The GPT is the longest foot trail in Georgia. It stretches from the Alabama line in Polk County just out side 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. It links to the Alabama Pinhoti, which extends for another 100 miles across the Talladega National Forest. To the north it connects with the Appalachian Trail (AT) via the Benton Mackaye Trail. The AT ties to the International AT in Canada. With some road walks interspersed, it is now possible to walk from South Florida on the Florida Trail System across the USA and Canada. This network of trails is being called the Eastern Continental Trail (ECT). As best we can tell about five to ten elite long distance hikers are already making this hike every year.

There is about twenty miles of road walk between the Armuchee section and the Cohuttas. The trail gets back on National Forest land on Peeples Lake Road at Ramhurst just South of Chatsworth. From there it climbs up Fort Mountain crossing Rock Creek several times and coming very close to Fort Mountain State Park and Cohutta Lodge. It then drops down the North East side of Fort Mountain into the Barnes Creek and Bear Creek water sheds. Then it’s up to Potato Patch and The Benton Mackaye. The Benton Mackaye takes you to the AT or you can also proceed to Amicalola Falls State Park.

Because the GPT is a multi use trail it receives strong support from many user groups. Our workday volunteers usually include mountain bikers, equestrians, hikers, and other outdoor enthusiasts working side by side. We have found that these folks have far more in common with their love of the outdoors than even they imagined.

The GPT pays these user groups back with some unique recreational activities. It offers point-to-point excursions on foot, bike or horse. You can travel from camp to camp, state park to state park, or bed and breakfast to bed and breakfast. This trail is very close to several communities in North Georgia including Cave Spring, Rome, Summerville, Lyerly, Calhoun, Lafayette, Dalton, Chatsworth, Ellijay and Blue Ridge.

The trail is the result of many hours of work by the United States Forest Service (USFS), concerned citizens, government officials, and volunteer trail workers. The goal now is to minimize and eventually eliminate the need for any road walks along the route.

There are two major sections we need to acquire land or right of ways to make the connections. One is between the connection with the Alabama Pinhoti Trail in Polk County southwest of Cave Spring and the Simms Mountain Trail west of Rome in Floyd County. The other is from Dug Gap in Dalton to Ramhurst in Murray County. To complete this vision the GPT needs your help and donations. You can participate and support our efforts by volunteering or making a donation to the Georgia Pinhoti Trail Association.