AT Day Hikes: The Wonders Of Woody Gap

Woody Gap can get crowded.

There are a lot of places to day hike on the Appalachian Trail (AT) in Georgia, but none maybe any more popular that the area around Woody Gap. On this addition of AT Day Hikes I will cover areas on both sides of this famous gap on GA 60. Also, as I did in a past blog I will post photos showing some of the contrast between the seasons on this part of the AT.

The vault toilet.

 I could say this blog is a year in the making, because my first visit to Woody Gap was a little over a year ago. I have now been there on five different occasions. I guess I should first talk about the gap itself. Woody Gap is a U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Recreation Area about 14 miles north of Dahlonega. While not as developed as say Neel Gap, which has the Mountain Crossing Outfitters, it has more enmities than let’s say Hog Pen Gap. The Woody Gap has ample parking on both sides of the highway. However, on weekends one might find both lots full.

Besides parking Woody Gap has picnic tables on both sides of the road and a vault toilet on the

east side. I have mentioned vault toilets before, what they are is in between a regular bathroom and a privy. This means they don’t flush with running water, but you don’t have to through wood chips on it yourself like with a privy. I will say I like them much better that a port-a-potty (hell, I would much rather go at a privy). Funny, back in October the toilet was closed during the Government Shutdown. Also, Woody Gap features a nice southern vista in the west parking area. Oh, and one other thing there is no user fee, which means it is free!

Late fall/winter vista from Woody Gap.

Woody Gap spring view.

Nov, 2013: More of the Woody Gap vista.

Same view with a lot more green.

However, the main draw of Woody Gap is that the AT cuts right through its parking lots. This gap is the first-time that the trail cuts across a paved road in Georgia headed north (and the last if you are coming south). It has plenty of AT highlights like the big information board and the famous rock which sit in grass of the east lot.

April, 2014: Deb with the Woody Gap sign.

The AT information board.

The Woody Gap Rock.

November, 2013: With Woody Gap rock.

While being a jumping off point for section hikes, because it is just over 10 miles to Neel Gap and takes one over Blood Mountain, the main draw to Woody Gap is Big Cedar Mountain. It is the reason Deb and I first came here in April of 2013. Reading over my Georgia AT Guide I discovered that one of the most scenic spots on the AT in the Peach State is a place on Big Cedar called Preaching Rock. The best part about it is that the hike up is only two miles round-trip and an elevation gain of almost 600-feet one-way.

Oct, 2013: Woody Gap is part of the WMA.

Nov, 2013: This is just a little over a month later.

The U.S. Forest Service info board.

The distances from Woody Gap.

Three seasons, the first is summer/early fall foliage...

...here is late fall/winter with no leaf cover...

...spring with trail blooming out.

April, 2013: Deb headed up the trail.

April, 2013: Headed up the AT...

...same spot six months later.

I figured this would be a good AT starter hike for Deb. Up to this point she had only gone to Sawnee Mountain and I figured this would be a nice step up and give her (and myself) a taste for future hikes, like at Blood Mountain. The first part of the hike, as I had seen described, is a leisurely stroll through hardwoods on a relatively nice part of the AT. After heading north for a half-mile and passing Lunsford Gap one comes to the spot when the trail starts to switchback up the mountain.

While the trail up both Blood and Tray Mountains are much more difficult, if you haven’t really hike a lot of these it provides a good test and is quiet challenging. Also, for the uninitiated it provides a starter course on something else you will find in the North Georgia Mountains…rocks. Even if you haven’t hike the AT and have just been to Sawnee, Kennesaw or Stone Mountains you know rocky trails are not just common in Georgia but the same is true for the entire span of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. 

Headed up in April, 2013...

...same spot in Oct, 2013.

April, 2013: Another shot headed up...

...Big Cedar Mtn. (Oct, 2013)

April, 2013: AT & white blaze...

...October, 2013.

About halfway up one get their first look at the vista of Big Cedar Mountain. To get a good look one must climb up a steep rock face. I would say at this spot it is best to be careful, because one could easily lose their footing. Also, something else to be careful of in spots during warmer months is snakes. Two kinds of poisonous snakes are found in the North Georgia Mountains Copperheads and Timber Rattlesnakes. I know in October someone spied one sunning on a rock on the trail up Big Cedar Mountain.

April, 2013: First outcrop.

Second outcrop in April, 2013 with no foliage...

