GEORGIA - TRAIL BOOKS
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Georgia beckons hikers with nearly 1,000 miles of trails that
tunnel through flowering rhododendron thickets, f
ollow
streams of the northern mountains, crisscross historic paths in rolling
foothills, and wind among towering pines of the coastal plain. Hiking Georgia,
Second Edition, the only guide to the entire state, covers well-known areas but
also introduces hikers to some relatively undiscovered places. Author Donald W. along a quiet nature trail, a trek along 80 miles of the
Appalachian Trail, or a medium distance that suits you. Recently revised and
expanded, this guide contains accurate information, detailed maps, and photos
that depict the landscape of the Peach State’s backcountry: the come-hither
curve of an insectivorous swamp plant, rivers and waterfalls, and historic
battlefields. It also includes tips on hiking with children and backcountry
safety and ethics.
Birdshooter's Take: This book
is organized by geography with an index map showing you the exact location of
each hike. That's a major plus if you are looking for a day or overnight
trip in a particular region of the state. Hiking Georgia also has a
trail map which shows major roads, trailheads, and the route of the hiking
trail. There are some pictures in this trail book and the material is
decent with data on trail difficulty, length, elevations, and special features
and attractions. There are 74 hikes in this book and it is geared to both
day and overnight hikers. My Recommendation: If you do
a lot of hiking all over the State of Georgia this is a good buy since it is one
of the few books that covers the entire state.
Join Tim Homan as he explores the trails of northwestern
Georgia and southeastern
Tennessee,
describing the surroundings and providing important information for novice and
experienced hikers. Tim Homan returns as our guide through northwestern Georgia
and southeastern Tennessee in his third hiking book covering the southern
Appalachians. Homan expertly maps out each area and describes each trail in
great detail, explaining the surrounding habitat, providing comments on the
area's vegetation, and noting specific sights to see. His personable narrative
style makes the book at once a helpful resource and a pleasure to read.
Trailhead and regional maps and detailed directions make the book even more
user-friendly.
Birdshooter's Take:
Author Tim Homan has a
number of guidebooks for hikes in the Southeast and I have found his writings to
be among the best. There is detailed history on the Cohutta and Big Frog
Wilderness in this book with thorough directions to the trailheads, nature
notes, and a difficulty rating for both day hikers and backpackers.
My Recommendation:
This guide is currently the
best and only book available if you plan to hike in the Cohutta and Big Frog
Wilderness.
The Hiking Trails of North Georgia is an
indispensable resource, whether you're planning a leisurely afternoon walk or a
strenuous backpacking trip. The convenient new format of this updated
third edition will enable you to explore North Georgia's beautiful natural area
with intelligence and ease.
Birdshooter's Take:
This is another of Tim Homan's
guidebooks and one of the first ones that I used for Georgia hiking trails.
It has 124 hikes in the State with 11 maps and precise directions to the
trailheads. The book is
designed for both hikers and backpackers but focuses only
on the trails in North Georgia. It also includes sections of the Appalachian Trail, Benton MacKaye
Trial, Duncan Ridge Trail, and Bartram Trail in Georgia.
My Recommendation: If you
hike a lot in North Georgia, this is the best book out there.
10 b/w photos 65 maps Complete descriptions of 170 great
day hikes on the AT Easy-to-read topographic maps and elevation profiles for
each hike Plants, wildlife, and historical point
s
to see along the way From the spruce forests of Tennessee and the leafy gorges
of Virginia to the rolling Pennsylvania hills and the rocky heights of New
England, the Appalachian Trail offers 2,200 miles of hiking opportunities. The
five books in this series present accurate, detailed information for 170 day
hikes (and a few overnighters), all recommended by
AT experts. Where to start and finish, water sources and shelters, early exit
options, and what to expect on the trail itself are described. Specially
commissioned easy-to-read-and-use topographic maps and elevation profiles
accompany each recommended hike; mileage data, the best direction to travel,
route difficulty, and sources for additional maps and information are also
included. Each book points out natural and historical featuresplants, trees,
animals, landforms, bridges, vistasthat make the recommended hikes special. 32
hikes in Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee.
Birdshooter's Take: This is a
great book particularly if you do a lot of one and two day hikes along the
Appalachian Trail in Georgia, North Carolina or Tennessee. Most guidebooks
don't have profile maps, but this one has both a profile and a trail map in the
book. There is also other useful information that you don't always find in
a guidebook including recommended campsites, loop options (if you want to use
some blue-blazed side trails to loop back to your starting point), and a summary
of the itinerary in a mileage format. My Recommendation:
Get this book over the A.T. guide shown below if you do a lot of day or
overnight hikes. There's more detail and
it has trail and profile maps.
Official
guidebook and maps to the Appalachian Trail in north Georgia (the southern
terminus) into North Carolina and through the Great Smoky Mountains National
Park, more than 235 miles. Includes two detached map sheets for south of the
park and National Geographic-Trails Illustrated's map of the park.
Birdshooter's Take: The ATC
has been cranking out guidebooks for years and has a lot of experience in
detailing trail history, geography, and relocations. This book includes
all sections of the A.T. from it's start at Springer Mountain in Georgia through
the Great Smoky Mountain National Park along the North Carolina and Tennessee
border. A trail itinerary for both northbound and southbound hikers along
the A.T. makes it easy to follow regardless of your route. There's also
detailed information on side trails, campsites, shelters, and water sources
along the route. My Recommendation: Buy this book if you
plan to hike a large section of the A.T. in either Georgia or North Carolina.
This is the best information available and the book is small enough to put in
your pack. It's better than the book shown above for a long distance hiker due to its size and tendency to
focus on the A.T. from a long distance hiker's perspective.
One
cold November night in the
Blood Mountain Wilderness in north
Georgia, Steve Goodrich and his wife, Ashley, had
to wrap themselves around their yellow lab, Rebel, under one sleeping bag. It
was the last time they would fail to anticipate their dog's special needs on the
trail. Since then, Rebel and the Goodriches have hiked thousands of miles
together in Georgia and South Carolina to select
the best dog-friendly, dog-fun, and dog-safe trails in the region. Most hikes
are on lightly traveled trails with few horses, bicycles, or motorized vehicles.
Hikes avoid steep, rocky terrain and many offer lakes or streams as rewards.
Potential dog hazards such as alligators or snakes are noted in the hike
descriptions. Advice on hiking with dogs includes what to pack for your
pooch--the Ten Canine Essentials and a doggy first-aid kit. A "Hike Summary"
chart in the front of the book indicates trail length, water features, loop
hikes, whether "best for fit dogs," and more.
Georgia Atlas
& Gazetteer
These
over-size maps offer full state coverage of things important to outdoor users,
such as back roads, dirt roads and trails, hidden lakes and streams, boat ramps,
public lands, trailheads, campsites, and unique natural features. Most atlases
have elevation contours. DeLorme Publishing
Company.
