hike begins at the northwest end of the Three Forks parking lot (Waypoint 1). From here take the East Cowpen Trail, and ascend gradually through mature hardwoods. At 0.4 mile you’ll reach the intersection with the Rough Ridge Trail (Waypoint 2). Continue straight (northwest) to cross over Cohutta Mountain. The trail climbs higher than 4,000 feet of elevation before descending gradually with hemlocks to your right and seasonal views of distant mountain folds to the left.
At 2.2 miles, on a ridgetop, the Panther Creek Trail intersects on the left, and to the right a large campsite sits among large oaks and hemlocks. Continue straight to the northwest to continue on the flat path as it crosses the spine of the ridge. Now, to your left and right, hazy blue bands of faraway mountains stretch across the horizon.
Circle around Buckeye Mountain, and, at 3.2 miles, the East Cowpen and Hickory Ridge trails intersect at a lofty open space (Waypoint 3). Continue northeast to join the Hickory Ridge Trail (the East Cowpen turns sharply to the southwest) and ascend to a campsite at 3.4 miles. If you’re looking for good ridgetop camping in winter, this spot has nice views to each side of this high ground. Just a bit farther, a lone American holly tree (one of the few you’ll see on this trail) stands nearly 15 feet high.
Camping along Jacks River
At 4 miles the forest puts on a dramatic show as the leafy path drops, while a high forested peak fills the sky to the northeast. The trail rolls along, generally descending as the forest grows thick with mountain laurel, and finally dropping to a stream. Continue to the river (Waypoint 4), and cross to find clearings wide enough to accommodate tents. For those who fish, the Jacks River—often waist-deep in normal flows—holds brown, rainbow, and brook trout.
To complete the loop, travel east on the southwest bank of the river, and at 7.6 miles cross the river. (A trekking pole allows for better balance while crossing.) Turn right and go east for a mile, and then cross the river again, continuing to the east. The forest here is humbling, with massive hemlocks rising 100 feet and measuring 10 to 12 feet around. At 8.3 miles, cross Rough Creek and go straight (east) at the next trail junction to take the Rough Ridge Trail (Waypoint 5). Cross the creek yet again, and at 8.7 miles look carefully for a sharp turn to the east where you ascend through rhododendrons.
As you climb, a peak looms large to the north. The path levels momentarily, and you may want to catch your breath before making a hard push up the ridge. Near the 10-mile point, Hickory Ridge comes into view, and suddenly you glimpse the impressive depth of the gorge, though its bottom remains hidden from view (Waypoint 6). The next 3 to 4 miles are a roller-coaster ride on hills and saddles of hardwoods and pines, reaching elevations above 3,600 feet, while small campsites dot the area. At 15.2 miles, turn left onto the East Cowpen Trail to return to the trailhead.
WAYPOINTS
1. N34º 48.958' W84º 40.522'
2. N34º 53.117' W84º 34.244'
3. N34º 55.977' W84º 34.961'
4. N34º 58.196' W84º 34.104'
5. N34º 57.772' W84º 33.375'
6. N34º 57.025' W84º 33.902'
2 COHUTTA WILDERNESS: Beech Bottom Trail and Jacks River Falls
Distance 9.2 miles, out-and-back
Hiking Time 4–5 hours
Difficulty Easy
Elevation +1,635'/–1,625'
Trail Use Backpacking
Best Times Year-round (falls run strongest in winter and spring)
Agency Chattahoochee National Forest, Conasauga Ranger District
Recommended Map National Geographic Trails Illustrated Springer and Cohutta Mountains Chattahoochee National Forest
HIGHLIGHTS Conspicuously wide in some stretches, the Beech Bottom treadway once served as a road that logging companies used in the late 1920s and early 1930s to extract timber. Now this gentle descent provides hikers access to Jacks River Falls, the most popular feature in the Cohutta Wilderness. On its way to the river, the trail shifts dramatically as it alternates between dry forests of pines and hardwoods and low, lush ravines with hemlocks and mountain laurel. There are some good views during the descent, such as the spot 2.5 miles in where breaks in the trees reveal the soft folds of faraway hills. Even better is the stretch where the path meets Jacks River, and wide spots along the bank can serve as shaded picnic spots or campsites. After walking 4.5 miles, you’ll encounter Jacks River Falls, where the river surges to whitewater, takes a rough tumble through a rocky corridor, and dives into wide pools.
DIRECTIONS From Atlanta, take I-75 north to US 411. Go north on US 411 through Chatsworth to the town of Cisco. Just before the Cisco Baptist Church, turn right onto the paved road, Old Highway 2. The pavement gives way to gravel, and Old Highway 2 becomes Forest Service Road 16. Pass the Hopewell Church, and then cross a bridge over the Jacks River. Immediately after crossing, turn right and pass the Jacks River Trailhead (on the right). FSR 16 becomes FSR 221. Take FSR 221 for a little more than 1 mile, and turn sharply to the right onto FSR 62. (The road sign is slightly uphill and may be hard to see.) Travel 4.5 miles to the parking area, which is uphill on the left.
FACILITIES/TRAILHEAD There are no facilities at the trailhead. Though camping is generally allowed anywhere in the wilderness, note that the Beech Bottom Trail and Jacks River Falls areas are open for day use only from November 1 to March 31. If you hike from April to November, you will find several clearings suitable for camping along the riverbank. Streams appear frequently along the trail—be sure to treat all water. Also, hang your food to keep it out of reach of bears and other critters.
From the parking area, walk downhill to the trailhead at the two kiosks (Waypoint 1). Follow the wide, level path on an easy grade, winding around ravines. Young white pines often line the path, and hardwoods fill the steep slopes. At 0.8 mile, mountain laurel and rhododendrons appear, and the shift in foliage is more dramatic as you pass a drainage shadowed by hemlocks. At 1.2 miles, look right for a massive hemlock just off the trail (Waypoint 2).
At 1.3 miles, cross a stream and climb to the west. The path rises back to the high, dry ridges with abundant Virginia pines, white pines, and oaks. Look right at 2.3 miles where a stand of dead trees creates a window with views of western hills opposite the river basin (Waypoint 3). You can look down a valley to see the folded flanks of a ridge, and you’ll get an even better view of this scene as you walk the next 0.2 mile. At 3.3 miles, a small, cleared space lies to the right with room for a couple of small tents. The path immediately crosses Beech Creek and becomes a bed of scree in the shade of beech trees, oaks, and pines.
At 3.9 miles, turn right at the trail intersection to go northwest on the Jacks River Trail (Waypoint 4). In a dark hallway of hemlocks and pines, the trail runs wide and flat, while Jacks River is visible below on the left. If you’re scouting spots to relax or camp, look left for flat clearings along the bank. At 4.4 miles, there is an immense clearing to the right where the river bends and Beech Creek feeds into Jacks River (Waypoint 5).
Jacks
