Cohutta Wilderness Loop Hike - East Cowpen, Hickory Ridge, Beech Bottom & Rough Ridge

The Cohutta Wilderness covers 36,977 acres (about 60 square miles) that spill over the Georgia/Tennessee border and lie within the 95,265-acre Cohutta Wildlife Management Area. It was designated as a wilderness in 1975. Hemp Top was added in 1986, making this the third largest mountain wilderness area in the East.  More interesting information about the Cohutta's is available here: SherpaGuides.com

Please note this event covers a demanding route.  If you have not completed a recent D5 hike/backpack or we have not been on an event previously, expect to have a conversation regarding fitness and capabilities. 

This loop will traverse four trails - East Cowpen, Hickory Ridge, Beech Bottom and Rough Ridge. The hike in and descent down Hickory Ridge is steep. Once at Beech Bottom. we'll cross the Jacks River twice.  We'll lunch around here and then continue along Rough Creek and Rough Ridge, hiking our way back to the parking lot.

In the Notes section below is a map of the route, an elevation profile, and some trail signage we'll encounter.

One dog in addition to the Trip Leaders Lab, Kody, will be permitted on the trip.  The Trip Leader will meet at the carpool but will not be transporting passengers in his vehicle for this event.    

Three Forks Parking Area Coordinates are 34.8815613, -84.5658722

Directions: From Atlanta, GA: Take I-75 to I-575, and follow I-575 up into North Georgia. I-575 will become Route 515. In Elijay, take a left onto Soule Bridge, and immediately another left onto GA Route 52. In downtown Elijay, take the second exit to the right on the roundabout. Follow GA 52 for 5.2 miles until Gates Chapel Road. Turn right onto Gates Chapel Road and follow it for 5.4 miles. When pavement will end, keep right onto Wilderness Trl. Follow it for 1.5 miles, and then take a right onto Old CCC Camp Road. Follow it for 3.2 miles to the top of the mountain and USFS 64. Turn right onto USFS 64, and follow it for 4.2 miles until you will see a large parking lot on the left of the road, while the road itself sharply switchbacks to the right. 

Dotted with place names like Crooked Dog Gap and Rough Creek, this ~ 16 mile route mixes rugged ridgeline climbs and quiet riverside campsites.

In summary, we'll start at the Three Forks Parking Area and hike clockwise up East Cowpen to Hickory Ridge (blue), cross the river, hike a short distance, cross again (blue) and head back via Rough Ridge.  Ahead of our second Jacks River crossing we'll need to spot a blue trail blaze across the river to guide us as to where we should proceed - this can be tricky. 

Here's an elevation profile of the hike:

Here's a sign at the intersection of Rough Ridge Trail and Jack's River Trail which we will encounter after our second Jack's River crossing. 

The Trip Leader(s) reserves the right to consider participant's past history and to make the final determination for participation on this hike.