The shortest practical route to the Springer summit starts here, at the Three Forks parking area on Forest Service Road 58, where Long Creek, Chester Creek, and Stover Creek meet. The walk from the lot to the summit is about a mile via the Appalachian Trail itself, with around 800 feet of elevation gain.
The lot is small and fills on spring weekends; arrive early. The road in (FS 42 and FS 58) is gravel but passable in any car in dry conditions, slick after rain. Three Forks is also the launching point for shorter side hikes to Long Creek Falls and the Benton MacKaye Trail loop.