North Georgia Hike/Camp Advice

[Zach Matthews]

Hey guys –

I’m looking for a 12-14 mile loop trail (or out-and-back) with a campsite at about the halfway point. Tracy and I want to hike and camp on this coming Sunday/Labor Day. Ideally I’d love to have some fishing next to the camp.

I’m looking into the Blood Mountain/Walisi-Yi area, at the Toccoa near the Swinging Bridge, at Springer Mountain/Three Forks, and at the Coosa Backcountry Trail presently.

If anyone has any advice or suggestions I am all ears.

Much obliged,
Zach

[Jay Malyon]

Jacks river is awesome. I have a trail map too.

http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/59975

[Gary Sundin]

I haven’t done much “serious” backpacking in GA for 6-7 years, so my info is a bit old. These areas are low-hanging fruit–they’re popular and will have some traffic on a holiday weekend. I’m guessing you’ve already checked these out, but just in case.

I used to hike the Conasauga River area fairly often and have put together a loop in there that requires some hiking on the FS road to complete. Anywhere you camp along the river trail will be adjacent to fishing. The trail crosses the river really frequently. Remote-ish, but fairly popular with hikers.

I’ve only hiked the Jacks area a couple of times. It’s bigger water and should fish well this year with all the rain, though it gets a bit warm in late summer most years. Lots of trails there to put something together.

The Chattooga has lots of miles along a big river. You couldn’t find a nice loop in there without hiking the paved road, to my knowledge. The section from Burrells Ford to 28 is really beautiful. It’s primarily stocked water (by helicopter), but the area is worth looking at. Could do a nice in and out there. With the big flow and relative remoteness, it really has a different feel than a typical stocker stream.

Beech Creek/Chimney Rock trail. This is a nice loop through rugged country, but most of the fishing is near the beginning and end of the loop. Requires a mile or so of walking on the FS road to complete.

G

[Scott K.]

On Jacks River – If you start at Daly Gap and go to the JR trail, once you get there, there is a great campsite across the river (on the west side) 2 or 3 miles in and 2 or 3 river crossings in.  Lots of other campsites as well.  Lots of river crossings.  Also likely to be somewhat crowded on Sunday, but you never know.  There is a good map put out by the FS for the Cohutta/Big Frog wilderness that is essential to have if you are going to do some of the non-river based trails.

[Zach Matthews]

Thanks guys. As you know, Scott, Tracy was unhappy with our meagre 2 mile hike last time. So I was looking for something on the order of 6 in/6 out if I could find it.

Zach

[Kent Edmonds]

Chattooga is awesome …lots of options – up from Hwy 28, up from hatchery, up or down from Big Bend…

Kent - FlyFishGA

[Jay Malyon]

Here’s a few pictures from when I was there in a while ago.

[Zach Matthews]

Great looking water… and hair.

[Jay Malyon]

Yeah…I didn’t cut my hair for 5 years. It got pretty awesome.

[Author]

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