Late fall is hunting season, so special care must be taken during that time. The trail is a microcosm of the natural history of the North Georgia mountains. It follows the high eastern ridge of the Appalachian Mountains. Much of the trail is covered with snow in the winter. Spring melts give way to many of the wildflowers common throughout the mountains including bloodroot, trillium, and azalea.
Forests are mostly second growth hardwood with hickory, oak and poplar dominating.
White rectangular blazes mark the trail over the entire 2100 miles from Georgia to Maine. Turns are marked with double blazes and side trails and approaches use blue. Blairsville A number of access trails link up with the Appalachian Trail.