The original AT started at Mt Ogelthorpe, about 20 miles south of Springer. The terminus was changed to Springer in 1958 because of chicken farms and other development in the Mt Ogelthorpe area. Mt Ogelthorpe is in private hands and you can not (legally) go to the old summit anymore. The trail went from Mt Ogelthorpe to Amicalola State Park and on to Springer. The original trail went past the falls; Earl Schaffer made mention of this in his book. Except for relocations (the trail now skirts a couple mountains instead of going over them) the current approach trail is the original trail from Amicalola State Park to Springer.