Benton MacKaye Trail

The Benton MacKaye Trail (BMT), also blazed as “BMT,” is a long-distance footpath in the Southern Appalachians running from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Big Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s a “famous hike” for thru-hikers and 300-miler types: nearly 448 km in total route length.

The route crosses Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina and passes through multiple designated wilderness areas plus the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Expect extended backcountry travel rather than isolated day-hike segments—this is a remote, primitive trail with few developed options along the way.

Trail setting and route character follow the ridgelines and stream country of the Appalachians: steep climbs, rugged wilderness terrain, and repeated mountain-water crossings appear across the Georgia-to-Smokies build. The trail remains closely tied to major regional waterways, including crossings associated with the Toccoa River in Georgia and the Ocoee and Hiwassee systems in Tennessee.

In Georgia, the BMT begins by sharing route with the Appalachian Trail before separating at Long Creek Falls. After that break, it continues north toward the Toccoa River crossing, including the well-known Swinging Bridge, and then turns toward more extensive summit travel and wilderness-country sections.

In the Great Smoky Mountains, the BMT follows a long arc through the park: it traces near Fontana Lake for an extended stretch, climbs to Mt. Sterling (its high point at 5,842 feet / 1,781 m), then descends toward Big Creek to finish. The Smokies portion is about 93 miles and is the longest single-trail run inside the park.

For long-distance planning, the BMT’s management emphasis is volunteer-maintained stewardship and wilderness rules: camping within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park backcountry uses designated campsites/shelters and requires advance reservations/permits. The trail association maintains the route and publishes a thru-hikers guide designed for mile-by-mile planning and logistics.

More information: Visitor information, Wikipedia, Thru Hikers Guide