Drive & Trail Guide, Wildcat Mountain W4G/NG-020

Drive Guide - Wildcat Mountain from ATLANTA

• Duration: 1:35
• Google Maps URL from Atlanta (33.917, -84.3378): https://tinyurl.com/atlanta-wildcat
• Seasonal/Limited Access: Paved roads, BUT Richard B Russell is sometimes closed for repairs/ice. Check with GDOT. Plan an alternate.
• Parking: Plenty of parking on a clear January Saturday at 8:30 AM; most of muddy overflow full at noon.
• Directions:
  • N on GA-400 and go 47 miles.
  • At end of 400 (@ GA-60) go straight onto GA-115. Go 4.8
  • GA-115 turns R. (About 60 minute drive to this turn.) Go 11.4.
  • L on Tesnatee Gap Valley Rd. There’s a left turn lane. Go 2.8.
  • Go straight onto McAfee Rd. (Tesnatee turns left.) Go 0.2
  • L on US-129 N at T. (About 1:15 total drive time to this turn.) Go 0.8.
  • R on GA-75A. Go 5.9.
  • L on Richard B Russell Scenic Hwy (GA-348). (About 1:25 from trip start.) Go 7.0
  • Parking lot on right, at AT crossing. If lot full, another is 0.1 mile farther on GA-348.
• Food
  • Last McDonalds: GA-400 at GA-53. Miss it? Add 0:10 and try 1550 S Main St Cleveland, GA.
  • Dinner: 5 Guys in Home Depot shopping center, just south of GA-53

Drive Guide - Wildcat Mountain from Sassafras Mtn (W4G/NG-040)

• Duration: 1:00, 30 miles
• Google Maps URL:
• Seasonal/Limited Access: All seasons, dirt and paved roads, BUT Richard B Russell sometimes is closed for repairs/ ice. Check with GDOT. Plan an alternate.
• Directions:
• Travel ESE on Coopers Gap Rd and go 5.2.
  • This will be the mostly level road, moving away from where you just left the AT and toward the continuation of the AT. (The AT briefly joins the road.)
  • Note: Google Maps on the phone often sends you on the wrong road (downhill).
• Keep L as road merges from R and go 3.5
• L on GA-60 North and go 0.5
• R on GA-180 and go 11.2
• L on US-129 North and go 2.4
• R on GA-180 and go 0.9
• R on GA-348 (Richard B Russel Scenic Hwy). Go 6.9
  • Parking lot on left, at AT crossing.
• Food: None on the way
  • Dinner: 5 Guys in Home Depot shopping center, just south of GA-53

Drive Guide - Wildcat Mtn to Atlanta (partial)

• Left out of the lot and go 7
• R on GA-75 Alt and go 5.9
• L on US-129 S and go 0.8
• R on McAfee Rd / Testatee Gap and go 3
• R on GA-115 S and go 11.5
• L on GA-115 S and go 4.6
• Straight onto GA-400 S

Trail Guide

• Duration: 0.8 miles / 0:40 up (if fresh), 0:25 down
• Navigation
  • Take the AT on the south side of GA-348. Trail crosses highway SE of the lot; it is obvious.
  • Climb steeply (w/switchbacks) for 0.2 miles.
  • Turn left (south) on Whitley Gap Shelter trail. Blue-blazed ridge trail.
  • Reach summit in 0.6 miles.
• Trailhead altitude: 3472’ @ parking
• Summit altitude: 3780’
• GPS tracks/waypoints:
  • Parking lot: 34.726, -83.84. Summit: 34.71740, -83.83820
  • Left turn to Whitley Gap Shelter Trail: 34.72479, -83.84104
  • Grid: EM84br

Summit Guide

• Hang antenna from tree: Yes, but they are short. String it through multiple trees.
• Space to guy mast: Yes.
• Cell coverage: 2020: AT&T SMS OK 4 of 4 times, but it took 2-3 minutes.
• Unique features: Nice views near summit. Hard to see if trees are in full leaf.

Plan-B Summit(s)

• Blood Mountain, W4G/NG-004, via Neels Gap
• Blue Mountain, W4G/NG-010, via Unicoi Gap; Rocky Mountain, W4G/NG-011, via Unicoi Gap