SOTA Guide - Flat Top Mtn, W4G/HC-006

Duration: 2:20 to Dyer Cemetery. Add 20 minutes if you drive from Dyer to the top.
Google Maps from Atlanta (33.917, -84.3378): https://tinyurl.com/atlanta-dyer-cem
Seasonal/Limited Access:
- No limits if hiking from Dyer Cemetery.
- Final mile (USFS-64A) gated Jan to mid-March; often requires 4WD.
Directions:
- I-285 W, I-75 N, I-575 N, GA-5 N
- L on GA-5 in Blue Ridge at McDonalds. Go 3.7
- L on Old GA-2 (watch for propane tanks on left near top of hill), go 9.9.
  - Pavement ends at Bravo Ln, 1.2 miles before USFS-64.
- Bear L onto USFS-64 at “Cohutta” wilderness sign and go 3.1.
  - Atlanta to sign measured at 2:00 (excl. stops).
- Park at cemetery OR go L on 64A (single lane) just past cemetery.
  - 20 minutes to drive 1.7 miles up 64A
  - 64A occasionally barely drivable in a Corolla. You need at least 3 dry days before you drive it.
Food
- Last McDonalds: Blue Ridge, where GA-5 leaves GA-515, about 0:30 before Dyer Cemetary.
- Penultimate McDonalds: Ellijay
- Dinner:
  - Pink Pig Barbecue, 824 Cherry Log St., Cherry Log, GA. Open Thurs-Sun 11-9. VERY busy after church. Wonderful.
  - Poole’s Barbecue “Pig Hill” at 164 Craig Street, Ellijay. Closes at 7/8/8/6, Thurs/Fri/Sat/Sun.
  - Barbecue place in Blue Ridge with billboards not recommended.

Duration
- 10 minutes from the turn-around near the top to the summit.
- 1:25 minutes to walk up from Dyer Cemetery to summit. 1.7 miles. Down is 0:50 if you start down the BMT and cut over to road at 34.86488,-84.51200 for the last 0.3 miles. (Lower leg is 0.4 shorter via road than trail.)
Navigation (the long hike, from the cemetery)
- Park at cemetery.
- Hike west (away from Blue Ridge, toward Conasauga T) and pass gated USFS-64A on your left.
  - Consider hiking up 64A for the first 0.3 miles and then cutting over to BMT. Road is 0.4 shorter than BMT for the lower leg.
- 0.2 miles from cemetery, turn L on Benton MacKaye trail, as it crosses USFS-64.
- Follow Benton MacKaye to summit. 1.8 miles and 850’ elevation gain.
Navigation (the short hike, after driving USFS-64A):
- Hike from the turn-around (circle/parking lot) near the top.
- Don’t take the gated road at the far side of the turn-around from where you enter.
- To your right, there is a deeply cut trail/road blocked by two big dirt piles. Follow this route about 10 minutes.
- As you approach the summit, there’s a concrete foundtion. Double-diamond blazed trail entersfrom right, and exits straight ahead.
Trailhead altitude: 3625’ from the turn-around near the top; 2861’ @ gate @ Dyer Gap per topo
Summit altitude: 3740’
GPS tracks/waypoints
- Dyer Cemetery: 34.868755, -84.514289
- Turn-around near summit: 34.85597, -84.50105
- Summit: 34.85760, -84.50396. Grid square: EM74ru

Hang antenna from tree: Yes.
Space to guy mast: Yes. You can find a clear enough spot, or lean your mast against a tree.
Cell coverage: Yes. No problem sending SMS.
Unique features:
- Not much view. Low concrete foundation at summit.
- Sign about the teacher who lived here, near bottom of USFS-64A.
- Diamond blazed trail, enters north side of summit and leaves to the west. Is this Benton MacKaye?

Dyer Mountain (W4G/HC-009) is a bushwhack from USFS-64. Accessible even when winter-closed FS roads are gated.
Cowpen Mountain (W4G/HC-001); un-reachable during winter road closure.

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