|
The Long Creek Falls Trail, which is a Fannin County
Hiking Trail near the town of Blue Ridge Georgia, is an easy drive from
Murphy, North Carolina in Cherokee County.
Long Creek Falls
Trail
|
|
Via Appalachian Trail - Benton MacKaye Trail
Fannin County, Georgia
Length: 2.2 miles (3.5K)
Rating:
Easy
Use: Moderate
Hiking Time: About 1 1/2 hours
round trip.
Restrictions: No motorized
vehicles, horses or bicycles allowed on trail. Trail is designed for day
hikers.
|
|
| This trail utilizes
a part of the world famous Appalachian Trail (AT). The trail begins in a
grove of stately hemlocks and follows Long Creek 1.0 miles upstream to a
short blue blazed side trail that leads to
Long Creek Falls. Up stream 0.1 miles from the falls the Appalachian
Trail heads northeast toward Hawk Mountain, the Benton MacKaye and Duncan
Ridge Trails turn north toward the Toccoa River.
The trail begins at Forks, a popular dispersed
recreation area in the southeast corner of the District. The hike follows
the 2x6" white painted blazes of the Appalachian Trail north to the side
trail. Occasionally, the white diamonds of the Benton MacKaye Trail may
also be seen as the two trails are contiguous through this part of the
forest.
Directions from Blue Ridge, Georgia:
Travel east (toward Blairsville, GA) on GA Hwy 515,
approx. 0.8 miles past intersection with GA Hwy 5. Turn Right at Windy
Ridge Rd., go 0.2 miles to dead end with Old U.S. 76. Turn left, go 0.2
miles to Aska Road on right. Continue south on Aska Read 13.5 miles to
end. Turn right onto New Port Rd., go 4.5 miles to end. Turn left onto
Double head Gap Rd., and continue on this road about 0.8 miles to
intersection with dirt-gravel USFS Rd. 58 intersecting sharply from right.
Turn onto USFS 58 and continue into forest and uphill 5.3 miles to Three
Forks. Noontootla Creek, a beautiful trout stream, is on the right as you
ascend.
The trail begins on the left side of the road and starts as a
relatively gradual hike alongside Long Creek. There are three ascents
before reaching the blue blazed side trail to the falls at 1.1 miles.
Return to parking area by walking back along the same trail.
|
