Len Foote Hike Inn - Perfect Day trip!
The Len Foote Hike Inn is on the bucket list for many locals and out-of-towners looking for a unique day-hike adventure that includes waterfalls, the Appalachian Trail, rustic wilderness and a some great food (not to mention yummy cookies) at the end. This in-and-out trail is approximately 4.8 miles one-way, considered easy-to-moderate for the average hiker. If you go, be prepared with all the basic must-haves for any hike: jacket/fleece for cooler temps, rain jacket, first-aid kit, good shoes/boots, plenty of water, snacks & food to fuel you on the trail, compass, and any other essentials you think you might need for a day on the trail.
A little history (from Wikipedia):
The Len Foote Hike Inn is a sustainably designed and LEED-certified ecotourism facility located near the peak of Frosty Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest in Dawson County, Georgia, USA. The lodge is open year-round and is only accessible via hiking trails. Twenty rooms, a two-story central lobby, a dining room, a bathhouse, toilets, and a common room comprise the facility. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources owns the Hike Inn, and the inn is operated by the non-profit Len Foote Hike Inn, Inc. - an affiliate of the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club.
The inn opened in November 1998 and sits at an altitude of 3,100 feet. The surrounding area contains mountain laurel, rhododendron, and oak and hickory trees. Conservation, environmental stewardship and environmental education are stressed at the inn. The facility contains solar-powered hot showers, photo-voltaic solar energy and compostable, odorless toilets. Communal breakfast and dinner meals are included with the stay and are served family-style. Visitors are encouraged to minimize their food waste during meals, and leftover food is composted via a vermiculture program
The hike:
The Hike Inn can only be reached by foot. The approach trail to the inn from the south starts at Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawson County, Georgia and requires a five-mile hike. The first .35 miles of this trail to the inn is also part of the approach trail to Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail (AT). Thru-hikers for the AT often start or end their journey at the Hike Inn. The trail to the Inn continues northward past the facility for approximately one-mile to reconnect to the AT approach trail. The trail from Amicalola Falls to the Hike Inn is marked with lime green paint blazes. The rise in elevation during this hike is 500 feet and is listed on park literature and signage as an "easy to moderate" hike
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