Len Foote Hike Inn

Georgia has one of the most special eco-lodges I have ever visited, and I have been to some spectacular spots in Ecuador, Malaysia, Belize, and the Philippines.

Len Foote Hike Inn is a backcountry lodge at the southern point of the Appalachian trail you can only reach by foot. You have to hike the five miles in and it is worth every ounce of exertion. From Atlanta, you drive about an hour north and leave your car at Amicalola State Park.

The entrance to the inn was a welcome site after a 5 mile hike carrying backpacks in the rain

Everything about the lodge is intentional and sustainable such as composting toilets, and they do family style meals. This all reminded me of Cotopaxi's Secret Garden hostel in Ecuador! Except the architecture was inspired by Japanese structures such as tea houses, so it has a very unique look.

View of the buildings
photo credit

Once you are at the lodge, you can hang around and play board games in their sunroom, hike ten miles round trip to the starting marker of the Appalachian Trail on Springer Mountain, take a tour of the facilities, or sit in a rocking chair with an incredible view. We stayed three nights which was great for a first timer, but I don't think you'd need to stay longer than that.

We made it to the start of the Appalchian Trail!
Len Foote Hike Inn packs you a lunch for this activity

On top of Amicalola Falls after our hike back