The best family-friendly hikes and walks in Ed Jenkins National Recreation Area

The trail is entirely within Chattahoochee National Forest, except for the section on state park land at Amicalola Falls State Park and the section around the Hike Inn. Although the trail is mostly easy, there are some moderately difficult climbs. Light green rectangular blazes mark the trail, which begins at the gravel parking area above Amicalola Falls. From here, the Hike Inn Trail briefly meets the blue-blazed Approach Trail to Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.). Light green blazes soon change from blue to lead up to the ridge, where the trail winds, descends to small streams, and climbs again, crossing more ridges before finally arriving at the Hike Inn after five miles.

The only real shelter on the Appalachian Approach Trail from Amicalola Falls to Mt. Springer. There's a bear-proof food pit, and the trail to the nearest water, a half-mile away, is marked.

This is where the approximately 8km climb to the Len Foote Hike Inn begins. You can park right here (or use the overflow at the Amicalola Falls Lodge). For overnight stays, you must register your vehicle at the Visitor Center, and you will receive a tag to place in your car. For information about the Hike Inn and the beautiful hiking trail there, see: https://hike-inn.com/

As is customary, Amicalola State Park also offers lessons led by park rangers. Information about these events can be found at the Visitor Center.

A peaceful spot where three mountain streams come together in the Blue Ridge Wildlife Management Area. The sound of rushing water makes it a perfect place to pause, refill your bottles, or even camp nearby. The shaded forest and cool air from the streams offer welcome relief on a long day of hiking.

A large campsite with over 30 pitches and private parking. However, you have to go down a long way for water.

Unfortunately the truck load was already gone 😁

Amicalola Mountain is the first summit on the AT Approach Trail. The ridge rises from near Dawsonville on its southwest flank to Nimblewill Gap not far from Springer Mountain at its northeast point. Its highest section is known as Frosty Mountain and was once the site of a Forest Service fire tower which has been disassembled and removed. All that remains of that tower are concrete footings partially hidden by vigorous undergrowth in the old clearing where it once stood. Best known as the ridge line that serves as the source of the stream that produces Amicalola Falls, it rises abruptly from a valley floor at roughly 1500 feet above sea level, offering an impressive forested face. The south facing slopes of Amicalola Mountain are extremely steep; deceptively so as they are covered in a fantastic array of hardwoods that hide what would appear as cliffs in a less temperate zone.