Southern Hospitality: Clayton, Georgia's connection to the Appalachian Trail

Katherine Davis  |  March 15, 2025

Up in the mountains of Northeast Georgia, Clayton in Rabun County is becoming more than a scenic town and mountain getaway. It is also a growing hub for outdoor enthusiasts—thanks in large part to the Appalachian Trail (AT).

In 2021, Clayton was declared the 51st official Trail Town by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), thanks in large part to the efforts of Bill Bennett, co-chairman of the local ATC chapter.

Most people who left the trail at Dick's Creek Gap, the nearest trailhead, would visit Hiawassee, Georgia, which is closer than Clayton and more well-known amongst hikers. Clayton just wasn't on their radar, until recently.

An outdoorsman himself, Bill Bennett has hiked sections of the AT and backpack biked the entire Ohio to Eerie trail. While working at Outdoor 76’s Franklin, North Carolina location, he saw lots of hikers pass through town. After coming to Clayton to manage the new store location, he was surprised that he hardly saw any hikers, despite the Appalachian Trail passing directly through Rabun County.

Bennett saw Clayton’s potential and made it his mission to get on the radar of hikers—and he succeeded. Outdoor 76 offers free shuttle rides, showers, laundry, a resupply stop and a warm welcome to those coming off the trail.

But he didn’t stop once Clayton became an official Trail Town. Using a grant from the ATC, Bennett is now helping lead a major renovation at the Dick’s Creek Gap trailhead, including new picnic tables, gravel paths and a teaching area.

Bennett envisioned Clayton as a place where thru-hikers could not only resupply, but also rest, connect, and experience small-town charm. But what makes Clayton a special stop on the AT isn’t its amenities, it’s the people.

The people of Clayton, many of whom are outdoor enthusiasts themselves, embrace the opportunity to connect with the hikers, share their town, swap trail stories and extend the kind of hospitality that will make Clayton a stand-out stop on their journey.