Hiking
trails of the Cohutta Wilderness |
With 95 miles of trails, the Cohutta
Wilderness is a hiker's dream come true. Talk about an outdoor adventure,
after heavy rains, both the Jacks and Conasauga rivers can become raging,
virtually impossible to cross safely, so be alert!
Those planning a hike to the Cohutta Wilderness should watch weather
forecasts carefully. Use a walking stick or staff to help cross rivers,
and if water is fast, do not even try. A trip may get
extended in bad weather, so be prepared for this possibility with extra
food, and dry warm clothing. It is the mountains and
getting caught after dark unprepared can be life threatening, take
hiking here very seriously. Make sure someone at home knows
the route of the hike you are taking and your expected time of return.
Even on good days, plan on getting wet. The Conasauga River Trail between
Betty Gap and FS 17 has 38 river crossings. Hiking boots will quickly
become soggy. Many experienced hikers on the Conasauga and Jacks River
Trails wear old tennis shoes and simply accept the fact they'll have
wet feet. Bring dry shoes and clothes for camp.
Camping is permitted anywhere except
in the trails and at trail heads. Fires are permitted using dead and
down wood only. No permits are required. Please obey all wilderness
regulations posted at trail heads. Horses are prohibited on certain
trails.
Please respect our wilderness areas
to preserve them for generations to come. Pack out what you bring in
and Please do not poach the plants and animals that
live here. It is a balanced ecosystem that depends on our protection
... respect that!
Wilderness maps are available from
the U.S. Forest Service District Office in Chatsworth or from patrolling
Forest Service officers.
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4 miles. An easy to moderately difficult, heavily
used, access trail to Jacks River and Jacks River Falls.
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.14 mile. An easy to moderately
difficult, blue-blazed trail which provides a good look at skeletons
of giant chestnut trees that thrived in this forest before the chestnut
blight.
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13.1 miles. Marked by yellow blazes,
a moderately difficult hiking trail that fords the river 38 times.
Large Eastern hemlock trees are a feature of this trail, which is
the roadbed of an old railroad. Bray Field is a popular, but sometimes
crowded, camping area.
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7 miles. This moderately difficult to strenuous
trail is a good, high-elevation trail, which follows the former route
of Old Highway 2, on which erosion control was done before it was
closed. Though not necessarily a good destination trail, it can provide
relatively quick access to other trails.
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6.2 miles. A moderately difficult to strenuous,
white-blazed, lesser-used trail that continues into the Big Frog Wilderness
in Tennessee. The trail climbs up Big Frog Mountain.
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8.6 miles. An easy to moderately difficult,
white-blazed trail, used as access to the Conasauga River, which can
be reached from either trail head. From the western trail head, the
Conasauga is a little more than 1.5 miles.
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3.6 miles. A moderately difficult
to strenuous, yellow-blazed, interior trail to Jacks River and Jacks
River Falls.
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16.7 miles. This moderately difficult,
orange-blazed trail is the roadbed of an old railroad. It is the longest
and wettest trail in the Cohutta Wilderness, crossing the river 42 times.
It is often crowded at the falls. The least-used portion of the trail
is from Alaculsy to Jacks River Falls. In the middle of Horseshoe Bend
are several beautiful spots to camp.
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3.4 miles. A moderately difficult
to strenuous, blue-blazed trail, very popular and scenic, passing a
high waterfall. This trail has some very rugged, rocky sections.
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3.6 miles. An easy to moderately
difficult interior trail with its start on Hemp Top Trail. It ends at
Jacks River.
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2.2 miles. A moderately difficult
to strenuous, white-blazed, interior trail to Jacks River. Trail descends
through a hardwood cove.
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3.9 miles. An easy to moderately
difficult, yellow-blazed access trail to Jacks River with several stream
crossings.
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7 miles. A moderately difficult
to strenuous, blue- or white-blazed trail, providing access to Jacks
River. Ridge trail that descends to a hardwood cove and then becomes
very steep and sometimes rocky as it continues to descend to the river.
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3.2 miles. A moderately difficult to strenuous,
orange-blazed trail, which climbs Bald Mountain (over 4,000 feet elevation)
and then descends steeply to Bray Field—the junction for the
Conasauga River and Hickory Creek trails and nearby Panther Creek
Trail.
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For
more information: |
Some roads are closed depending
on weather conditions, so it is recommended that one call the Cohutta
Ranger District of the U.S. Forest Service at (706) 695-6737 in advance
of a trip to check road conditions.
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