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

Drive Guide - Flat Top from Atlanta

  • 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.

Trail Guide

  • 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

Summit Guide

  • 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?

Plan-B Candidates

  • 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.