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BENTON MACKAYE TRAIL DUNCAN RIDGE TRAIL
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| LOCATION:
North Georgia |
| HIKE
STARTS: Toccoa River |
| HIKE ENDS:
GA 60 |
| TOTAL
DISTANCE: 5.6 Miles |
| HIKE TYPE:
Roundtrip, Loop Hike |
| HIKE
DIFFICULTY: Moderate |
| TRAILS
USED: Benton Mackaye Trail/Duncan Ridge Trail, USFS 816 |
| TRAIL
TRAFFIC: Moderate |
| TRIP TYPE:
Day or Overnight Hike |
| MANAGEMENT:
BMT
Association |
HIGHLIGHTS: The Benton MacKaye
Trail and the Duncan Ridge Trail share this in-and-out backtrack route between
GA 60 and the Toccoa River and the highlight of this section is an impressive
suspension bridge over the river. The Georgia Appalachian Trail Conference and
the U.S. Forest Service constructed the 260’ bridge in 1977, and it offers an
excellent view of the Toccoa River in both directions.
The trail begins near Tooni Gap located on GA 60 at 2,028 feet, and the path
heads southbound over Tooni Mountain toward the river. In the first mile, the
Benton MacKaye and Duncan Ridge Trails make an ascent of nearly 600 feet up
Tooni Mountain (sometimes referred to as Toonowee Mountain on older maps). Tooni
Mountain is actually a series of small knobs across a long ridgeline with
elevations that range from 2,396 to 2,720 feet. The result is a bouncy ride for
hikes and their dogs as they traverse these knobs before the Benton MacKaye and
Duncan Ridge Trails make their final descent after 3.5 miles to the Toccoa River
at 1,920 feet. At the water, the trail meets the first of several campsites and
turns to the right toward the Toccoa River suspension bridge. The gravel
Forest Road 816 can be used to save some time and effort on the return trip
since it has very little elevation change as it winds back to Tooni Gap.
MORE DETAILS
 |
click to
see trail photos from this hike
to the Toccoa River: February 5,
2000,
October 25, 2003 |
 |
click to
view a
detailed trip report
for this backpacking trip: February 5,
2000
(password required),
October 25, 2003
(password required) |
 | click to
view a brief trip report for this hike to the Toccoa River: February 5, 2000 |
 |
click to
view maps
here along the Benton MacKaye Trail: area map,
detailed map
(password required),
profile map,
TopoZone map |
 | click for
more
information on the Appalachian Trail |
 |
click for
more information on the Benton MacKaye Trail |
 | click for
the Long Trail
discussion forum |
 | click for
the Southeastern
Destinations discussion forum |
 | click for
Appalachian Trail hiking
and backpacking books |
 | click for
Benton MacKaye Trail
hiking and backpacking books |
 | click to
access the guidebook
Best Hikes With Dogs Georgia And South
Carolina
which has details on this destination |
 | click for
other Georgia hiking and backpacking
books |
 | click for
other hikes on the Appalachian Trail
in Georgia |
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