Subject says it all
Preachers Rock trailhead is also under an hour and a half. The AT is the go-to for an overnight if you want to minimize driving.
Maaan that is a brutal trail! I did that 10 mile approach loop over two days last year. Was not prepared in the slightest- my legs were destroyed after that!
Atlanta is a big place. Do you mean legit downtown, or a particular area of the metro. There is a ton within. 1.5 hrs of where I am.
ITP or OTP makes a big difference in 1.5 hours. If it's OTP, then it's best to know which side of town.
Dawson Forest WMA is the closest place to Atlanta to backpack. A close second is FDR State Park and depending on where you’re leaving from, may be closer.
Is OP /u/astrocavediver going to camp overnight or just do a day hike? That's important to know.
Maybe it is just me, but it feels weird camping on a WMA without either hunting or fishing it.
Also, the requirements for WMA are a bit wonky, as it seems to imply they want you there to hunt or fish.
2017 Changes WMA License
Planned an overnight at Providence Canyon and buddy backed out. I've done AT to Smokies, BMT first 40 miles, all of the Pine Mountain Trail at FDR, Providence Canyon, so was just fishing for ideas
Cool. Stinks that your buddy backed out. Based on your experience, I wouldn't think you would intimidated at all to continue to Providence Canyon on a solo for a day or two. Other than it could be boring to hike alone... I've heard it's pretty and worth it.
EDIT
If you're looking for a place you haven't been, do a random Cohutta. Like Neels Gap to Hog Pen Gap
Yeah, done plenty of solo backpacking. Like I said, fishing for ideas for something new
I mean the title of the post says “Overnight Trail” so sounds like backpacking to me. Correct, you need a hunting or fishing license but you don’t need to actively hunt or fish to hike and camp in a WMA.
you need a hunting or fishing license
Right. Exactly. That's why it's "wonky". You don't have to hunt or fish, but you have to have a license which permits you to be on the WMA. Even just camping and hiking...
Correct. I would consider that pretty straightforward. And I’m just answering OP’s question, that is objectively the closest place to backpack near Atlanta.
Redtop maybe.
the trails there close at dark amd camping is prohibited on them. they do have separate camp. sites.
Check out the Appalachian Trail! The Springer Mountain trailhead is less than two hours from Atlanta and offers some amazing overnight hiking options. Have you tried any other great overnight trails near Atlanta?