December 23, 2025
Frady Branch Trail Loop
near Toccoa, GA
Today's weather was a nice change with mild 50 to mid-60's temperatures and cloudy skies turning to sunny by the end of the hike. This hike took us on a range of trail types, soft pine beds, leaf covered, slightly mushy horse trails, creek bottoms, forest service roads and a rocky climb toward the end. Overall the trails were in good condition. With no wildflowers to focus on, we passed by a couple of notable large granite rock formations in addition to checking out the old rock wall dam and Staircase Falls near the start of our descent on the Frady Branch Trail. As seen in the past, there was not much flow in this unnamed branch of Mill Creek and we did not venture down the steep embankments to the bottom of these features. Nevertheless, this was a very pleasant early winter day and last hike of the year.
Today's Hikers: Bobbie Broussard, Kim Johnson, Heather Wall & Toby, Lynn Steele, Jenny Bell, Matt Henderson & Toby, John Cape & Mike Bell.
The route
6.5 mi · 741 ft climbing · 3h 50m out, 3h 19m walking · 2.0 mph moving
Elevation
Hover over the profile to see the elevation and steepness. Your position will be shown on the map.
- Steepness
- Gentle under 5%
- Moderate 5–10%
- Steep 10–15%
- Very steep over 15%
17 photos are shown on the map where they were taken — click one to see it full size.
Photos (17)
This is the old rock-constructed dam on an unnamed tributary of Mill Creek leading to Big Leatherwood Creek. Still smiling today's hikers (L-R): Bobbie, Kim, Heather with Toby, Lynn with Toby, Jenny, Matt, Mike & John. Getting ready at the trailhead beginning at Latham Cemetary Trail "The Ants Go Marching One by One" Gotta love those soft pine straw trail beds. Taking a look at a familiar white granite outcrop. It's larger than this photo depicts. Kim checking out this old rock dam. It take a bit of a scramble to get to it. Imagine the dense overgrowth in the summer. Staircase Falls appropriately named. It didn't seem worth the effort today to scramble down to its base. One of several peaks through the brush at Currahee Mtn. In the bottom section of the Frady Branch Trail, it is a bit mushy under the leaves from both the natural wetness and the heavy horse traffic. These galls are always an eye-catcher. We passed by this old rock abutment from a former bridge over Frady Branch as we head out of the bottoms. Heather is checking out this unmarked trail that she suspects lead to Currahee Mtn. Rd and an old ranger station. Can I name this trickle, "Mike's Waterfall?" Heather takes us by what may be an unmarked grave near a possible old home foundation as we head back along Pear Orchard Rd. Heading back on Latham Cemetery Trail. It turned into a warm sunny day. One more last view of Currahee Mtn. as we finish our hike.