Please note this hike is NOT OPEN for New hikers to Atlanta Hikes. Any new hikers registering will be declined.
Hike Leader has final authority on the hiking group. Also, do not take it personally if you have been declined for the hike. Please join us on other hikes. You cannot sign up for an additional person on this hike. They would have to sign up on their own account.
You should only hike it if you have had experience hiking with us before and have a good fitness level.
Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
Carpool: 7:30 am at Intown Community Church
Hiking Distance: 8 miles (with very steep uphill elevation climbs)
Difficulty level: D4 (Strenuous – Very difficult)
Carpool Cost: $20 per person
Hike Leader:
Join us for a hike on probably the most famous trail in the USA…… Appalachian Trail (A.T.). The Appalachian Trail is around 2,200+ mile (3,500 km) long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the A.T., is a white-blazed marked hiking trail in the Eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy claims that the Appalachian Trail is the longest hiking-only trail in the world. More than 3 million people are said to take a hike on part of the trail at least once each year.
This section is a fairly difficult AT hike as it involves a climb over Rocky Mountain and Tray Mountain with steep elevations over a short distance. We will shuttle cars to reduce some length of the hike but the elevation ascends and descends are still steep. The trail crosses trickling creeks, climbs through a mossy, boulder-filled forest and tunnels through gnarled, low-canopy forests filled with mountain laurel and wildflowers. And along the way, the hike crosses through some abundantly beautiful, lush Georgia forest.
We’ll start our hike at Unicoi Gap. We’ll hike approximately 5.5 miles (Ascent 2,760’; Descent 1,440’) to Tray Mountain. During our hike to Tray Mountain, we’ll reach the summit of Rocky Mountain where we will be rewarded with views to the south. Next, we will make the long descent to Indian Grave Gap and then begin the long ascent to Tray Mountain with another great view along the way. The summit of Tray mountain will provide views to the north and south. Tray Mountain (4420 ft) is the 5th highest peak in GA and the 2nd highest on the Georgia AT. We will stop to take in the views. After that, we will turn around and head back to Indian Grave Gap (around 2.7 miles) where we have shuttled a car to reduce the hiking distance back to where we started from.
Required Items:
Daypack
Good hiking shoes or boots
2.5 to 3 liters of water (eqvl to 6 bottles of water)
Energy Snacks and lunch
$20 for the carpool driver
Rain jacket / poncho / umbrella
Hiking Poles or stick
Recommended Items:
Camera
Sunglasses
Bookings
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