PArking for a section hike starting at springer

[jpelaston]

Like the title says, I am doing a section starting at Springer. My wife and I are wanting to take the road up to the top of Springer and start from there.

Is there a place to park up there that is relatively safe for a four or five day trip?

[max patch]

The parking area is 0.9 mile north of springer on usfs42. I'd consider it safe, however, there has been the rare, occasional, incident of vandalism. I wouldn't worry about it.

The "safest" place to park is the hiker parking area at Amicalola State Park; but that adds the 8 mile approach trail to your hike.

[jpelaston]

While I would love to do the 8 mile approach trail, I think my wife and I are going to bypass it and start near the top. We figure we can do the approach trail when we finally get around to our thru hike.

[bigmac_in]

Nice big parking area on Springer - .9 miles from the summit as max patch said. Here is a picture.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=9158&catid=member&imageuser=6665

[max patch]

One other alternative; the Hiker Hostel is located in nearby Dahlonega, they may be able to help you with transportation needs.

http://www.hikerhostel.com/

[outlaws]

You could always park at the Byron Reese Memorial parking lot at Neel's Gap. Then get a shuttle back to Springer Mountain and hike to your car. I just did the same thing although this was my first trip and I overloaded my pack. :eek: I bailed at Gooch Gap and got a shuttle back to the parking lot. All in all it was still a great trip. And I learned a valuable lesson on packing or bringing a pack mule:-? Have fun on your hike there are lots of good people out there right now. Hiker Hostel, Mountain Crossing or Survivor Dave are some of the shuttles that I know of, there may be more.

[jpelaston]

You could always park at the Byron Reese Memorial parking lot at Neel's Gap. Then get a shuttle back to Springer Mountain and hike to your car. I just did the same thing although this was my first trip and I overloaded my pack. :eek: I bailed at Gooch Gap and got a shuttle back to the parking lot. All in all it was still a great trip. And I learned a valuable lesson on packing or bringing a pack mule:-? Have fun on your hike there are lots of good people out there right now. Hiker Hostel, Mountain Crossing or Survivor Dave are some of the shuttles that I know of, there may be more.

I actually like this idea A LOT!!!

[DRRouner]

I parked my car there a few years ago.After one night on the trail I got a bad feeling and went back to find my cars' windows broken and everything stolen. Other cars that had parked there were also vandalized. I called the forest service but t they didn't even want to send out law enforcement. Before I parked there I should have looked on the ground for broken glass because if I did I would have seen evidence of past vandalism.

[UnkaJesse]

I second the recommendation for the Hiker Hostel shuttle service. I've used them twice for section hikes and they've been very reliable. They even have some limited parking at the hostel.

It's worth the price just to know exactly how fast a Suburban can go on a forest service road!

[jpelaston]

I am all set up with Hiker Hostel. I am parking in Neel Gap and getting shuttled back down.

Thanks to everyone who has helped with info!

[MomNtheWoods]

You might want to contact the Dahlonega Sheriff's dept in Lumpkin County and inquire about any recent vandalism. Ph# 706.864.0414. Although that area is pretty desolote, we left our car there a couple weeks ago for an overnighter and were fine. There were about 8-10 other vehicles in the parking lot as well. Good luck!

[outlaws]

I left my truck there from Wednesday to Friday last week. There must have been 15 or so vehicles in the parking lot. I had not problem with my truck during that time. Before I left(Wednesday) I saw the Forest Service truck cruise the parking lot twice and once on Friday. But we all know a lock is just to keep an honest man honest.