...here with leaf cover in early October.

Just up the trail from the first outcrop is a second which is a little more accessible, it also gives a nice view of the valley below. This stretch is rocky, as the AT winds up through boulders and final crests to a gorgeous open large rock face which signals ones arrival at Preaching Rock. This is truly a spectacular view. The southeast vista give looks of Horsetrough, Cowrock and Wildcat Mountains. Adding to the great vista is there is plenty of room on the rock face for large groups of people, which on weekends is a good thing. Unlike Tray Mountain which surprised me by how small its summit is this one is as advertised.

Preaching Rock vista from April, 2013...

...early October, 2013...

...& late April, 2014.

Deb thinking about Preaching.

When I first visited the mountain a year ago this is where my journey stopped. However, when I returned in October I met this cool guy Andy and his dog Oreo. He told me of another outcrop about half-mile up the trail. There is first a short climb up toward the summit area of Big Cedar Mountain. After cresting there is a slight downhill and one will come to a junction with the AT going left and right goes to what I call the Big Cedar overlook. It is a large outcrop, but not quite as big as Preaching Rock but is nice and unobstructed. Obvious people camp here because the place sports a fire ring on the outcrop.

AT as it heads north from Preaching Rock.

Oct, 2013: AT on Big Cedar....

...same spot, April, 2014.

Green foliage in early fall...

...same spot on the AT in spring time.

Oct, 2013: Trail cuts through a log...

April, 2014: Trail still cuts through that same log.

The AT goes left & the Big Cedar outcrop is to the right.

Blue blazed trail heads to the outcrop.

April, 2014: Big Cedar Overlook with fire ring.

Big Cedar Overlook on my 1st visit back in October.

Back here six months later...

...& I brought Deb here.

Since my first trip there I have heard about a third spot, but on visiting it is now mostly grown-up, similar to the condition I found a similar spot at Levelland Mountain. So, when Deb and I hike up this time (April 27) I had to take her to this spot and I think she really liked it. In some ways it is better than Preaching Rocks because it is not crowded. Back in the fall Andy showed me another spot which is about another third-of-a-mile up the AT from the Big Cedar overlook and that is what people call the “Captain Morgan” tree.

Deb on the AT with...

...me headed toward the Captain Morgan tree.

The AT & "Captain Morgan" tree in October.

Oct, 2013: Doing the "captain."

April, 2014: Deb doing the "captain."

View from the other side in the spring.

One last look from October.

Andy & Oreo first showed me these sites.

The tree sits right off the trail and it just looks cool, I know Deb really liked it. So, we made our way back up the trail and when we got back we met a group who were up there just to have lunch and drink wine at Preaching Rock. Because it is just a mile from Woody Gap it is popular for this.

Two other cars than my own in November, 2013.

Lot more cars in May, 2014.

Nov, 2013: Headed south on the AT.

The green of spring in May, 2014.

There is another hike from Woody Gap one can take. In Jim Parham book Day Hiking the North Georgia Mountains he describes the hike going south on the AT as "the Woody Gap Ramble." I first did this hike in November, 2013 and after Deb felt a hike to Blood Mountain was going to be too much for a Sunday, I suggested this hike and we went this past weekend.

Headed up the AT in November, 2013.

Same spot in May, 2014.

November, 2013.

May, 2014.

Old tree there in the fall.

Still there in spring.

Nov, 2013: Headed up Ramrock Mtn.

Headed back up, May, 2014.

This day hike takes one from the Woody Gap to Ramrock Mountain about mile-and-a-half south on the AT to a decent view on its rocky outcrop. Looking south provides views of Horsetrough Mountain, Dahlonega and Sawnee Mountain. The trail itself is not too difficult. However, when one reaches Tritt Gap there is a decent climb up to Ramrock Mountain of about 0.2 miles.

Nov, 2013: White blaze at summit.

May, 2014: Same spot in spring.

Rock outcrop vista, Nov, 2013.

Rock outcrop spot in May, 2014.

Nov, 2013: Looking into the valley from Ramrock Mtn.

May, 2014: A much greener vista.

Nov, 2013: Looking toward Horsetrough Mtn.

May, 2014: Back at the spot.

Looking toward Sawnee Mtn. in the fall.

Sawnee in the spring distance.

