Out and Back Hikes
4 miles round trip to Oakey Mtn Shelter. From the Pinhoti/Chief Ladiga Trailhead. A lot of trail diversity. Has a moderate-to-difficult climb.
Loop Hikes
Pinhoti/Jones Branch Loop from Burns TH. Approx. 6.5 miles if you take the short spur to the rock shelter. This is a good experience of typical Pinhoti forest trail with a walk by a creek through an area settled by the Creek and 19th century mining/logging now being naturally reclaimed as a protected Wilderness Area. A keen eye can still see some of its industrial past. There are Native American artifacts in the area if you know what you are looking for. There is rumored to be a hidden Creek village in the Jones Branch area.
Family Experience
1. From Burns TH, walk a mile or two down the Jones Branch in Dugger WA and enjoy the gentle walk by a creek and canyon-like views.
2. From Burns TH head south on the Pinhoti to Choccolocco Shelter. Approx.3 miles with lake views, a dam and creek access.
Complete Novice
The Chief Ladiga Trail offers some great short hikes on flat paved ground close to town yet with that wild space feel. E.g., park at Pinhoti Pizza and walk west towards Jacksonville. Within a mile you are in the woods and farms, a natural spring (Southern Spring) and the historical marker of the Creek-Cherokee boundary.
Longer Hikes
Pinhoti Sec 11 (Dugger Mountain Wilderness Area – Southbound) FS500 North Trailhead to Burns. Start out with creek crossings and a steady climb up Dugger then along the ridge and down to Burns. 9 miles. Some views and features such as Jennifer Spring, site of a plane crash and site of the old fire tower. Need vehicles either end or shuttle.
Overnight Backpacking
Section 12 Pinhoti. Approx. 16 miles between High Point TH and FS500 N TH. Multiple primitive campsites or Oakey Shelter. A diverse section of the Pinhoti that gives a hiker different trail experiences yet located close to town. Recommend parking in town and shuttle to and from the start/end.
Two nights could accomplish Secs 11 and 12.
Camping Opportunities
For those looking to camp without much hiking, there is a good camp site about a mile south of High Point TH. It is flat, off the trail and has plenty of room by the creek with multiple fire rings. A small waterfall is close by. This is a good spot for first timers.
The Jones Branch area of Dugger from Burns TH has quite a few primitive sites within two miles that offer solitude and a stunning Wilderness Area experience. Leave No Trace is important along the full trail, but please exercise extra care here.