HIKING: Pine Mountain Trail

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Description

Since 1975, volunteers of all ages have labored to build and maintain the Pine Mountain Trail, a 23-mile footpath. This main trail and connecting loops, that crosses and follows the beautiful Pine Mountain ridge in west central Georgia, is inside the Franklin Delano Roosevelt State Park and near Callaway Gardens. Quiet woods, sparkling streams, misty waterfalls, rock outcroppings, varied forest, scenic overlooks, deer and turkey await your discovery. Just follow the blazes (6" by 2 ½" rectangles painted on trees). Two-foot-high rock cairns and mileage markers assist the hiker. Wooden location and mileage signs have been placed at each road crossing, trail head, junction, campsite, and at all named parking lots and trailheads. The Pine Mountain Trail offers clear crisp views of distant ridges in winter, with occasional snowfall. In the summer there are lush green ferns and lowland flowers. Wild flowers are abundant and in spring you will find flowering dogwood, native azalea, mountain laurel and rhododendron. Fall brings bright and beautiful leaves of hickory, oak, dogwood and maple, which change from day to day.<br />
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In addition to the 23-mile main trail there are seven loops formed by connecting trails. In 2006, Pine Mountain Trail Association volunteers started and completed the 2.4 mile White Candle Trail section, which combined with the Beaver Pond Trail forms the newest loop, the 3.4 mile East End Loop. Near GA 190, the White Candle Trail passes through a section of old long leaf pines that FDR had planted in 1930. A historical marker nearby tells about the area.<br />
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* Mountain Creek Nature Trail Loop (3.2 miles)<br />
* Overlook Loop (3.4 miles)<br />
* Dowdell Knob Loop (4.3 miles)<br />
* Wolfden Loop (6.7 miles)<br />
* Long Leaf Loop (6.9 miles)<br />
* Big Poplar Loop (7.8 miles)<br />
* East End Loop (3.4 miles) <br />
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Fourteen designated back-country/backpacking campsites are at various places a short distance off the trails. FDR State Park does not charge PMTA members who present their membership card for the required permits to backcountry camp on the trail.<br />
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Info and photos from Pine Mountain Trail Association.

Directions

2970 Ga. Highway 190, Pine Mountain, GA 31822