Georgia Pinhoti Trail - the longest foot trail system in Georgia

The Georgia Pinhoti Trail

The Georgia Pinhoti Trail (GPT) is the longest foot trail in Georgia. It stretches from the Alabama line in Polk County, Georgia southwest of Cave Spring to the Benton Mackaye Trail deep in the Cohutta District between Ellijay, Blue Ridge, and Chatsworth. The GPT has significant recreational opportunities for those living close to its path but it also has national and international impacts. GPT links to the Alabama Pinhoti, which extends for another 136 miles across the Talladega National Forest. To the north, GPT connects with the Appalachian Trail (AT) via the Benton Mackaye Trail. The AT ties to the International AT in Canada. With approximately 140 miles of road walks between the Conecuh National Forest, which is located just north of the Florida state line, and the Talladega National Forest, it is now possible to walk from South Florida on the Florida Trail System up the eastern side of USA into Canada. As best we can tell about five to ten elite long distance hikers are already making this hike every year. Georgia Pinhoti Trail is also a vital link in the proposed Great Eastern Trail (GET). The proposed Great Eastern Trail southern terminus is Florida and goes through Alabama to Georgia Pinhoti after which it departs northwestern Georgia through Chattanooga, TN to the Cumberland Trail, the PineMountain Trail in Kentucky and on to upstate New York.