Backpacking Jacks River Falls

If you're looking for a great backpacking trip in the summer, come join us for a weekend in the Cohutta Wilderness and one of the great river hikes in the Southeast.  We'll be doing a 16 mile backpacking loop, beginning at Dally Gap and hiking down the Jacks River trail.  This trip is for moderate paced hikers.  If you're "slow," please do not sign up for this trip.

The first day of this trip is virtually all down hill, but we will be crossing the Jacks River a total of 20 times.  With summer temperatures soaring, the river crossings are a welcome relief.  But there are places where the water will get over your knees and possibly almost waist high (depending on your height).  I am requiring you to bring hiking poles, unless you get permission from me in advance.  Most people hike in "water" shoes, but it really doesn't matter, as long as you don't mind getting your shoes wet.  We will camp about a mile beyond the intersection of Jacks River Trail and the Penitentiary Trail. From there, it's only about a mile to Jacks River Falls, one of the best (and unfortunately discovered) swimming holes in all of Georgia.  We'll probably spend all afternoon at the falls, so bring your bathing suit and your sun screen.  If the weather's nice on Sunday morning, we'll enjoy the morning at the campsite and leave around 11:00.  We'll hike out the Penitentiary Trail, which is about 3.6 miles of mostly steep uphill.  Then, we'll turn right on Hemp Top Trail and follow the trail down to Dally Gap to complete our loop.

Our group size is limited to 8 people, so please don't sign up if you don't intend to go on the trip.  If you do sign up and find out you can't go, please be courteous and remove yourself from the trip as soon as possible so someone can take your place.

This trip is rated a D4 because the hike out on Penitentiary trail is virtually all uphill for 3.6 miles.  You will need to be fit to do this portion of the hike at a moderate pace.  I recommend that you consider bringing a dry pair of hiking shoes/boots for the return hike to the trailhead.  The trail back to the trailhead does not have any water, and it will most likely be hot, so you'll need to bring about 3 liters of water to get yourself to the parking lot without running dry.
 

There have been bears reported here in the past, so make sure you bring a bear bag to hang your food.

Cohutta Wilderness Area, Chatsworth, GA Park-n-Ride on Busbee Drive at 7:00 am off Chastain Drive (exit 271 off I-75 North) We will go back to Chastain Drive and turn right and go to I 575 where we will go north which will turn into Hwy 515. We will take a rest stop at McDonalds. Then we will go Right out of McDonalds on Hwy 5 for 3.7 miles turn left on old Hwy 2 continue on this road for 10.5 miles payment ends at mile 9. At Watson Gap make hard right on FS 22 for 3.6 miles to Dally Gap.

Are Dogs Permitted? No, b/c of the large number of water crossings and swift water.

Will this event occur rain or shine? Yes, but not in extremely poor conditions or following several days of heavy rain.

NOTE: Please be considerate of others. If you sign-up and cannot attend, please e-mail the event leader, so others that may be on a waiting list may attend. E-mail the event leader to be put on a waiting list if the trip is at the max number of attendees.

Share gas expense with carpool driver