A.T. Trail Hike – Gooch Gap to Miller Gap
Saturday May 17th, 2025
Carpool: 8:00 am at Intown Community Church
Hiking Distance: 7 – 8 miles
Difficulty level: D3 – D4 (Moderate to Strenuous – due to distance covered and some elevations)
Hike Leader: Rony
The Appalachian Trail is around 2,200+ mile (3,500 km) long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the A.T., is a white-blazed marked hiking trail in the Eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy claims that the Appalachian Trail is the longest hiking-only trail in the world. More than 3 million people are said to take a hike on part of the trail at least once each year.
The hike we are about to do is part of Section 2 and Section 3 of the Appalachian Trail. We will shuttle cars leaving some at Miller Gap and then driving to the beginning of the hike at Gooch Gap. This helps us to cover more distance in one direction rather than backtrack to where we began. Please note this is NOT a beginners hike.
There is not too much elevation change in this hike. The highest continuous climb is about 600 feet which is about the height of Stone Mountain. But there are stunning views from multiple overlooks at Preachers Rock – a lofty, broad rock outcrop with beautiful long-range views near the summit of Big Cedar Mountain with plenty of wildflowers on the trail.
Required Items:
Daypack
Good hiking shoes or boots
2 liters of water
Snacks and lunch
$15 for the driver
Recommended Items:
Hiking Poles or stick
Camera
Sunglasses