Hiking and Picnic Areas

If you choose to get out and explore the mountains, easy walking to moderately strenuous hiking is just outside the door.  

To find places to hike by location click here 

Fires Creek Area Trail
For trail map click here

The Fires Creek Area offers a number of short and long hiking trails. Three of these trails originates from the Fires Creek Picnic Area. The Cover Loop Trail (.3 miles) offers easy access and a paved travel way for the handicapped. From Hayesville, NC take Route 64 West, approximately 4.5 miles. Turn right on Route 1301 and follow for several miles. Turn left and follows the signals to the Fires Creek Picnic Area.

The Leaderwood Loop Trail (.7 miles) takes the hiker around Leatherwood Falls.

Cover Trail:  1 mile (Paved Handicap Trail)  or 4 miles (Non-Paved Fishing Access Trail) For the more ambitious hiker or fisherman, the Cover Trail follows Fires Creek for five miles on an abandoned logging tramway. By be prepared to hop a few rocks to get across the creek. The Cover Trail originates at the end of the Cover Loop Trail in the Fires Creek Picnic Area.
Easy Hike (approx. 4 hours)

Big Stamp (4437') to Tusquitee Bald (5240')
Distance: 5.4 miles
Average Hiking Time: 4 hours44960') to
Moderately Rough Hike

Weatherman Bald (4960') to Tusquitee Bald (5240')
Distance: 1.9 miles
Average Hiking Time: 2 q/4 hours
Excellent view of Lake Chatuge, surrounding area. Rim Trail connects to the Chunky Gal Trail here.

Tusquittee Bald (5240') to Chestnut Stomp Knob (4400')
Distance: 2.6 miles
Average Hiking Time: 3 hours
Difficult

Chestnut Stomp Knob (4400') to Carvrfr Gap (2996')
Distance: 3.5 miles
Average Hiking Time: 3 1/2  hours
DIfficult

Carver Gap (2996') to Huskins Branch Hunter Camp (1800')
Distance: 3 3/4 miles
Average Hiking Time: 2 hours
Easy hike

Spikebuck Mound and Trail
Accessed at the Veterans Ball Fields Recreation Park outside of downtown Hayesville.
Paved trail leads to Spikebuck Mound historic site.

Chatuge Dam/ Recreation Park Trail
Paved, 3 mile trail. Park at the Chatuge Dam


Chunky Gal Mountain
Legends say that Chunky Gal Mountains were named after an Indian girl who had the poor judgment to fall in love with a boy from a different tribe. When her parents discovered the romance, they banished the boy. Their plump daughter ran into the wilderness, and the mountains have been called Chunky Gal ever since.
Chunky Gal Trail: Leaves the Appalachian Trail just north of White Oak Stamp and runs 22 miles up to Tusquitee Bald where it connects with Rim Trail. Excellent vistas of the surrounding area are found all along the trail. US Hyw 64, Perry Gap Road, and the Appalachian Trail all provide good access.
I did not find a free trail map online. Click here to purchase the trail maps 



Jack Rabbit Mountain
The trails travel along the shores and hills beside Lake Chatuge. All trails are open to mountain biking and hiking, and although the trails were constructed specifically with mountain biking in mind, they're a nice place to hike as well.
Click here for information on the trails   and map


Hiking to Standing Indian Mountain from Deep Gap - Macon and Clay County line
http://ncmtnchamber.com
Standing Indian Mountain from Deep Gap - (5 mi. the Deep Gap par the Clay County line (small sign) then turn left onto FS 71, which is(5 mi. moderate, mile gravel- road ending at Deep Gap. At the gap, the Appalrt) crosses through the parking area. Go East on the AT (you pass a wilderness registration booth - if you don't, you're not on the right trail!). The trail does a long, gentle climb of the mountain for 2.5 miles, passing a trail shelter side-trail on the way. When you reach the blue-blazed Lower Ridge Trail, turn right - you are near the summit. Follow this trail to the summit with it's nice Southwesterly views. Standing Indian is the highest mountain South of the Smoky Mtns. in this area (5500 ft.).


http://www.appalachiantrail.org/home/explore-the-trail




http://carolinamountainclub.org/



Standing Indian Basin Area (Favorite Short Hiking Trails)

Hiking the Appalachian Trail from Deep Gap

Hike to stunning views from the Standing Indian Mountain summit on the Appalachian Trail, climbing from Deep Gap and the Standing Indian AT shelter near Franklin, NC.

Hiking in Unicoi State Park, GA  (52 min from the cabin )
 Click for directions

There are many miles of hiking trails in Unicoi State Park, along with a 7 mile mountain bike trail. The trails provide a great opportunity to enjoy the scenery of the north Georgia mountains, with views and hiking experiences that change with each season. Spring brings new greenery to the forest and the colors of the early blooming flowers. Summer offers more flowers and the the fully leaved hardwoods forests. Bright fall colors eventually give way to the open forest and scenic views, which offer a perspective of the landscape that you do not get when the vegetation is more lush and flush with foliage.

Bottoms Loop Trail

This is a 2 mile loop with a moderate rating. The trail winds through forest, crosses brooks several times, and passes along the edge of Smith Creek.
Frog Pond Nature Trail
This 1/3 of a mile loop is the easiest trail in the park. It has signs along its route that explain some of the natural features you encounter along the way.

Unicoi to Helen Trail

The trail is 3 miles one way so if you want to hike to town and back you are in for a 6 mile trek. From the trailhead the trail initially follows the Bottoms Loop Trail and then branches off when that trail begins its loop back to its origin. There are some hills and switchback sections that are a bit strenuous but the majority of the trail is fairly easy walking. You will pass through some stands of rhododendrons and mountain laurels, over some bridges to get across the creek, and cross the mountain biking trail. You enter Helen at Unicoi Hill City Park.

Lake Trail

This is an easy 2 1/2 mile loop trail. It is relatively flat and varies from a forest road to a narrower single track trail. There are many nice views of the lake, the forest, and the mountains along its route.

Smith Creek Trail

This is a strenuous 5 mile (one-way) hike.The U.S. Forest Service trail that heads out from
a spot near the camping area of Unicoi State Park. It first follows a creek up stream, gaining about 1000' in elevation by the time you arrive at Hickorynut Ridge. The trail then slowly drops in elevation as it winds its way through the mountainside forest, crossing a creek a little ways before it reaches the Anna Ruby Falls    http://www.unicoistatepark.org/anna-ruby-falls.htmlobservation bridge. From there you have two options. You can follow the trail out to the Anna Ruby Falls Visitor center and continue down the paved road that leads back into the park (near the Smith Creek Cabins). You may also turn around and walk back towards Hickorynut Ridge to make your way to the trailhead near the campground.