Hiking The Stanley Gap Trail

Travel & LeisureOutdoors

  • Author Shannon Rae Treasure
  • Published June 19, 2011
  • Word count 403

Twenty years ago, this trail was previously known as the Rich Mountain Trail until it was renamed and then the trail was also shortened. The trail shares the same path as with the Benton MacKaye only that the Stanley Gap is shorter. The roundtrip for the trail takes 4.8 miles to complete wherein the difficult part of the footpath takes place with the initial ascent from the Stanley Gap to Rocky Mountain wherein the end of the trail reaches 3,365 feet almost near the peak of Rocky Mountain. The whole trail can also be complete in approximately an hour and a half where it offers some great views of the Lake Blue Ridge from the east side of the Rocky Mountain.

This trail is within the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest Blue Ridge District which is clustered with variety of tress, wildflowers, shrubs, and a hardwood forest. Just expect a rough and irregular footpath as the treadway leads to a steep climb towards Rocky Mountain. There will be several stream crossings to negotiate along the way. Biking can is one of the outdoor activities that can be enjoyed here along the Benton MacKaye Trail.

The pathway is cut narrowly into the side of the mountain where the view from ridges provides an exhilarating scene at a distance. From the Stanley Gap parking area the path makes a climb and old roadbed at the back of the kiosk. The path continues to follow the path to the top of Davenport Mountain and then proceeds to a high ridge.

At around 1.8 miles on the treadway, the path meets up with the Benton MacKaye Trail which then about 2.7 miles on the path it continues to follow the ridge towards Rocky Mountain. From here on, the trail begins to go downhill and as the BMT for the bike trail meanders left while the hike trail towards Rocky Mountain continues to swerve right at around 3.75 miles.

Go straight forward crossing a stream and pass from that the trail returns to an old roadbed where it meets an intersection. Take a left turn and move along the trail until reaching the Flat Creek Connector Trail. At this point the pathway continues to again cross the stream three times where after the third wet foot crossing the treadway meets another intersection. From here, just take another left into the parking lot at the Deep Gap. The trail then ends at this paved parking area.

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