Pine Mountain Trail History, Harris County Georgia & Meriwether County Georgia Hiking Trails

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Harris County Georgia & Meriwether County Georgia Hiking Trails

Pine Mountain Trail History

Information Provided by the
Pine Mountain Trail Association

Since 1975, volunteers of all ages have labored to build and maintain the Pine Mountain Trail, a 23-mile footpath. This main trail and connecting loops that crosses and follows the beautiful Pine Mountain ridge in west central Georgia, is inside the Franklin Delano Roosevelt State Park and near Callaway Gardens. Quiet woods, sparkling streams, misty waterfalls, rock outcroppings, varied forest, scenic overlooks, deer and turkey await your discovery. Just follow the blazes (6” by 2 ½” rectangles painted on trees). Two-foot-high rock cairns and mileage markers assist the hiker. Wooden location and mileage signs have been placed at each road crossing, trail head, junction, campsite, and at all named parking lots. The Pine Mountain Trail offers clear crisp views of distant ridges in winter, with occasional snowfall. In the summer there are lush green ferns and lowland flowers. Wild flowers are abundant and in spring you will find flowering dogwood, native azalea, mountain laurel and rhododendron. Fall brings bright and beautiful leaves of hickory, oak, dogwood and maple, which change from day to day.

Much of the land that the Pine Mountain Trail crosses once belonged to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. His farm was near the site of WJSP-TV. FDR often visited Dowdell Knob and the area of the Wolfden and Cascade Falls as well as the fish hatchery ponds built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930’s. On April 12, 1945, Roosevelt died at the Little White House at Warm Springs, less than a mile from the trail and Cascade Falls.
The Pine Mountain Trail Association, Inc. (PMTA) was organized to design and build the best trail system possible. Countless hours went into planning, scouting and preparing the land prior to construction. Members and volunteers started working on a weekly schedule, seeking the best route, selecting points of interest and building a safe and functional trail. Until new trails could be built, old existing horse trails and Boy Scout trails were used as temporary connecting paths. Miles of trail were obtained in this way but it took years of rerouting and work to get the final route.
The result: a trail designed for maximum enjoyment with many points of interest and few steep, tiring grades. After working in winter’s sweltering heat, a 23-mile, blue-blazed trail was opened from the FDR park entrance (near the Country Store at US 27 and Georgia 190) past Dowdell Knob and on the WJSP-TV tower near Warm Springs. Less than two miles remain of the old trail. The Pine Mountain Trail Association appreciates the cooperation of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the continuing efforts of the employees of FDR State Park.

Registries at the eastern end of the trail and near the FDR Park office have been signed by tens of thousands of hikers from every state and many foreign countries. It is estimated that 50,000 hikers use the trail each year and over 1 million hikers had hiked part of the trail by 1995. The trail is for foot travel only. Horses, wheeled vehicles and firearms are strictly forbidden.
     In addition to the 23-mile main trail there are six loops formed by over nine miles of connecting trails.
     Thirteen designated named back-country/backpacking campsites are at various places a short distance off the trail. FDR State Park does not charge PMTA members (who present their membership card at the park office) for the required permits to backcountry camp on the trail.
     All backcountry camping is by permit only and permits must be obtained at the FDR State Park Office prior to starting out on the trail.
     We want the Pine Mountain Trail to be the best and cleanest anywhere. Keep on the trail, do not take shortcuts at switchbacks. All backpackers and hikers are requested to pick up all litter and pack it out. There are trash containers located at all parking areas near the trail. Remember, take only photographs and leave only footprints. Build fires in designated fire rings and keep them small. Burn only dead downed wood. Use of a backpacking stove is recommended instead of a fire. When a fire-ban is in effect for FDR State park only stoves may be used. Check with the park office when obtaining your permit for current availability of water at campsites and if a fire-ban is in effect. Bury human waste at least 100 feet from the trail and 200 feet from campsites.
     The Pine Mountain Trail is within FDR State Park. FDR, like all state parks requires a daily use fee for parking anywhere within the park. Annual Georgia Park Passes are good at all state parks such as FDR. Contact the FDR park office for all fee/permit rates and other information by calling 706-663-4858.
     Work continues on the Pine Mountain Trail as maintenance and rerouting becomes necessary. There are hikes and trail maintenance workdays each month listed at the PMTA website, in local newspapers and in the PMTA newsletter. All workdays and hikes are led by a PMTA member.
     The Pine Mountain Trail Association, Inc. is an incorporated, non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing, preserving and promoting the Pine Mountain Trail. Your support of the membership helps assure a well-maintained trail and helps in the protection of the area environment and wilderness. Membership is open to individuals, families and organizations (scout units, church groups, schools, etc.) interested in promoting, hiking or maintaining the Pine Mountain Trail. Annual membership is $15 for individuals, $20 for families and $25 for an organization.
     Send by US mail a membership application and dues or tax-deductible contribution along with name, address and telephone number to address below.
     If you have questions about the trail or The Pine Mountain Trail Association, write us. At our website you can learn more about the PMTA, the trail and you can review trail descriptions, backpacking information and see a Pine Mountain Trail Association application that you may print out to mail in with your dues.

Pine Mountain Trail Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 5
Columbus, Georgia 31902
www.pinemountaintrail.org

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