This light trail alone can only take a3.6-mile hike, however you may combine this with Mill Shoals Trail through an access point at the Cooper Creek Trail which makes it a 6-mile hike. It starts at 300 yards south of the Cooper Creek Recreation Area on FR 236 within the Lumpkin and Union County. The trail head is at the north end of the parking area and begins an easy climb to the Yellow Mountain where some stunning views await each and every hiker. Regular training exercises are also done here so check with the Camp Frank D. Merrill in Dahlonega to see its schedule of activities.

The trail is marked with yellow blazes and there are campsites available seasonally at the Cooper Creek Recreation Area campground. To get here, start at GA 60 which is north of the Dahlonega for approximately 22 miles and then turn right following another 0.8 of a mile along the Forest Service Road 33. After which, make a left turn and follow Forest Service Road 236 for 3 miles to the 14. The trailhead is on the western edge of Cooper Creek Scenic area .

The pathway then leads to a forest of hardwoods such as white pines and hemlocks and at 1.5 miles from the trail’s start, the treadway splits into two separate trails. On the left, the Shope Gap trail marked with green blazes proceeds to another 0.9 of a mile along the ridge onto the Shope Gap where it crosses a creek and ends at the Bryant Creek Road.

On the right running a southeast direction, the Yellow Mountain Trail proceeds to the right fork across the Bryant Creek. The pathway then leads to the Addie Gap at around 2.7 miles. The hike then makes an ascent to the eastern hemlock as it enters into an open forest of oak trees. You will also find lines of shortleaf pine trees as the path rises to a ridge crest. The pathway leads to a junction with the Cooper Creek Trail which is marked by blue blazes at around 1 mile.

The pathway then makes a descent to the left connecting to the Mill Shoals Trail and continues to a climb to the top of Yellow Mountain. This section is marked with large green blazes at an elevation of 2,963 feet. The trail then finally leads hikers to the Shope Gap on Duncan Ridge FS 39. The Mill Shoals Trail can be taken at this point by turning left onto the FS39 following the trail’s orange blazes.