Guided Hikes with the Benton McKaye Trail Association

Benton MacKaye Trail Association Guided Hikes

Typically BMT schedules four or five hikes per month, some “leisure” hikes shorter and easier and some 5 to 8 miles with moderate difficulty. In addition, we have occasional backpacking hikes and more difficult ones that might be called “hardy hikes.” Occasionally, we co-sponsor hikes with other organizations. Some, but not all, of our hikes are “dog friendly.” Although there are more hikes in Georgia than in the other states, you will find hikes in all three BMT states: Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

Scheduled Hikes

CLICK THE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE SCHEDULED HIKES!

JANUARY

January 29 (Monday) Fightingtown Creek #1. DOG-FRIENDLY HIKE (adult humans may bring a leashed dog). Moderate/easy 3.8 miles.
Contact Hike Leader Ken Cissna at bmtahikeleaderkc@bmta.org

FEBRUARY

February 5 (Monday) Two Loops of BMT/AT from Three Forks Southbound. DOG-FRIENDLY HIKE (adult humans may bring a leashed dog). Easy/moderate 5 miles.
Contact Hike Leader Ken Cissna at bmtahikeleaderkc@bmta.org

February 11 (Sunday) Woody to Gooch Gap on the AT and return. Moderate 7.2
miles. Contact Hike Leader Kelly Motter at bmtahikeleaderkm@bmta.org

February 12 (Monday) BMT TN 68 Unicoi Mountain Trail to Coker Creek bridge and return. Moderately strenuous 8 miles.
Contact Hike Leader Steve Dennison at bmtahikeleadersd@bmta.org.

February 16 (Friday) Talking Rock. DOG-FRIENDLY HIKE (adult humans may bring a leashed dog).
Easy/moderate 5 miles.Contact Hike Leader Ken Cissna at bmtahikeleaderkc@bmta.org.

February 18 (Sunday) Unicoi Gap to Indian Grave Gap on the AT and return on the Rocky Mountain Trail. Moderately strenuous 5.5 miles.
Contact Hike Leader Kelly Motter at bmtahikeleaderkm@bmta.org.

February 26 (Monday) BMT Hemp Top Trail to Double Springs Gap and return. Moderately/strenuous 11.8 miles.
Contact Hike Leader Steve Dennison at bmtahikeleadersd@bmta.org

MARCH

March 4th - (Monday) Hike the Rock Creek Trail in Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee.
Begin at Hwy 64 at Thunder Rock Trail Parking and hike across the Ocoee and up the BMT 2.2 miles to the
Rock Creek Trail. Hike 5.6 miles on the Rock Creek Trail. Total mileage will be 7.8. The climbs and descents
are moderate. Rating for the entire hike is strenuous. There are a few minor creek crossings; one could be fairly
deep. We will shuttle from the other end of the Rock Creek Trail on Hwy 64, a very easy shuttle. Contact Hike Leaders Clare Sullivan and Judy Price at bmtahikeleadercs2@bmta.org.

March 5th (Tuesday) Brush Creek Loop. Moderate/easy 7 miles.
Contact Hike Leader Ralph Collinson at bmtahikeleaderrc@bmta.org.

March 8th (Friday) BMT/AT Upper two loops on Springer Mountain from Big Stamp Gap. DOG-FRIENDLY
HIKE (adult humans may bring a leashed dog) About 5 moderate miles. See all the sights: Springer Mountain, an AT shelter, the beginning of the BMT, and the plaque honoring Benton MacKaye and Owen Vista!
Contact Hike Leader Ken Cissna at bmtahikeleaderkc@bmta.org

March 10th (Sunday) Byron Reece to Blood Mountain and return. Moderate/strenuous 4 + miles round-trip up to the top of Blood Mountain for absolutely beautiful views. We’ll take this hike slow and easy so that all can enjoy it. Contact Hike Leader Kelly Motter at bmtahikeleaderkm@bmta.org

March 12th (Tuesday) Tour of Project Chimps along with a Lunch Launch! We will be using their extra-large mounted sling shots to shoot their cabbage, peppers, lettuce etc., into the air into their habitat area. Following the Chimps lunch (and ours), we will hike the 4-mile trail at Project Chimps—$ 25.00 donation to Project Chimps (cash/check) minimum.
Contact Hike Leaders Clare Sullivan and Kathy Williams at bmtahikeleadercs2@bmta.org

March 18th (Monday) Hike to the remains of Caney Creek Village, Tennessee, in the Cherokee National Forest.
Begin at 1,604 feet elevation and hike down to 840 feet elevation to see the remains of Caney Creek Village, then hike back up. This village existed from 1912-1941. It had electricity, indoor plumbing, mass transit, a lighted tennis court, and a hotel. It's known as the only community in America that never had a vehicle or horse in the community. The remains are visible because the concrete foundations were made of the same grade of concrete as the dams on the Ocoee. Members of the community built the flume along the Ocoee. Moderate 6 miles. Contact Hike Leaders Clare Sullivan and Ed Sullivan at bmtahikeleadercs2@bmta.org

March 22nd (Friday). Fightingtown Creek #2. DOG-FRIENDLY HIKE (adult humans may bring a leashed dog)
Easy/moderate 3.8 miles. Contact Hike Leader Ken Cissna at bmtahikeleaderkc@bmta.org

March 24th (Sunday) Standing Indian Mountain. Moderate/strenuous 5 miles round trip. Fantastic views at the top of Standing Indian. Contact Hike Leader Kelly Motter at bmtahikeleaderkm@bmta.org

March 26th (Tuesday) Quartz Loop and BMT to Thunder Rock. Easy/moderate 5 plus miles.
Contact Hike Leader Ralph Collinson at bmtahikeleaderrc@bmta.org

Click Here For More Scheduled Hikes

Check out more great hiking info on the Benton MacKaye Trail

*Please refer to: BMTA COVID-19 Hiker Guidelines and BMTA COVID-19 Maintenance Guidelines.