Hawk Mountain Shelter

[hperry]

I stayed at Hawk Mountain one night last month. There are some good campsites on that trail. Maybe it's an overflow area, or maybe it was worn from all the Ranger activity that is reported in the area.

Did you take the trail on up the mountain to the church and cemetery?

no we didn't, but its on my list next time in the area. never realized it was there...

[Hikerhead]

In 2003 I believe, Kerosene, Bluefish, Raven and I were hiking all of GA and stopped by there. Bluefish went off on that trail mentioneded for water and was gone for about an hour. He said it just kept on going. Since then I've read where the Rangers come up from the bottom on that trail.

And if the church and cemetery that was mentioned is the one at Hickory Flats, the church has been long gone.

[CBSSTony]

The Rangers use that trail past the privy, and the privy itself. Had to wait in line behind about 40 of them one day. They all didn't use it, but kinda was expecting a little more privacy. They were lined up on that same trail taking a break, and waiting to link up with another unit.

[hperry]

yep, i think a small sign a few yards after the privy,"this is not the water trail" would go a long way.

[BobTheBuilder]

Sunrise from the privy!!!

[jbone]

I am considering hiking into Hawk mtn shelter from Hightower Gap to watch the Lenoid Showers from the nearby clearing.

Question is: Does this shelter get a lot of quasi car campers due to its proximity to a road crossing? If it will likely be busy I may just suck it up and head up to the Art Loeb trail and look at camping near Black Balasm bald.

Anyone interested in heading up either way let me know.

-J

[Roots]

Art Loeb definitely!

[Mortician]

just a warning here, but if you walk up to the shelter hastily, look for the water sign, it appears as if the water trail is the trail to the privy. the water trail actually begins back behind the shelter and is not the trail immediately to the left of the water sign (which points left)

a friend and i hiked a mile down this abandoned trail past the privy til we decided to turn around.

This is still a problem; a couple of local guys made the long walk you described looking for water on election day eve November 2008.

[B.B.]

Stayed here 7-11-2010. Water was good, shelter clean. Few mice. Overall good experience.

[Kembo]

I stayed there Sunday, May 21, 1972. I had the shelter to myself. Didn't see another hiker that day.

[Hoop]

My granddaughter (14) and I camped near the shelter 7-15-10. Cooked & ate at the picnic table. Only one other person there that night. Shelter was very clean, water flowing through PVC pipe. Racoon nosed around the tents during the night & an owl gave a shout very close by before dawn. We hiked from AFSP base of the falls to Woody Gap Thurs & Fri.

[Kelleelynn]

Just out of curiosity does anyone know if the previously mentioned church and cemetery still exist? I did see a post that someone thought it was gone. Just wondering, thought it might be a neat side trip if it is still there!

[Egads]

still there, about .2 north of the trail

[Dances with Mice]

Just out of curiosity does anyone know if the previously mentioned church and cemetery still exist? I did see a post that someone thought it was gone. Just wondering, thought it might be a neat side trip if it is still there!

There is the cemetary, a very large picnic shelter and a cinder block privy but no church.

[Spogatz]

There is sometimes an old timer that is at the cemetary. His family is from that area back when there were homesteads there. He has some nice stories to tell about being there as a kid.

Also there are still people that come to the shed for church services. Kind of a home coming.

[Graywolf]

There is the cemetary, a very large picnic shelter and a cinder block privy but no church.

The guide book mentions only the foundation of the church remains..I passed through this area last year, but didnt stop.