Route: Benton MacKaye Trail (GA, TN, NC)

The Benton MacKaye Trail is a relatively new route that opened on July 16, 2005. It runs 288 miles from Springer Mountain, GA (also the southern terminous of the Appalachian Trail), to Big Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The trail was created by the Benton MacKaye Trail Association.

Here's a larger pdf map of the BMT: http://www.bmta.org/pdfs/BMT-OverviewMap.pdf

Great Smoky Mtns NP:  (93 miles / 18,500 ft elevation gain)  This route traverses a portion of the nearly 300 mile Benton MacKaye Trail (BMT) within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (phrased as BMT-S for purposes of this FKT description). The route starts in the Big Creek Area of the Park (at the Baxter Creek Trailhead), follows the yellow BMT designated route on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park official trail map, and ends after exiting the Lakeshore Trail and reaching the park boundary just north of the crossing over Fontana Dam.  The route starts and ends in the same locations of the park as another very popular FKT route, the S.C.A.R (Smokies Crossing Adventure Run). The BMT-S is nearly 25 miles further than the SCAR and has slightly more elevation gain. The following scenic trails (or portions of trails) make up the BMT in the park: Baxter Creek, Mount Sterling, Mount Sterling Ridge, Balsam Mtn, Beech Gap I and II, Hyatt Ridge, Enloe Creek, Chasteen Creek, Bradley Fork, Benton MacKeye Connector Trail, Newton Bald, Thomas Divide, Sunkota Ridge, Martins Gap, Deep Creek, Pole Road Creek, Noland Creek, Lake View Drive (road from Noland Creek to Lakeshore Trail), Lakeshore Trail. Additional information on the BMT can be found on bmta.org. 

Georgia:  (81.8 miles / 15,000 ft elevation gain) Named for the original proposer of the Appalachian Trail, the BMT is essentially an "AT-alt" from Springer Mountain through the Smokies, following a more western route initially than the AT itself.  The GA section of the AT has been a popular route recently; this section of the BMT is quite similar in total mileage, elevation, and beauty.  It can likely be completed within 24 hours (or close to it), making it ideal for those seeking a long day out, rather than the multi-day experience required to finish the additional >200 miles of the full trail into TN and NC.  Many Georgia ultra-runners are familiar with portions of the BMT from popular trail races including Cruel Jewel and the Georgia Death Race.  This section extends from the trail's southern terminus on Springer Mountain (just ~0.2 miles downhill from the AT's southern terminus) to Double Spring Gap on the TN/GA state line.  It is mostly trail, but includes a total of ~7 road miles.