About three years ago I heard of this place in the mountains of Georgia called “Hike Inn”. After discussing with a friend just what it was like and reading more on the internet, I added it to my bucket list. Finally, after nearly three years my desire to visit the Hike Inn became a reality. A friend from Georgia agreed to join me on the two day adventure. It took me about three hours to drive to Amicalola Falls State Park. We quickly decided a good lunch would be appropriate before beginning our 5 mile hike. So, after a hamburger and fries in the nice dining hall at the state park, we put on our hiking boots, grabbed our backpacks and got on the trail. Because temps on our first day was near 70 and the forecast for our second day was a high near 40, we were forced to load our backpacks with some cold weather gear. And that made them a little heavier than we would have liked. But staying warm was a big deal to us both. Our hike up the mountain was very nice. The trail was in excellent condition and didn’t require a lot of climbing. We took our time and arrived in a little less than 3 hours. The Inn is very nice and the rooms very small. There are warm showers and restrooms available in a separate part of the Inn and they are very nice and clean. At check-in we each received a bag with 2 sheets, pillow case, towel and wash cloth. A pillow and some blankets were in the room. The Inn is a great place to spend the night, share a couple of meals with other hikers and then hike back out. The Inn host gave a guided tour of the property which we found interesting. The family style dinner and free time afterwards gave ample time to meet and talk with several other hikers. That was enjoyable. And there are plenty of rockers both on the porch and on the grounds to relax and enjoy the views and a little conversation. One of the highlights for us early risers is watching a beautiful morning sunrise over the mountains. But it was mostly cloudy when we were there making for a so-so sunrise. Following a hearty breakfast, we were asked to strip the sheets from our bed and put them in a basket outside along with our towels and wash clothes. Just like home. After a little more conversation with fellow hikers we were ready to head down the mountain. We chose the Springer Mountain Approach Trail as our way back down which was about 6 miles. The temp was in the upper 30’s with high winds. One might say it was cold! But we were prepared. Once back down the mountain we took another short hike to get a better view of the amazing Amicalola Falls. Wow, that is one gigantic water fall! Following our nearly 7 miles of hiking we were hungry, and I wanted pizza! We consulted with the Park staff and chose to try MOD Pizza in Dawsonville. It was a good choice. Then, after two fun days of fulfilling another bucket list item, it was back on the road for the long drive home.
