Mile
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Hiker Rated
Parking Safety |
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Directions
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Comments
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Number of Vehicles
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Map &
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Source
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2 miles south of Suches on GA 60.
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Parking is available. 1/30/2006
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1) From Atlanta, take GA-400 North to end of 4 lane (approx 60 miles). Turn left on Hwy 19 toward Dalohnaga. Turn right on Hwy 60 N toward Suches. At rock pyramid (you will easily recognize) continue on Hwy 60 (striaght) at yeild. Woody Gap parking is approx 6 miles from junction.
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Parking area is on both sides of the road.
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40
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ox97game @ aol.com
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Drive north from Dahlonega on US 19 /GA 9. GA 60 soon comes in from the left. US 19/GA 9 diverge right at Rockpile Gap which is about 9 miles from Dahlonega. Continue on GA 60 for 5.3 miles to Woody Gap. There is a picnic area there. There is a large parking area on the right and a smaller one on the left. Rotate the street view on the attached map to see the area at Woody Gap.
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The northbound AT passes through the larger lot and goes east toward Section 15. The trail begins the ascent of Big Cedar Mountain. The southbound AT to Section 16 continues through the small parking lot and goes west.01/25/08
Update: The first and fourth pictures given for the Google map are of the area at Gooch Gap (6/14)--revalidated May 2020 by AT Editor DA Thomas
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at @ rohland.org
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From Woody Gap (mile 0.0) go north on GA 60 for 1.5 miles then turn left on Cooper Gap Road AKA FS 42). Alternatively go south from Suches for 0.5 miles on GA 60 and go right on Cooper Gap Road. This goes west then south. Thee AT crosses in Gooch Gap in 2.8 miles about a mile after the road goes from paved to gravel. Total distance from Suches is 3.3 miles. I was not able to stop and check out this trail head but I did see 3-4 cars parked. The road makes a sharp turn to the right(west) here.
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The northbound AT to Woody Gap goes east, the southbound AT to Cooper Gap goes west. 11/05/11
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Maybe 3-4. See Directions
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David Cullen
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General Notes: 1. Reaching all the access points in this section except Woody Gap involves driving on Forest Service dirt or gravel roads. The condition of these may vary. 2. If coming from Dahlonega there may be more direct ways to reach some of the access points in this section. Use the Google maps to get direction via these other routes. 01/03/10
Update: As of Oct. 2011, USFS 42, the main access road to most of the areas mentioned in this section, was in good shape.
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David Cullen
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Note that in rainy weather the area around the Gooch Gap parking area can become a gooey mess. I was just there on 4/28/13 and nearly got stuck in the mud. Otherwise the road condition is reasonably decent for passenger cars to navigate. 05/05/13
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mike1111962 @ att.net
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From the intersection of Coopers Gap Road (AKA FS 42) and GA 60 which is 0.5 miles south of Suches and 1.5 miles north of Woody Gap (Mile 0.0), go west on the former. This turns south. About 3.5 miles from GA 60, stay on Coopers Gap Road which goes right. Stay on Coopers Gap Road for another 5.3 miles to an intersection of forest roads,. FS 15 goes right, FS 80 goes left while FS 42 continues straight ahead. This is Cooper Gap. Total distance from Suches is 9.3 miles. Note: Other than a Cooper Gap Road sign at the turnoff from GA 60 and an occasional USFS 42 sign, I saw no street signs along this route. There are none in Cooper Gap.
There is a small parking area for 2-3 cars at the intersection. There is room for roadside parking for a few more.
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See General Notes at Mile 3.6
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See directions
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The AT can clearly be seen on the satellite view which was obviously taken when leaves were off the trees. From the intersection the southbound trail heads west south of USFS 42, the east-west road shown on the map, while the northbound trail heads east north of FS 42 on the other side of the intersection shown. 110/5/11
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at @ rohland.org
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Here is a route from Dahlonega that involves less driving on gravel roads. US 19/GA 60 bypasses Dahlonega to the east. Business US 19 (AKA Historic US 19)/ GA 60 makes a loop through town and rejoins the main highway north of town. From this northern intersection go west of Business route from about 2 miles, then go right on Camp Washega Road. There is a sign for Camp Merrill here. Follow the paved road for about 8 miles to a T intersection at the entrance to Camp Merrill. Go right on Coopers Gap Road (USFS) which almost immediately becomes a gravel surfaced road. It is well graded and passenger cars should be able to negotiate it easily(at least as of Fall 2011). The road climbs to meet USFS 42 in Coopers Gap in approximately 3 miles. See above for parking.
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11/05/11
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David Cullen
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See directions to Cooper Gap. From there go west on FS 42 for 1.6 miles. The road climbs out of Cooper gap, then descends into Horse Gap. Look for a dirt parking area on the right (south side of the road) at the bottom of the descent. 4/07/14
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The trail passes by the south end of the parking area. The northbound trail goes east while the southbound goes west.
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6-8
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See directions to Cooper Gap. From there go west on FS 42 for 2.2 miles. The road climbs out of Cooper gap, then descends into Horse Gap. Look for a dirt parking area on the right (south side of the road) at the bottom of the descent.
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The trail passes by the south end of the parking area. The northbound trail goes east while the southbound goes west. 06/07/14
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6-8
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David Cullen
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Hightower Gap is located at the junction of USFS 42 and USFS 69. Limited parking is available. 1/30/2006
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See directions to Cooper Gap (Mile 8.4). Continue west on FS 42 which is called Appalachian Blue Ridge Road on the attached map. (There are no road signs aside from an occasional USFS 42 sign.) Go 3.7 miles to the intersection with USFS 69. This is Hightower Gap. Total distance from Suches is 13.0 miles. See General Notes at Mile 3.6. There is a small parking area good for 3-5 cars at the Gap with possible roadside parking for a few more.
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The northbound trail to Section 16 goes east. At this point it is south of FS 42. The southbound trail to Section 17 goes west. 11/07/11
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See directions
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at @ rohland.org
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Here is a route from Dahlonega that involves less driving on gravel roads. US 19/GA 60 bypasses Dahlonega to the east. Business US 19 (AKA Historic US 19)/ GA 60 makes a loop through town and rejoins the main highway north of town. From this northern intersection go west on Business route from about 2 miles, then go right on Camp Washega Road. There is a sign for Camp Merrill here. Follow the paved road for about 8 miles to a T intersection at the entrance to Camp Merrill. Go right on Coopers Gap Road (USFS) which almost immediately becomes a gravel surfaced road. It is well graded and passenger cars should be able to negotiate it easily(at least as of Fall 2011). The road climbs to meet USFS 42 in Coopers Gap in approximately 3 miles. Go left (west) on USFS 42 for 3.7 miles to the intersection with USFS 69 (no signs) at Hightower Gap. See above for parking.
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David Cullen
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