With Stream Crossings And Wildflowers, The Little-Known Jarrard Gap Trail In Georgia Is Unexpectedly Magical
By Lisa Sammons|Published May 06, 2022
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Lisa Sammons
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Lisa loves animals and has dogs, rats, cats, guinea pigs, and snakes. She is passionate about animal rescue and live music - traveling across the country to see a favorite band is a pretty regular occurrence! Being out hiking in the woods enjoying the scenery with her beloved dogs is another favorite hobby, and also checking out the Pokemon Go scene in whatever city she happens to be in at any given time (coffee and dog leash in hand). You can reach Lisa at lsammons@onlyinyourstate.com
If you know anything about hiking in America, you know that the Appalachian Trail is one of the most famous trails in the entire country. Most of us are not quite up to the gargantuan task of hiking the entire 2,190-mile trek. However, for those of us in the Peach State, there are several nearby trails that intersect with the mighty Appalachian Trail and are much more manageable for the average hiker. One of our favorites is the Jarrard Gap Trail in the Chestatee Wildlife Management Area near Suches, GA. The Jarrard Gap Trail is an incredible beautiful trail of moderate difficulty that looks like something straight out of a fairy tale. It’s one of our favorite hikes in Georgia, and it’s widely considered to be one of the best spring hikes in Georgia thanks to its story book surroundings. With stream crossings, colorful wildflowers, log bridges, stone steps, and so much more, there’s a lot to see here, no matter what time of year it is. This is definitely one trail that you don’t want to miss, especially during springtime in Georgia!
The Jarrard Gap Trail measures about 6.5 miles and is a loop trail that can be enjoyed at any time of year.
Technically, the Jarrard Gap portion of the trail is only about 1.5 miles. However, most hikers opt for the more scenic 6.5-mile route we'll be describing in this article. It includes both the Slaughter Creek Trail and a small section of the Appalachian Trail.
This place is magical in any season. Many love to visit during peak fall foliage times, but it's also quite wonderful when covered in greenery, making it one of the most beautiful hikes for spring in Georgia.
There are quite a few rolling hills throughout the hike (you are in the Appalachian foothills, after all!), and you'll also come across various bridges of the wooden variety, too.
The views here are incredible, no matter what season it is. The trail is considered moderately difficult, but even so, it's considerably easier than many Appalachian Trail approach hikes.
You will definitely want to make sure you wear appropriate footwear. Some areas of the Jarrard Gap Trail have quite a bit of incline, and you'll also encounter many stone steps.
For more information about this great trail near Suches, GA, check out our friends at AllTrails. If you’re a big fan of hiking in Georgia, you will definitely want to consider a free trial of AllTrails+, which gives you great benefits like turn-by-turn directions and downloadable trail maps.
Have you ever hiked the Jarrard Gap Trail? What did you think? Be sure to share your thoughts with us in the comments!
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