Historical and Recreational Guide to Currahee Mountain and Camp Toccoa

Key Points

Significance: Currahee Mountain is the site of Camp Toccoa, the World War II training ground for 18,000 paratroopers, including the famed "Easy Company" of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment depicted in HBO's Band of Brothers.

The "Currahee" Run: The famous "Three Miles Up, Three Miles Down" training run is accessible today via the Colonel Robert F. Sink Memorial Trail, a gravel route gaining approximately 800 feet in elevation.

In the foothills of Northeast Georgia, a single mountain rises sharply from the rolling Piedmont. Currahee Mountain takes its name from the Cherokee word quu-wa-hi, meaning "Stand Alone." It is the last mountain of the Blue Ridge chain, and it earned a place in military history during World War II as the training ground where the United States Army built its first paratroopers.

Between 1942 and 1945, approximately 18,000 soldiers from the 501st, 506th, 511th, and 517th Parachute Infantry Regiments (PIR) trained at Camp Toccoa, located at the mountain's base. The camp gained international renown following the publication of Stephen Ambrose’s book Band of Brothers and the subsequent HBO miniseries, which chronicled the exploits of Easy Company. Today, the site draws historians, veterans, runners, and visitors who want to walk the same red clay and gravel road where the "Toccoa Men" were shaped into soldiers. Here is what you need to know about the history, geography, and modern-day experience of Currahee Mountain and the sites connected to it.

The facility originally began construction in 1940 under the Works Projects Administration (WPA) and was intended for the Georgia National Guard. Initially christened "Camp Toombs" after Confederate General Robert Toombs, the name was quickly changed by Colonel Robert Sink, commander of the 506th PIR. Sink noted the grim irony that young paratroopers, arriving via Highway 13 and passing the Toccoa Casket Company, would be training at a place called "Camp Toombs" to learn a dangerous trade. The U.S. Army redesignated the facility Camp Toccoa in 1942.

The Training Regimen

Camp Toccoa was unique among WWII training installations. It lacked a rifle range (requiring a 30-mile march to Clemson Agricultural College in South Carolina for marksmanship training) and had a runway too short for safe C-47 transport takeoffs, forcing jump training to relocate to Fort Benning. Consequently, the camp focused almost exclusively on physical conditioning and tactical infantry training.

The core of this conditioning was the ascent of Currahee Mountain. Trainees ran the service road from the camp to the summit - a round trip of roughly six miles - frequently under full combat gear. The chant "Three Miles Up, Three Miles Down" became the defining mantra of the 506th PIR.

The March to Atlanta

One of the most legendary feats associated with Camp Toccoa occurred in December 1942. After reading a Reader's Digest article about a Japanese battalion setting a marching record, Colonel Sink ordered the 2nd Battalion to march from Camp Toccoa to Atlanta. The troops covered the 118-mile distance in approximately 75 hours, with 33.5 hours of actual marching time. Colonel Sink famously reported to the press that "not a man fell out; but, when they fell, they fell face forward".

Currahee Mountain is technically a monadnock, an isolated hill of bedrock standing above the surrounding area. It is part of the Chattahoochee National Forest and the Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area.

The summit is currently home to several radio and cellular towers, as well as a graffiti-covered rock outcrop that serves as the primary viewpoint. From this vantage point, visitors can view parts of Northeast Georgia and Upstate South Carolina.

The historic route used by the paratroopers is now a designated trail named in honor of the 506th PIR commander.

Trailhead and Access

Directions: From Toccoa, travel west on Hwy 123 toward Cornelia. Cross the intersection at Hwy 17/Toccoa Bypass and continue on Dicks Hill Parkway (Hwy 13). Approximately 2-2.5 miles later, turn left onto the gravel Currahee Mountain Road (Forest Service Road 62).

Parking: There is a small dirt/gravel parking area near the base of the mountain, often marked by the Colonel Robert F. Sink trail marker donated by Tom Hanks.

GPS Coordinates (Parking/Start): Approximately 34.55139, -83.39534.

Route Description and Difficulty

Distance: The trail is widely cited as "Three Miles Up, Three Miles Down" (6 miles round trip). GPS measurements by modern hikers often place the distance from the gate to the summit between 2.7 and 2.9 miles one way (approx. 5.5 to 5.8 miles round trip).

Elevation Gain: The route gains approximately 800 to 900 vertical feet.

Surface: The trail is a wide gravel forest service road (FSR 62). It is driveable by rugged vehicles when the gate is open, but it is primarily used by hikers and runners.

Condition: The road is exposed with little canopy cover, making it hot in the summer. It is often rough, rocky, and can be muddy after rain.

Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous. The gradient is manageable for the first two miles but increases significantly in the final mile, particularly at a switchback near the summit known for being physically demanding.

Important Note for Hikers: There are no water sources or restrooms along the trail or at the summit. Visitors must carry sufficient hydration.

Visitors to Toccoa should be aware of the distinction between the two primary historical sites: the Currahee Military Museum (downtown) and Camp Toccoa at Currahee (at the mountain base).

1. Currahee Military Museum

Located in the historic Toccoa Train Depot, the Currahee Military Museum is the primary repository for artifacts and detailed history of the paratroopers.

Address: 160 North Alexander Street, Toccoa, GA 30577.

Phone: (706) 282-5055.

Website: toccoahistory.com (Stephens County Historical Society).

Operating Hours:

Monday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM