Pine Log Gap Road

Dogs Unknown

Pine Log Gap Road is a nice stroll through the woods with a little bit of history if you know what to look for. It's best to park near the game check station off Stamp Creek Road and then take Grassy Hollow Road to the bridge over Stamp Creek where there is a natural swimming hole. Nearby the creek, there's an impressive old iron furnace. Pine Log Gap Road then continues north.

Supposedly there's an old saw mill nearby as well, but you'll need better luck than I had to find it. If you really want a challenge from this point, follow Grassy Hollow Road back around to your car.

Continuing on Pine Log Gap Road, the road becomes a little rougher, but never very difficult. At four miles, you have a bit of a climb to contend with. After that, the road becomes a little more rustic and less smooth with larger rocks.

As you start to work your way down from the top of the climb, you'll pass through an area of several iron mines which are evident by the disturbed topography in the area and part of the road follows an old railbed. Spoiler alert: the mines aren't that interesting though.

On the way down, there are a couple of ponds (created by the mining activities) and Sugar Hill Creek off to your left. You do have to ford this creek at 7.5 miles and then after a short distance you'll reach Neel Lake. Shortly thereafter, the forest road ends at the north end of the WMA on East Valley Road. You can either turn around or take East Valley Road to US-411 to Stamp Creek Road back to the beginning.

Some of the road is lacking in shade and can feel quite hot on a typical Georgia summer day, but the area that passes through the former mine passes through a narrow cut with good shade cover.

Unfortunately, it takes a PhD to understand when you can hike and how much it will cost. See Restrictions for trail closures during hunting season. As for the cost, from the odd government regulations category...

You'll need a hunting or fishing license to be present on the property (2017 annual $15/$100 resident/nonresident) whether or not it is hunting season and even if you're not hunting. (The property is owned by Aubrey Corporation; hunting rights are leased by the state).

If you have objections to buying a hunting/fishing license, you can purchase instead a "Lands Pass" (2017 annual $30/$60 res/nonres). The Lands Pass actually costs more because of the "loss of federal funds that come with hunting or fishing licenses."