Yellow Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Geological Significance · Historical Significance · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Purple Trail has now been combined with Yellow Trail and will only have yellow blazes throughout.

The Yellow Trail is a combined 2.1 miles point-to-point connector (formerly the Purple and Yellow Trail) that starts near the new bridge over Puckett Creek on the White Trail and returns to the White Trail (approx. 0.7mile) to the west along the Etowah River through creek hollows, ridgeline singletrack, and pine thickets.

It can also be accessed from the Hightower Church Trailhead by heading east on Segment #1 of the White Trail toward Boling Park (about 0.5 miles from the church trailhead) on the other end of Yellow Trail.

The trail alternates between narrow, sometimes side-hilled singletrack above the creek and wider, easier sections on old roadbed. Expect a few short, steeper climbs out of the creek hollows, plus variable footing where the tread narrows along the ridge. Portions skirt the edge of a clearcut with more sun exposure, but most of the route stays shaded in mixed hardwood forest and pines. In 2024, the Sutallee Trace Stewards added several bridges in the upper creek section to help keep feet dry and improve accessibility for hikers of all ages.

Along the creekbanks are remnants of a once-prosperous industry—keep an eye out for an old moonshine still site and other historic traces tucked into the woods. From the Trace Stewards, please tread lightly and do not destroy or remove any historical remnants so they can be discovered by future hikers.