View Full Version : Road to Springer
Lone Wolf
12-13-2004, 15:06
As you leave Ellijay heading south/east on Hwy. 52, what is the name of the road one takes to access FS 42 to Springer?
The Solemates
12-13-2004, 15:12
God forbid, but here goes...
Wingfoot has good directions on his website, which is what I always use.
http://www.trailplace.com/portal/display.php?page=drive_springer
Lone Wolf
12-13-2004, 15:23
Thanks for the link. I know those directions but there's a road long before Roy Road that you take a left on to get to FS 42.
The Solemates
12-13-2004, 15:24
PS. From the website,
While fun travelling if you have 4x4, its no joke that FS77 is a nasty road. At any time of the year.
The Solemates
12-13-2004, 15:26
If you are talking about going the "Alternate Route" then it is Nimblewill Rd. See the map from the link I sent. Otherwise, I dont know what you are talking about...
MisterSweetie
12-13-2004, 15:52
Ooh, I rode up Springer in a Pontiac Sunfire. Talk about a rough start to a trip... whew...
Rain Man
12-13-2004, 18:43
The Georgia AT Club directions page has directions to FS 42.
http://www.georgia-atclub.org/directions.html
"Alternate directions: From GA Hwy. 52 in Cartecay (12.1 miles west of Amicalola Falls State Park or 7.4 miles east of Ellijay), turn north on Roy Road between Methodist Church and Stanley's Grocery and go 9.7 miles to end of road. Turn right and go 2.2 miles to Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church (these are paved roads). Turn right onto gravel USFS Road #42 and go 6.8 miles to the parking area on north side of road."
"NOTE: These Forest Service roads can be quite rough, and may be impassable by car or van in winter or very wet weather. Contact the Chattahoochee National Forest Toccoa Ranger District in Blue Ridge, Georgia (706) 632-3031 for current road conditions."
I took Roy Road, don't know about an earlier one. Sorry. On my map of north Georgia, it appears there are two earlier roads off of Hwy 52 coming from Ellijay, but neither are named.
Rain Man
.
snuffy smith
12-13-2004, 18:49
What's up Lone Wolf? Are you planning your New Years Eve party? :banana
Here is a map of the area that might help:
http://www.randmcnally.com/rmc/directions/dirPrintMap.jsp?col=color&n=&A=BlackGap&C=&S=&Z=&Q=http%3a%2f%2fmap.rmservers.com%2fmap%3fr%3dIMAG% 7c%25PD%3d492,551%25LL%3d34.658913,-84.374489%25ZM%3dM8331.20%25LLICON%3dIcon10,34.617 550,-84.198799,,Font11,R%7c%25MINP%3d1%25MS%3dB%7c%7c%2 6d%3d75%26t%3dmn%26z%3d8%26id%3dRMC%26tid%3d007828 3209.1102977512.437288%26fix%3d1%26h%3dEE69B204DF5 5738CBA5A646B99B6F9AC&z=large&c=USA&l=8&T=34.61755&N=-84.1988&CT=34.658913&CN=-84.374489&h=false&BV_SessionID=@@@@0078283209.1102976989@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccdadddfkifdhdcefecggfdffhdghf.0&cmty=0
Lone Wolf
12-13-2004, 19:10
Yup. Planning on a Springer New Year.
man,....u talkin' 'bout one bumpy ride up to Springer parking lot on FS42...off Roy Rd...which is how i got there in 2002.
i take a trip to GA (Dahlonega area) every few years...& always wonder if theres a better way (theres got to be a better way!) to the Springer start...or @ least closer without tearing out the bottom of your car....& when you drive a Chevy Metro....("Silver Bullet")..its NOT hard to do! :D
P.s. Wolf, good luck on your Springer New Year!....drink a glass fer me!
Singletrack
12-13-2004, 20:02
I find it's easier for me to go in FS# 42 at Suches. The road is alot flatter, although it is 20 miles from Suches to the Springer Mt. parking lot. If you live east of Dahlonega, you might want to try it.
orangebug
12-13-2004, 20:22
I took that route after the SORUCK 2 years ago. I was glad a friend with a very high clearance 4WD Truck was taking me. The road was in wretched condition.
When it is bad in one area, it tends to be bad in several areas.
Youngblood
12-13-2004, 20:26
As you leave Ellijay heading south/east on Hwy. 52, what is the name of the road one takes to access FS 42 to Springer?
It's Big Creek Road at GA52 and somewhere along the way it becomes Doublehead Gap Road by the time it gets to GA60. (Not sure which name it goes by when Roy Road deadends into it.)
Youngblood
Lone Wolf
12-13-2004, 20:35
Thanks Youngblood. That's the info I'm looking for.
papa john
12-14-2004, 08:47
You can always park at the top of the falls and hike the approach trail. Might tear YOUR bottom out but your car will not suffer!
Papa John
Lone Wolf
12-14-2004, 08:57
I have a pick-em-up truck. Ain't skeered of no gravel road. :D
I have driven the lenngth of FS 42 sevearl times recently and it is in good shape all the way. It may be rough in a small car but one can make it.
L. Wolf wil see you on new years. Almanac and I will be up on Springer.
icefanclub
12-14-2004, 13:01
I drove Icebound up there using the directions from the 04 companion. We were in a chevy Impala and it was no trouble at all. The directions were very good and the roads were in beautiful shape. That was the end of October.
minnesotasmith
12-14-2004, 14:15
"You can always park at the top of the falls and hike the approach trail. Might tear YOUR bottom out but your car will not suffer!"
When I last did a hike out of Amicalola, the rangers at the ranger station there said that if I was hiking out of the Park overnight, that I needed to park down by the station. Aside from them possibly being a bit anal, they had a reason I found plausible; they said they were much more able to closely watch over vehicles parked down near the station than up by the falls.
The Solemates
12-14-2004, 18:05
FS42 is a well-travelled, graveled road. compact enough for grandma's mercedes to drive on. FS77, however, is rough. steep grades and ruts. 4 wheel drive recommended.
ok, my grandma doesnt drive a mercedes....
in fact, she doesnt drive...
I was up FS 77 about 3 weeks ago in my old two wheel drive Toyota pickup and it really isn't that bad. I didn't have any trouble at all and the road is in the best shape I've seen it in ten years(I'm a pretty regular traveller of all the Forest Service roads in Lumpkin, Fannin, Gilmer, and Dawson Counties). There are very few of the Foreest Service Roads that are NOT gated and locked that ever require FWD, except during winter ice and snow events, and then MOST of them do in some places.
Youngblood
12-17-2004, 08:43
I was up FS 77 about 3 weeks ago in my old two wheel drive Toyota pickup and it really isn't that bad. I didn't have any trouble at all and the road is in the best shape I've seen it in ten years(I'm a pretty regular traveller of all the Forest Service roads in Lumpkin, Fannin, Gilmer, and Dawson Counties). There are very few of the Foreest Service Roads that are NOT gated and locked that ever require FWD, except during winter ice and snow events, and then MOST of them do in some places.
Hacksaw,
If FS77 is the road I am thinking it is, wouldn't it be a problem if it had as much traffic going to Springer as FS42 does (between Springer and Doublehead Gap Rd) because of how narrow it is in some places? The one time I took it I was worried about any oncoming traffic... like there didn't seem room to pass and backing up didn't seem like an option I would want to try?
My assessment was that yes it cut the mileage/time down if you were coming from Dahlonega but that it should be reserved for locals who traveled it often and that folks that only rarely go to Springer (which is probably most of the traffic) should use the Doublehead Gap Rd access. Have I got this figured wrong?
Youngblood