Drive to Trailhead & Trail Guide

Drive Guide - Wolf Knob from Atlanta

• Duration: 2:15
  • Measured at 0:35 from Clayton to Patterson Gap
• Google Maps URL from Atlanta (33.917, -84.3378): http://goo.gl/maps/6avZl
• Seasonal/Limited Access:
• Directions:
  • Atlanta to Clayton GA - 1:45
    • I-285 E to I-85 N
    • I-985 N and go 23.8
    • Straight on US-23 N + US-441 for 52
  • From Clayton GA (intersection of US-441 and US-76) to trailhead - 0:30 :
    • Straight on US-441 N and go 6.7
      • L on Bettys Creek Rd (Marathon Gas station on L, “Barkers Creek Mill” sign on R) and go 3.4
    • L on Patterson Gap Rd (big “Moon Valley” sign on L) and go 1.5 (~ 6 minutes)
      • Lake at 1.1. Do not take driveway to R across from lake. * “Moon Valley” - Valley Springs Lodging cabin rentals. Looks nice and peaceful. 706-746-3875.
        • At 1.2, just past lake, take L fork (climbs); R fork is Tarheel Ln and passes a 2nd lake at 1.5
      • Straight on USFS-32 and go 2.0 (about 15 minutes)
        • In March 2014, USFS-32 has some serious erosion gullies which sometimes cross the road. In places, there was marginal fit between gully and road edge. This is a bad road to take when wet. It was only marginally drivable in my Corolla when dry.
    • Park at Patterson Gap. If you go 0.2 too far, the road makes a sharp 180 to the R.
      • Turn-out/parking to right. Closed dirt road (with dirt piles to block) on R.
      • Side road to L.
      • Trail ~ 8’ up the side road.
• Food
  • Last McDonalds: Clayton, GA
  • Penultimate McDonalds: Cornelia, on Level Grove Rd.
    • It comes just BEFORE Cornelia and your exit to US-441.
  • Dinner

Drive Guide - Wolf Knob from Rabun Bald

• Duration: 0:45
• Google Maps: http://goo.gl/maps/xBeKx
• Seasonal/Limited Access:
• Directions:
  • Kelsey Mtn Rd toward paved road and go 0.3
  • L on Bald Mtn Rd and go 1.3
  • Keep L on Bald Mtn Rd and go 1.3
  • Name change to Mud Creek Rd (@ state line) and go 0.4
  • L on NC-106/GA-246 (Mud Creek Rd ends in “T”) and go 4.1
  • L on US-441 S and go 1.0
  • R on Bettys Creek Rd (Marathon Gas station on R) and go 3.4
    • L on Patterson Gap Rd (big “Moon Valley” sign on L) and go 3.5
      • Lake at 1.1. Do not take driveway to R across from lake.
        • At 1.2, just past lake, take L fork; R fork is Tarheel Ln and passes a 2nd lake at 1.5
      • Park at Patterson Gap. If you go 0.2 too far, the road makes a sharp 180 to the R.

Trail Guide

• Duration: 0:55
• Navigation
  • 0.6 miles up the ridge to SSE, climbing 680 ft.
  • There is a faint trail. It is overgrown. It was OK in winter. It will be a briar patch in summer.
  • It is a tough, steep climb. Very slow going. Intense, going up.
  • Steep enough that there is risk of feet sliding out from under you on loose leaves, coming back down.
• Trailhead altitude: 3300
• Summit altitude: 3950 (official); 4001 as measured by GPS
• GPS tracks/waypoints:
  • Trailhead: 34.96983, -83.47713
  • Summit: 34.96425, -83.47421

Summit Guide

• Hang antenna from tree: Yes
• Space to guy mast: Dense forest. Possible, but challenging. I bungeed to a stump.
• Cell coverage: AT&T=good
• Unique features: Relatively small area at summit. Well-defined apex for an Appalachian mtn.

Plan-B Candidates

• Glassy Mtn; Blackrock Mtn