Hi everyone my names Amber I live here in Georgia. I set off yesterday evening trying to get to the Forest Service road 42 so I could begin my hike, cutting off the initial miles before the actual start. Well I couldnt find it lol Heres a list of the directions I used :
2: Turn LEFT onto CENTERVILLE HWY SW / GA-124. Continue to follow GA-124 E. 6.6 miles Map
3: Turn LEFT onto SUGARLOAF PKWY SW. 2.2 miles Map
4: Turn RIGHT onto LAWRENCEVILLE SUWANEE RD SW. 10.1 miles Map
5: Stay STRAIGHT to go onto SUWANEE DAM RD NW / SUWANEE DAM RD NE. Continue to follow SUWANEE DAM RD NW. 5.0 miles Map
6: Turn LEFT onto CUMMING HWY NE / GA-20. Continue to follow GA-20 W. 5.9 miles Map
7: Merge onto GA-400 N / US-19 N. 6.4 miles Map
8: Turn LEFT onto BROWNS BRIDGE RD / GA-369. 1.0 miles Map
9: Turn RIGHT onto DAHLONEGA HWY / GA-9. 6.3 miles Map
10: Keep LEFT at the fork to go on GA-9 / GA-9 S. 5.5 miles Map
11: Enter next roundabout and take 2nd exit onto SHOAL CREEK RD / GA-136 SPUR. 2.6 miles Map
12: SHOAL CREEK RD / GA-136 SPUR becomes GA-136. 8.7 miles Map
13: Stay STRAIGHT to go onto GA-183 / ELLIOTT FAMILY PKWY. 1.1 miles Map
14: Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto GA-52. 1.5 miles Map
15: Turn LEFT onto HIGH SHOALS RD. <0.1 miles Map
16: Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto SERVICE RD. 1.0 miles Map
There are .11 miles between your ending location and the end of your driving directions. Use maps to get from your ending location to the end of your route.
THIS IS ANOTHER ONE I TOOK WITH ME!
The shortest approach involves driving north of Springer to where the A.T. crosses USFS Road #42, then hiking south on the white-blazed A.T. one mile to the summit of Springer Mountain.
Directions: From GA Hwy. 52, 9.5 miles east of Amicalola Falls State Park or 8.5 miles west of Dahlonega, turn north at Grizzle's old store (closed, sign for store is damaged). Go 2.0 miles and turn right on USFS Road #28 (look for sign that points to Georgia Wildlife Management Area on left and sign to Jones Creek Road on right). After 2.2 miles, bear left at fork onto USFS Road #77 and go 5.1 miles. Take hard left onto USFS Road #42 and go 2.7 miles to A.T., passing a Benton MacKaye Trail crossing (diamond blazes) along the way. There is a large parking area along north side of road.
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.
ANOTHER ONE LOL!
Easiest Route:
Turn right when leaving Amicalola Falls State Park and follow Highway 52 for about 13.6 miles. When you see a power substation (resistors, transformers, etc) on the left and Cartacay Church on the right, turn right onto Roy Road (it was signed when I was there last). Follow Roy Road for 9.7 miles. You will go thru one stop sign and will turn right on Doublehead Gap Road at the second stop sign. Follow this road approximately 2.2 miles until you see Mt. Pleasant Church on your left. Turn right on the dirt road directly across from the church (Forest Service Road 42 is unsigned). You should see a large sign indicating that this is the entrance to the Blue Ridge Wildlife Management Area and another sign "Springer Mt. 6.5 miles". Follow the dirt road 6.5 miles to a parking area on your left with a sign saying ”National Forest Fee Area” (it costs $2.00 to park here). The Appalachian Trail to Springer Mountain is across the road from the parking area. The trail to the summit of Springer Mountain is .09 miles (one-way).
This route is suitable for most passenger vehicles. However, at certain times of year (usually winter) high clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended.
Total distance from Amicalola Falls State Park: about 32.5 miles
Travel time is approximately 45 minutes to one hour.
I did find 52 I remember and I found the blue ridge wildlife managment area, There was several signs on the "right" as I went down a small paved road when I thought I was there I did see a sign saying springer mountain 10 miles on the right and a few before and after that saying other things on the right but I kept going straight and the road became dirt.
I kept going on this dirt road to the end as it winded around and up a big mountain. At the top of the mountain " well atleast as far as my car would go lol" there was a plaque in memory of a man and his friend who had died in a plane crash near by or on the mountain there.
To the leftish of the plaque there was a trail anda blue blaze on the tree as I followed it up a short way freezing, it was gettting dark on me by then and I didnt wanna keep following it without my backpack, " I was freezing lol" so i turned and went back to my car and drove down the never ending dirt road again , on the way out the signs were of course to my left saying the diffrent things but I never went down them roads they were longer and it was late .... I was wondering is there any one here that knows which of these roads were the right one " if any " and if I was not even close were should I have gone?
I thank everyone in advance for there help.....
Amber