Beside the outcrop one will also find a good camping spot. There is also are a number of water spots on this stretch of the AT. While I haven’t done it yet an seven-mile out-and-back hike can be made to Gooch Gap. One of the things you will find at Ramrock is unlike Preaching Rock it is not near as busy.

Nov, 2013: Headed back down the AT.

Headed back in May, 2014.

Nov, 2013: Tritt Gap.

Same gap in May, 2014.

Nov, 2013: Headed out of Tritt Gap.

Trail much greener in May, 2014.

Brown November trail...

...much greener in May.

Notice the white blaze...

Someone added an N for north.

Big rock in Nov, 2013.

Still there in May, 2014 (where would it go).

Nov, 2013: One of my favorite trees.

Still there in May, 2014.

Nov, 2013: Mountain laurel in fall.

May, 2014: Laurel leaving & soon will be blooming.

Nov, 2013: Yes, this is the same spot...

...as this (May, 2014).

November, 2013.

May, 2014.

Nov, 2013: Back at Woody Gap.

May, 2014: The signs of spring.

I actually told a couple Sunday about a another hike less people know about that can be done from Woody Gap and that is a hike up to the Black Mountain Fire Tower.  The AT cuts across the south side of the mountain, but, if you go up there, one will find at the top an old fire tower. The fire tower was built in 1949 and I had seen it on the way up to Woody Gap before and then looked up some information about it on SummitPost.org, including how the route up to the tower. To get there one most walk about .10 of mile north on GA 60 to the gated FS 81. From here it is a mile up the Forest Service Road to the summit. Like any road bed these hikes can be steep and there is some of that on this road to the top.

Have to walk the GA 60 to get to gate FS 81.

Headed up the road bed.

Road turns & heads to the summit.

This deer is glad I am not a hunter.

The grove of pines right under the summit.

Black Mountain on left, dark area is the pine grove.

On the way up came upon a deer and got within 50-feet, which is pretty close. The final two-tenths of a mile takes one through a grove of evergreens. These pines make it easy to spot Black Mountain from other ridges and make the final push to the top a little more pleasant. Once at the summit there is a large rock face with an incredible south facing vista and like Ramrock, there are views of Horsetrough Mountain and Dahlonega. However, this vista is much more extensive with views of Yonah and Big Cedar Mountains. Also, because this was a winter view GA 60 can be seen snaking its way up Big Cedar Mountain.

Vista from Black Mountain.

GA 60 winds up Big Cedar Mtn.

Horsetrough Mountain.

Yonah Mountain.

Oh, before I forget there is the fire tower itself. In is a 33-foot metal structure with a live in cabin. Unfortunately it is now covered with communication aerials and because of that is fenced off, so one cannot climb up into the tower. With the view just under it being what it is the tower vista would be spectacular. On the way back down one gets a good look at the other side of Big Cedar Mountain and off to the left a winter view of Woody Lake can be seen.  This is a hike well worth the time, maybe one day there will be a trail from the Woody Gap parking lot straight up to here.

First look at the fire tower.

The Black Mtn. Fire Tower.

Fire tower & razor wire.

Backside of the fire tower.

There is two more points of interest on the road up and back down from Woody Gap to Dahlonega. We will go by the trip back down so 1.5 miles south on GA 60 one will come to the Chestatee Overlook. From this pull-off one gets a wonderful view of Blood, Levelland, Cowrock and Wildcat Mountains. It is one of the nicer overlooks I have visited.

Sign at the Chestatee Overlook.

Oct, 2013: A great view of Blood Mtn.

A month later Blood went from Green to Brown (Nov, 2014).

Levelland Mountain.

Cowrock & Wildcat Mountains.

Then at the bottom of the mountain at the junction of GA 60 and US 19 in Stone Pile Gap is a stack of rocks that has a legend behind it. There is a historical maker on the site which says this is the final resting place for a Cherokee princess Trahlyta. It said that her tribe, who lived on Big Cedar Mountain, had the secret to eternal youth. After being kidnapped by a rejected suitor, Wahsega, she later died but Trahlyta dying wish was to be buried near the magic springs. A custom arose first with Native Americans and then with European settlers to drop stones on the spot where it is said Trahlyta is buried for good fortune.

The historical marker...

...for Trahlyta Grave.

Whether one wants to go north or south on the AT or hike up Black Mountain or just relax at one of the picnic tables, Woody Gap is one of the better road crossings the AT makes and one of the best gaps.