Drive & Trail Guide - Rocky Knob - 8 points, W4G/NG-039

Drive Guide - Rocky Knob

  • Duration: 2:00
  • Google Maps URL from Atlanta (33.917, -84.3378): http://goo.gl/maps/g6OqO
    • Note: After the last turn on the Google Map (onto unnamed road), continue 1/4 mile to parking on right. Walk 0.1 farther to trailhead on right.
  • Seasonal/Limited Access: Paved road all the way.
  • Directions:
    • Do NOT follow GPS or Google Maps onto Timberline Dr. Google does not know of the road with the trailhead (January 2016). See note below.
    • The shortest route from north Atlanta is up GA-400 (1:50). For some reason, Google Maps routed me up I-575 in early 2016. That route is a good 2:05 (+ 15 minutes of stops).
    • From I-285, take GA-400 N for 47 miles
    • L on US-19 and go 5.1
    • R on GA-9 and go 13.3
    • L on US-129 N and go 20.7
    • Follow US-129 through turns in Blairsville for 0.6
    • R on US-76 and go 9.8
    • Do NOT follow GPS/Google to turn R on Timberline Dr.
    • Take the first R after Blue Ridge Electric Coop, onto Fairway Ln and go 0.2.
    • Park in small dirt lot on R, with small sign signifying trail parking. green.
  • Food
    • Last McDonalds: Dahlonega
    • Penultimate McDonalds: GA-400 at GA-53 (38 miles north of I-285)
    • Dinner: Smoke-n-Gold Barbecue in Dahlonega

Trail Guide

  • Duration: 1:45 up; 1:30 down.
  • Navigation
    • Named “Miller Trek Trail”.
    • From day hiker parking lot, walk 200’ farther on the road. Follow the painted “T” markings through the narrow employee parking lot on the right, leading to the arch over the trailhead.
    • Follow the green blazes. It is a loop trail, but I went up and back the same (slightly shorter) right side, because I wanted to explore a side trail I saw on the way up.
    • My GPX trace shows two detours. The early part of the trail was an active stream, due to recent rains. On the way up, I noticed a gate between the trail and paved roads. On the way back, I walked around the gate and walked the paved roads of Brasstown resort, in order to avoid the wet end of the trail. Also, on the way up, I noticed a water tank. On the way back, I detoured to the water tank (and nearby on its road). The water tank has a parking area marked “NFS Access for Rocky Knob Members and Guests.” There’s a paved road there. Property on one side of the road is Forest Service. There were signs on the other side of the road marked “Rocky Knob Lot 46” and “Rocky Knob Lot 47”. I think you could shortcut the hike by quite a bit if you could find where this road comes out, and if you were willing to park in a community of million dollar home sites. It might be gated, but I did see a car drive out and back, as if the driver were touring the area.
  • Trailhead altitude: 1911 at day hiker parking lot
  • Summit altitude: 3340
  • GPS tracks/waypoints:
    • Parking: 34.95073,-83.84199
    • Trailhead: 34.95116, -83.83993
    • Loop Trail Split: 34.95384, -83.83381
    • Summit: 34.9493, -83.8174

Summit Guide

  • Hang antenna from tree:
  • Space to guy mast:
  • Cell coverage: ATT yes (2016)

©2024 Kevin P. Kleinfelter.