SOTA Guide - Eagle Mtn, W4G/NG-008

Drive Guide - Eagle Mountain

  • Duration: 2:15
  • URL from Atlanta (33.917, -84.3378):
    • Part 1: http://goo.gl/maps/c2FWn
    • Part 2: See directions below after “GOOGLE MAPS IS USELESS”
  • Seasonal/Limited Access:
  • Directions:
    • GA-400 north. Go 47 miles.
    • At GA-60, continue 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 8.0. (Pass Richard B Russell Scenic Hwy at 1:25 from trip start.)
    • From intersection of GA-75A and GA-75, on GA-75 go north 16.6 miles.
    • Tell Google Maps iPhone app to give you voice directions to 34.96183, -83.72151.
    • L on US-76 (at T). Go 3.3
    • R on GA-75. Go 2
    • R on Upper Bell Creek Rd. Go 1.0.
    • R on Bell Gap Rd / Morgan’s Way.
      • Small house on the far corner.
      • Across from Hunnicutt Rd & house w/green roof
    • AFTER THIS POINT GOOGLE MAPS (printed) IS USELESS
    • Basically, drive straight until you park:
      • Drive about 0.2 miles to Morgan’s Way.
        • Do NOT turn R on Morgan’s Way.
    • Continue straight past Morgan’s Way another 0.1 mile.
    • A road curves to the left. You stay right. Go another 0.3 mile.
    • Pavement ends at 34.96593 -83.72021.
      • 3-way fork, with driveways to left and right.
      • You stay on the road in the center. Go about 0.3 miles more.
    • Park at 34.96183, -83.72151 at wide spot in road.
      • If the road is dry, you can drive 0.3 miles more.
      • There’s one mud gully in 0.1. If you make it past there, you’re good to the AOC trailhead at 34.95706, -83.72225.
  • Food
    • Last McDonalds: Hiawasee, GA. At turn from US-76 to GA-75 in Hiawassee.
    • Penultimate McDonalds: GA-400 at GA-53 (38 miles north of I-285)
    • Dinner

Trail Guide

  • Duration: 3:15 hours (4.7 miles, 2000’ - from where I parked. 4.4 if you have 4WD.)
  • Navigation
    • Trailhead at at 34.96183, -83.72151 at wide spot in road, or continue 0.3 miles farther if you can make it.
  • Trailhead altitude: 2371’ at the gate @ 34.95712, -83.72229
  • Summit altitude: 4260’
  • GPS tracks/waypoints:
    • N34.95712 W83.72229: Left fork. This is the trailhead, if you have 4WD.
      • There’s a gate. Take the road straight through the gate. Do not turn left on trail on the far side of the gate.
    • N34.95938 W83.70401: Take L fork, leading slightly downhill.
    • N34.96743 W83.70085: Turn R and hike up. Do not go straight and downhill.
    • N34.96769 W83.69245: Enter a fern glen, with a small swamp on R.
      • Trail is vague here. You turn L onto vague trail. Trail soon turns to dirt road.
    • Summit: N34.96438 W83.69103

Summit Guide

  • Hang antenna from tree: Yes. I did.
  • Space to guy mast: Yes. Some staking issues due to frequent granite. May have to tie to tree.
  • Cell coverage: Good. Both Verizon and AT&T. I was able to hear APRS but not to send an APRS message to EMAIL-2.
  • Unique features:
    • Nothing special.

Plan-B Candidates

  • Bell Knob

©2023 Kevin P. Kleinfelter.