ Hot Shower
0
