Chestatee WMA: Crow Mountain Creek and Dicks Creek Gap Trails with Two Waterfalls

• Please note that there will be 2 or 3 wet foot creek crossings. So be prepared.
• The carpool departure time is 7:00 am. 
• The pace for this hike will be about 2-2.5 MPH.
• Hike distance is about 9.5 miles with about 1800 feet of elevation gain.
• About half of the hike will be a loop and the other half will be out- and-back.
• The first half of the hike is up (hiking up to the Appalachian Trail) and the last half will be almost all downhill.
• We will take frequent breaks and have a break for lunch/snack.
• I will allow up to 2 dogs to join us humans. Please let me know by email if you are bringing your canine hiking companion.

We will start the hike 8:30 at the Crow Mountain Creek trailhead and hike up to Crow Mountain Falls. From there we continue on and the trail becomes a closed forest service road and we will cross Crow Mountain creek (which may or may not be a wet foot ford). We will pass by a couple of wildlife clearings and on the way and visit the old homestead ruins at Chestnut Flats. From here we have a wet foot ford of Blood Mountain Creek and we will follow the road to the Dicks Creek Gap Trailhead. We will follow the Dicks Creek Gap trail up to the Appalachian trail at Jarrard Gap (the highest point in the hike and the half-way point).

From here we turn around and follow Dicks Creek Gap trail back to the trailhead. The plan is to then follow the forest service road back to the cars (this portion will be open to cars, but is lightly travelled). On the way we will be hiking by Dicks Creek. Along the way we will take a quick side trail to see the cascades of lower Blood Mountain Creek Falls (just above where Blood Mountain Creek runs into Dick Creek).

Just a few feet before we return to the cars we will have our last wet foot crossing (of Crow Mountain Creek).

Here is a link to the route we took:
https://www.plotaroute.com/route/699963

Note that the last mile of the drive is on dirt road.

Trailhead GPS coordinate is 34.6869, -83.9436

Directions from Dahlonega, GA: Follow US Route 19/9 North of Dahlonega. At the intersection with GA Route 60, bear right to continue on US Route 19/9 for another 4.8 miles. Then, turn left onto Dicks Creek Road and follow it for 3.6 miles, passing the roadside Waters Creek Falls at Mile 2.8, after which the road turns unpaved but still well- maintained. The trailhead parking area is on the left just before an unbridged but shallow crossing of Crow Mountain Creek.

Bing map directions using this link --> here