Hiking
trails of Rich Mountain Wilderness |
Located between Blue Ridge and Cherry Log the Rich Mountain Wilderness
area offers a number of well marked hiking & biking trails where
you will find creeks & waterfalls. The old growth forest is home
to a variety of wildlife indigenous to this area.
It generally follows Murphy's stratified rock
which divides the the Blue Ridge from the Cohuttas. The unaware visitor
driving up US 76 in between this rock formation would miss the Rich
Mountain area because the higher peaks and ridges are barely visible
from the road.
Only experienced hikers should explore the
Rich Mountains area and carry a compass, topographical maps, and other
survival gear. Beware of the large bear population . Always
let someone know your hiking plans and expected time of return.
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South of Blue Ridge and east
of Ellijay, the Aska area has a 17-mile hiking and mountain biking trail
system.Located in the Chattahoochee National Forest, the trails include
Deep Gap and Stanley Gap trails that ascend to near 3,200 feet, offering
beautiful views of mountain ridges, and then descends to the shores
of Lake Blue Ridge.
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This mountain has a rounded dome
covered with rich, black soil and a wildflower display in spring.
An old timber growth believed to be over 129 years old lies on the
south face of Aaron Mountain. At Horse Cove, there is a good boulder
field and a northern hardwood forest with some possibly record-sized,
second-growth trees, especially silverbell.
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6/10th a mile. A loop trail that follows the
shoreline of Lake Blue Ridge and offers a beautiful view of the lake.
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This 5.8-mile, moderately difficult loop trail
provides a range of forest as well as a brief time by a mountain creek.
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This 3.3-mile trail offers views of Lake Blue
Ridge after cresting the mountaintop. A very pleasant hike or bicycle
ride, including running alongside the shoreline of Lake Blue Ridge.
The forest is made up of a variety of southern Appalachian hardwood.
The trail begins on the east side of Aska Road at Deep Gap and starts
as a gradual climb toward the summit of Green Mountain. On the trail
there are five short, relatively steep ascents, but they are not demanding.
The Green Mountain ridge provides a bird's eye view of Charlie's Cove
and Lake Blue Ridge. The trail then descends for 2.4 miles to its
end on FS 711.
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The Owltown Creek Trail is the access
point for the Owltown Mountain Trail, and, while only 4 miles long,
the loop offers something for riders at every skill level: tight, rocky
single track; a few creek crossings; some steep descents and ascents;
grassy, double track; and a gravel road. The Ellijay Chapter of SORBA
(Southern
Off-Road Bicycle Association) and the Cartecay River Bike Shop,
the bike shop in the area, hold beginner/intermediate bike clinics on
this trail. True beginners might want to start the ride at the lower
end of the trail where it crosses the bridge on Owltown Creek.
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The Red & White and River Loop trails are
sister trails located in the Cartecay Tract of the Rich Mountain Wildlife
Management Area off Highway 52 East. The Red & White is a 2.6-mile,
beginner/intermediate trail closest to the entrance of the management
area. This trail is a single-track loop with occasional rocky or rooty
sections. Dogwoods line this trail and brighten the trail in the spring.
Be prepared for a long climb near the end of the trail. If you're
looking for a short, relative easy ride, be careful not to turn on
the River Loop or you might be out longer than you planned.
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The River Loop is a 3.4-mile, intermediate/advanced
trail just below the Red & White that follows the Cartecay River
in sections. The single track is tight in spots, a few rocky descents
challenge even the bravest riders to walk, a sand trap swallows your
tires near the river, and an occasional windblown tree clutters the
trail. Once you conquer the steep downhill, you can cool down with a
dip in the Cartecay River or nap in the sun on the rocks. This is a
beautiful ride, and it can easily be coupled with a ride on the Red
& White or other trails in the area to make a full day of riding.
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This trail offers a moderately strenuous
5-mile hike (one-way) or a difficult 12-mile bike ride which includes
the mileage along the roads to return to the trail head. The forest
is unmatched in its diversity throughout the country. Views of surrounding
mountains, and winter view of Lake Blue Ridge, add to the outdoor beauty
of this trail.
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Directions:
To Rich Mountain area |
From Blue Ridge go South on Aska
Rd. 8 miles and go right on Stanley Creek Rd. follow to end of pavement.
The Forest Service land starts .1 miles after the pavement ends where
you will find the 1st of many trails this one goes off to the right
and leads to a picturesque waterfall.
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