The hardest hikes in Georgia, by the numbers
Of the 65 trails in Georgia in our dataset, 8 (12 percent) rate strenuous or very strenuous on the gain-and-distance scale we use and run 3 to 30 miles with at least 1,500 ft of climb; all 8 are listed here, highest rating first.
Pine Mountain Trail leads with 2,482 ft of gain over 23.3 miles, 107 ft per mile, with a steepest pitch of 18 percent.
Across the 8, gain runs from 1,677 to 3,326 ft and distance from 5.4 miles to 23.3 miles; the median gain is 2,104 ft and the median distance 10.2 miles.
4 of the 8 are point-to-point routes; the rest are loop (3) or out-and-back (1).
| # | Trail | Miles | Gain (ft) | Ft per mile | Max grade | Elevation (ft) | Rating | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pine Mountain TrailCentral Georgia | 23.3 | 2,482 | 107 | 18% | 966 to 1,343 | 340.1 | |
| 2 | Coosa BackcountryNorthern Georgia | 12.7 | 3,326 | 262 | 67% | 2,023 to 4,139 | 290.7 | |
| 3 | Kennesaw Mountain Full LoopAtlanta Metro | 17 | 1,876 | 110 | 25% | 985 to 1,783 | 252.6 | |
| 4 | Len Foote Hike Inn LoopNorthern Georgia | 10.1 | 1,802 | 178 | 33% | 2,545 to 3,383 | 190.8 | |
| 5 | Panther Creek FallsNorthern Georgia | 10.3 | 1,677 | 163 | 56% | 1,867 to 2,875 | 185.9 | |
| 6 | AT Approach TrailNorthern Georgia | 7.5 | 2,083 | 278 | 28% | 2,552 to 3,766 | 176.8 | |
| 7 | Arkaquah TrailNorthern Georgia | 5.4 | 2,747 | 509 | 32% | 2,242 to 4,350 | 172.2 | |
| 8 | Big Frog MountainNorthern Georgia | 6.8 | 2,125 | 313 | 55% | 2,588 to 4,204 | 170 |
How this list is ranked
Rating = the square root of 2 x elevation gain (ft) x distance (miles), the gain-and-distance formula Shenandoah National Park publishes for its own trails. Bands: under 50 easiest, 50 to 100 moderate, 100 to 150 moderately strenuous, 150 to 200 strenuous, 200 and over very strenuous.
This list: band strenuous (150 to 200) or very strenuous (200 and over), 3 to 30 miles, at least 1,500 ft of gain, ordered by rating desc, gain per mile desc, capped at 25. The rating column is computed from the miles and gain printed in the same row, the numbers each trail page uses, so every row can be checked from the row itself. The rating says nothing about exposure, scrambling, altitude or conditions.
Only trails with a full page count, so "Georgia" here means the 65 trails in Georgia in our dataset, not every trail in Georgia.
Each trail page shows the full elevation profile behind these numbers and the same data drawn as a topographic print, made to order. Start with Pine Mountain Trail.
Hardest hikes elsewhere.
The same ranking for other states in our dataset.