The Southern Terminus Approach Trail used to start at Mount Oglethorpe until more human development and settlements moved this to Springer Mountain. If you start at Amicalola Falls State Park towards Springer Mountain it will take you approximately 8 miles for this route. Thus, there is an overnight shelter at Black Gap just a few distance from the starting point of Springer Mountain where you will see a plaque that marks the beginning of the trail. At the west side of this mountain, you will find some splendid views. A trip to the north from the start point, you will find Springer Mountain Shelter and find a spring near it.

Moving further from that you will reach Benton MacKaye, and then the path turns right to a mark before the trail slopes down to Forest Service Road 42. From the parking area, expect and easy climb to the Rich Mountain ridge. A quick turn to the left will leave Benton MacKaye and then the trail follows down to the Stover Creek Shelter where an old logging road is nearby. Pace right from this logging road parallel to Stover Creek for about another mile.

Reaching the Three Forks which is also known as Mile 4.1, you will emerge to Noontootla Creek in the midst of a forest. The streams that merged to form this creek are Stover, Chester, and Long creeks. Now you will proceed to Long Creek Falls where the trail ascends gradually to another mountain. At this point, you will take Georgia’s Duncan Ridge Trail past Hickory Flat Church and Hickory Flat Cemetery.

Move past this and continue to Hawk Mountain until reaching the Hightower Gap. And just a bit of trivia, the latter’s name is said to have derived from the American Indian word for town which is "itawa". After a quick stop here, expect a much tougher trail towards Gooch Gap where a steeper climb to the mountainous portion of Lumpkin County becomes very hard and demanding.

After an ascent to Sassafras Mountain and proceeding downhill, the approach then leads to Winding Stair Gap.

Subsequently, a few more distance leads you to F.S. 42. However, at the left side prior to joining F.S. 42, you will find Gooch Gap shelter where you can also spend some time to take a rest. From this point, move forward to the next 4 miles to reach Woody Gap which then completes the grail at Georgia 60.