Stop by & Celebrate National Trails Day with Us at the 2026 Clean Trails Day

What Is Clean Trails Day?

To celebrate National Trails Day, the Benton MacKaye Trail Association, along with our partners, AllTrails, the Blue Ridge Ranger District and the Tellico Ranger District are combining forces to put on the 2026 Clean Trails Day.

On June 6, 2026, representatives of BMTA and the U.S. Forest Service will be at three locations:

Fall Branch Falls in the Chattahoochee National Forest in Gilmer County, GA.
The Swinging Bridge in the Chattahoochee National Forest in Fannin County, GA.
Bald River Falls in the Cherokee National Forest near Tellico Plains, TN.

Representatives will be at each location to provide information and/or answer questions about hiking and camping in the Southern Appalachian Mountains … and especially to provide information on the all-important precepts of ‘Leave No Trace’,

Fall Branch Falls

Go east on Hwy 76/515 into Blue Ridge. Turn right at the stop light at the Conoco Station. Go one block to the dead end at old US 76. Turn left. Continue for one block to Aska Rd. Turn right. Follow Aska Road eight miles. Turn right on Stanley Creek Road (which becomes Rock Creek Road). Go 3.1 miles to the Fall Branch Falls Trailhead. it’s a half mile trek to a stunning whitewater waterfall lined with rhododendrons.

Swinging Bridge Over the Toccoa River

Go east on Hwy 76/515 through Blue Ridge — continue 4.0 miles to the intersection with GA 60 that leads to Morganton, GA. At just under 10 miles, the first crossing of GA 60 by the BMT will be seen at Wilscot Gap. From the Wilscot Gap access, continue for 3.5 miles on GA 60 to the junction with Skeenah Gap Road. Stay on GA 60 for 0.7 miles to the Little Skeenah Creek/Suspension Bridge trailheads. Turn right on to FS816. Follow gravel road approximately 4 miles to the Swinging Bridge parking area. From there, it is about a ¼-mile hike to the bridge. The riverbanks are perfect for a picnic lunch.

At 260′, the bridge is said to be the longest suspension bridge east of the Mississippi.

Bald River Falls

Take TN‑165 (Cherohala Skyway) for about 5 miles from Tellico Plains, TN. Turn right onto FR 210 (Tellico River Road). Continue 6.3 miles upstream. The falls is on your right.

Bald River Falls is an impressive 90-foot waterfall surrounded by lush forest. After a heavy rain, the falls creates a rush of water that thunders into the gorge producing a lite mist.

For additional information, email bmtamedia@bmta.org.

Leave No Trace

How to follow the seven standard Leave No Trace principles differs in different parts of the country (desert vs. Rocky Mountains). Click on any of the principles listed below to learn more about how they apply in the Wilderness Areas that the BMT passes through.

For more information on Leave No Trace, Visit the Leave No Trace, Inc. website.

Fall Branch Falls Trail Grand Opening Sept 22 2018 026-1

Clean Trails Day Information Tent

BMTA volunteers and the U.S. Forest Service will be on hand to answer your questions about hiking, camping and trail maintenance in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

They’ll also tell you about the importance of the principles of ‘Leave No Trace’ — You might call these the basic “guidelines of the trail”. By following them, you will be on your way to having a safe and enjoyable hike. And by “leaving no trace: of your visit to the forest, future hikers will get to enjoy a journey through a pristine woodland landscape,

Unfortunately, not everyone knows about ‘Leave No Trace’ and there are some who carelessly leave wrappers, cans, etc. along the trail. That’s where being a good steward comes in … you can help by making a trash bag a “staple” in your backpack so you can pick up any trash you may encounter.

As an incentive to pick up, our volunteers will give you a trash bag and glove — just in case you spot something that shouldn’t have been left behind.

The Benton MacKaye Trail Association

The Association was organized for the following charitable and educational purposes: to construct, maintain and protect the proposed Benton MacKaye Trail; to inform (by newsletter,
brochure, correspondence, guidebook, map, and other means) its members and the general public of opportunities for outdoor recreation and public service; to conduct workshops, seminars and work trips to foster skills in trail construction and maintenance; to promote hiking, camping and a wilderness experience in the Southern Appalachian Mountains; to instill in its members and the general public a conservation ethic.