Parking in GA [Archive] - WhiteBlaze

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hikingbear

03-31-2009, 07:20

Does anyone know if there is parking available near Hawk Mountain Shelter? I believe about a mile north is a Rock Creek Rd (USFS 69?) just wondering if there was parking there where the trail intersects. Also at Gooch Gap Shelter. Again about a mile north is Cooper Gap Rd (USFS 42?) I have people that want to meet up for the day and they need to park their cars somewhere.

Thanks

Lone Wolf

03-31-2009, 07:22

.5 north of hawk mtn. shelter is Hightower Gap USFS 42/69. plenty of parking

drdewrag

03-31-2009, 07:26

Yep. The roads are in good shape right now too - even though it's rained quite a bit.

Lone Wolf

03-31-2009, 07:29

Also at Gooch Gap Shelter. Again about a mile north is Cooper Gap Rd (USFS 42?) I have people that want to meet up for the day and they need to park their cars somewhere.

Thanks

Gooch Gap USFS 42 is 1.4 miles north of Gooch shelter. Cooper Gap USFS 42/80 is 4.7 miles south of Gooch shelter

Airborne3325

03-31-2009, 07:58

There is plenty of parking at the base of the hill, east along the trail, from the Hawk Mtn Shelter. This is a heavily used area by the Ranger School support elements and you will often see lots of trucks parked here as well. This is a good area to park-n-hike from and the Rangers are really good people. They wont bother your vehicle, but may not be in the area long enough to keep an eye on it either. The parking area is actually a heavily traveled FS cross roads. If you hear gunshots or a full out firefight, don't get jumpy or upset. They shoot blanks during training and the Hawk Mtn area around the AT gets used a LOT for these purposes.

Along another nearby FS road closer to the base of Hawk Mtn near the old fire tower, there is a huge clearing/ landing zone that is used as a staging area by the Rangers. If they are there, avoid the area... they are training and don't need spectators getting in the way. They may even ask you to leave if you intrude into their space too much. Up from the clearing is the top of Hawk Mtn and the old firetower where there is excellent camping, although a good truck is necessary to get up there if you drive. The old AT crosssed over the peak of Hawk Mtn before being re-routed years ago and can still be found if you look for it.

Ox97GaMe

04-02-2009, 15:33

There IS parking north of Hawk Mtn shelter, but it is hard to get in to. You will be traveling over 15 miles on gravel forest service roads that can be interesting in bad weather conditions. To say the least.. it is remote.

If they are only meeting you for one day, I would suggest that they meet you at Gooch Gap. It is about 3 miles drive from Suches Georgia, of which half is gravel. Large parking area at Gooch Gap as well as tenting areas. The trail north of Gooch Gap is pretty nice for the first 1.5 miles as well. It would also give the option of hiking over to Woody Gap and hitching a ride into Suches to walk the 3 miles back to their car, or catch a ride back over to Gooch.

There is a pretty good climb to get over to Gooch Gap shelter, but I dont think it is any more difficult that it would have been to climb up to Hawk Mtn shelter.

trippclark

04-02-2009, 16:16