CHATTOOGA RIVER TRAIL - BOOKS
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Hiking Trails of the Southern Nantahala Wilderness, the Ellicott Wilderness, and
the Chattooga National Wild and Scenic River
The scenic areas described in this book
offer a wide variety of possibilities: you can dayhike a short trail,
backpack a 23-mile segment of the Appalachian Trail, or finish all of the 37.5
mile Chattooga River Trail. This easy-to-follow guide will help both the
novice hikers and experienced backpackers to enjoy trips into the wilderness.
Birdshooter's Take: Tim Homan's book has nearly
40 pages dedicated to the Chattooga River Trail (which
shares some of it's pathway with the Foothills and Bartram Trails) and he
provides detailed information including directions to the trailhead, highs/lows of the hike, campsites, and tips for the
hiker. My Recommendation:
This is the ONLY trail guide
that is currently available for the Chattooga River Trail. If you plan to
day hike or thru-hike it, I highly recommend this book.
Long Trails Of The Southeast
Trekking the
Appalachian Trail is no longer the solitary experience it once was. Backpackers
looking for a less crowded, long-trail experience should grab Long Trails of the
Southeast to discover the many other long-hike opportunities available in the
Southeast. Long Trails covers 7 trails in 8 states, for a total of 600
miles of trails. Each trail description is divided into segments, and includes
at-a-glance information offering details on length, trail condition,
high-points, difficulty, tips, and trailhead directions. Vivid trail reports
describe exactly what's encountered along the way. Finally, a Trail Log provides
mile-by-mile descriptions of the entire trail, including road crossings, water
sources, shelters, and more. Whether hiking a trail in one outing or
knocking it off in sections, hiking enthusiasts must have Long Trails of the
Southeast as a part of their library.
Birdshooter's Take: Johnny
Molloy's book has detailed information for many of the well known long distance
trails in the Southeast including directions to the trailhead, highs/lows of the hike, campsites, and tips for the
hiker. It DOES NOT include a section on the Chattooga River Trail My Recommendation:
A
portion of the Chattooga River Trail is on the Bartram Trail and this book has
50 pages dedicated to the path named for William Bartram. You may want to use
this book to supplement Tim Homan's book, but it does not have a section
specifically dedicated to the Chattooga River Trail.
Hiking Trails Of North Georgia
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. If you just
want information on the Chattooga River Trail, get Tim Homan's other book (shown
above). Hiking Georgia has some information on the Chattooga River
Trail but not nearly as much as the Hiking Trails of the Ellicott Wilderness,
and the Chattooga National Wild and Scenic River.
The Travels of William Bartram: Naturalist's Edition
In
1773, naturalist and writer William Bartram set out from Philadelphia on a
four-year journey ranging from the Carolinas to Florida and Mississippi.
Combining precise and detailed scientific observations with a profound
appreciation of nature, he produced a written account of his journey that would
later influence both scientists and poets. 31 photos. 12 illustrations. 4 maps.
Birdshooter's Take:
This is not a guidebook but a historical account of
Bartram's travels.
My Recommendation: One of a
number of good books on the travels of William Bartram.
Guide
To The Foothills Trail
The Foothills Trail Conference has created this
comprehensive guide to the Foothills Trail which is currently in its third
edition. It includes the history of the trail, helpful information for
backcountry hikers, section descriptions and maps, supplemental information on
spur trails and parking areas and a profile of the terrain on the trail.
It is the currently the best source of data available on the Foothills Trail.
Birdshooter's Take:
This is a guidebook for the Foothills Trail which shares
roughly 1/3 of the Chattooga River route.
My Recommendation: Get Tim
Homan's book shown at the top of this page if you plan to thru-hike the
Chattooga River Trail. You might consider using this book to supplement
Homan's book, especially if you plan to hike the entire Foothills Trail at some
point in the future.
Note: This guide is only
available in select stores or via direct mail order. Click
the link above titled "Guide To The Foothills Trail" for a link to the
Foothills Trail website to order directly from the trail club.
