Date: 03/11/2025
Name: Logan Turnpike & Whitley Gap Shelter Trails
Distance: 5.3
Difficulty: Difficult
Total Climbing Elevation: 1,388
Type: One Way with Two Out & Backs
Notes: We hiked two dissimilar trails in one day connected by the Appalachian Trail. The first hike up, along, and down Wildcat Mountain from Hogpen Gap was fairly easy. The trail was in very good condition, and we had good views at a couple of points along the ridge of Wildcat Mountain. Then we took a chance in hiking the Logan Turnpike Trail. "The Logan Turnpike was a toll road in Georgia that connected Cleveland to Blairsville from 1821 until the 1920s. It was a vital trade route for the region, allowing isolated communities to trade with towns." We chose to hike down the old turnpike road bed instead of the established Forest Service trail. This portion of the trail was an "adventure" with no maintenance and covered mostly with very large rocks, but also having numerous large blowdowns along the way. The rest of the trail following along the scenic Town Creek is also quite rocky, but with fewer blowdowns. We turned around at "Six Foot Falls. While small, it was still a nice reward for our efforts. However, the constant travel over these rocks and steep descents and inclines, especially when returning the last 1.5 miles up to Tesnatee Gap, made this a difficult and tiring hike. Late fall through early spring is the best time to hike Logan Turnpike. We did see some Trillium poking through the leaf cover. I cannot say "good job" enough to today's hikers on completing this hike. Today's Hikers: Gregg Nuessly, Gerald Richardson, Jenny Bell, Heather Wall & Toby, Jane Brown, Matt Henderson & Toby, Mike Bell
AllTrails Link: Logan Turnpike & Whitley Gap Shelter Trails near Blairsville, GA
Additional Search Terms: March