The Len Foote Hike Inn is a backcountry lodge located within North Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Everyone who visits the Hike Inn must make a five-mile journey through the woods to get there.
Located within the Chattahoochee National Forest just outside of Dawsonville, Ga., Hike Inn visitors begin their trek at Amicalola Falls, the tallest waterfall in the Southeast. Guests must check in at the visitor center at Amicalola Falls State Park by 2 p.m. in order to allow sufficient time—two to four hours—to arrive at the Hike Inn before dark (in winter months) and in time for dinner.
According to Wade Chandler, lodge manager, the moderate hike is an important part of the Hike Inn experience, and it’s manageable for people of all ages.
“We’ve had children as young as four who have walked the whole way,” Chandler said. “The youngest child we’ve had visit the Hike Inn was 8 weeks old, and our oldest guest was 87. It’s a great experience for the entire family.”
In operation for 14 years, the Hike Inn features 20 bunk rooms and can accommodate up to 50 people. Each bunk room features the basics: an extra-long single bunk bed, shelves, a stool and a mirror. All the rooms have electrical lighting and methods of keeping guests warm or cool depending on the weather, but there are no electrical outlets for cell phones, personal computers or alarm clocks.
The lack of modern electrical conveniences is purposeful, according to Chandler.
“We want people to get up here and enjoy themselves without the distraction of the modern world,” he said.
The Hike Inn serves two home-cooked meals a day, breakfast at 8 a.m. and dinner at 6 p.m. Meals are served family style, with guests sitting together in the dining hall, passing dishes back and forth.
For many families, the Hike Inn offers downtime that is rare in today’s hurried world.
“One of my favorite things about working at the Hike Inn is seeing families enjoy time together, playing games and hanging out,” Chandler, who has worked at the facility for two years, said. “It’s great that we can be a place where families can connect and have fun away from the distraction of computers, cell phones and television.”
A Georgia State Park facility, the Hike Inn is sustainably designed and LEED certified. The inn uses 24 photovoltaic solar panels to produce 10 percent of its total electricity. Water is heated through a solar-thermal water heating system that reduces fuel usage and costs. Rain barrels collect rainwater to irrigate plants and trees within the landscape, and worms are used for composting everything from kitchen scraps to office paper.
Chandler encourages two-night stays at the Hike Inn to allow plenty of time for relaxing and exploring all the Hike Inn has to offer, from playing games and reading books in front of the wood stove to sitting on the wraparound porch and wandering throughout the property. Ambitious hikers can trek 4.5 miles from the inn to Spring Mountain, the southern starting point of the Appalachian Trail.
To learn more, visit the Len Foote Hike Inn website or call 1-800-581-8032 to make a reservation.
Jenni Frankenberg Veal enjoys writing about the natural world and the exploration opportunities found within the southeastern United States, one of the most biologically and recreationally rich regions on earth. Visit her blog at www.YourOutdoorFamily.com.
