Emery Creek Trail to Bald Mountain

Alltrails Route for Emery Creek to Bald Mountain Out and Back

In addition to recent D5 experience, all participants need to be comfortable with sections with steep grades, creek crossings, and crossing blowdowns of large trees. The group will need to stay together because there are some confusing trail intersections. I may be contacting you if I don't know enough about your prior experience on these types of hikes.

We will hike from Holly Creek parking on the Emery Creek trail up to Emery Creek Falls, then continue on to the border of the Cohutta Wilderness Area at Bald Mountain. After Emery Creek Falls, we may expect to have to cross spots with a blowdown. This takes us to the trailhead of Tearbritches Trail. We will turn around at Bald Mountain and return the way we came. 

The hike gets very steep in places once we pass Emery Creek Falls. On the way to Emery Creek Falls we have a number of creek crossings. I haven't counted them, but I believe there are around 7 - 10 crossings. Depending on the water level, at least 4 or 5 of the crossings are difficult or impossible to make without getting your feet wet.

Alltrails shows this hike as 13.3 miles with 3400 feet of elevation gain; however, given the high number of creek crossings, blowdown of some large trees, and one extremely steep grade, this hike is more challenging than the numbers may indicate.

More area info.

Bald Mountain is off a Forest Service Road so many people drive their trucks into the field and camp. This caused an otherwise beautiful high-elevation open area to become rutted in places. Tearbritches trail on the opposite side of the road leads into the heart of the Cohutta Wilderness and to the Conasauga River and its namesake trail. 

Google Map - Directions from carpool via Ellijay to Holly Creek parking for Emery Creek Trailhead

Here are a couple of key turns when driving.

When on Hwy 52 / Hwy 2, about 9 miles out of Ellijay, look for Nine Mile United Methodist Church on right (up the hill). Your turn onto Conasauga Road is on the right just after the church.

Conasauga Road changes name to Old CCC Camp Road.

On Old CCC Camp Road, you will descend a switchback to Holly Creek. The gravel trailhead parking is to your right before you cross Holly Creek. If you cross the bridge over Holly Creek, then you have passed the parking.

The promo photo from around 25 years ago shows my kids hiking on the Emery Creek Trail. They didn't have D5 experience, but they were pretty close, especially when dad carried the two smallest, one in a backpack and the other on his shoulders.