The hiking trails at Fort Mountain State Park in North Georgia offer an incredible variety of length and difficulty, all with access to the park’s best features: incredible long-range vistas from the mountain’s peak, a mysterious, 800+ foot rock wall, and a 4 story tower built by the CCC in the 1930s. Trails depart from trailheads along well-marked parking areas throughout the park.

The stone wall, winding along 885 feet near the summit of the mountain, is shrouded in mystery, thought to have been built anywhere from 500 to 1500 AD. The builders of the wall are as mysterious as its construction, and its purpose is likewise debated: originally thought to be the foundation of a larger wall, the wall is most widely accepted to have been built as a ceremonial structure similar to the mounds built elsewhere in Georgia, and is thought to have perhaps marked the movement of stars or planets across the night sky.

Regardless of its origin, the ancient wall is impressive: comprised of rocks large and small, it rises as high as 6 feet and winds as wide as 10 feet along its length.

Our hike at Fort Mountain followed the 8.8 mile Gahuti Trail, leading us to the summit of the mountain near dusk. After leaving the rock wall to approach the CCC tower and overlook, we were surprised by a black bear approximately 20 feet in front of us on the trail who, after sitting upright, scrambled away through the trees. After the bear had vanished, we turned to follow a different trail to the tower, only to find ourselves in a grove of trees surrounded by a herd of 8-10 deer.

Trails from the CCC tower lead to the West Overlook, which is accessed by descending a series of wooden stairs and landings towards the overlook. The panoramic vista opens up after descending the stairs, revealing an amazing, 200+ degree wide view of the surrounding mountains and plain. This is truly one of the most fantastic views we’ve seen in Georgia, and provides a serene and beautiful resting spot.

From the West Overlook, follow the yellow-blazed West Overlook Trail towards the summit parking area and continuation of the Gahuti trail towards the Cohutta Mountain summit and Gahuti trailhead.

GPS Coordinates: 34.779667 N, 84.709333 W

Getting there: Fort Mountain State Park is located midway between Chatsworth and Ellijay on Georgia Highway 52. See the map below for driving directions.

The trails to the falls at Panther Creek are usually busy, and for good reason: the payoff at the end of this out-and-back hike is a beautiful cascading waterfall that lands in a deep pool that’s bordered by a wide, sandy flat perfect for camping. It’s no wonder that this is a hugely popular trail among both day hikers and backpackers. Click here to view our topographic GPS map of this hiking trail.

The trailhead is across the street from the parking area; follow the trail along Panther Creek to cross under the highway and emerge into a young forest. As you walk, the sounds of the busy highway disappear as the trail dives deeper into the forest.

At .25 miles, the trail rejoins Panther Creek, here a small, calm course of water. At .5 miles, the trail crosses a small creek feeding into Panther Creek and then travels through a clearing under power wires. The trail has risen far above the creek, which now flows 50 feet below.

The creek, barely visible now, is loudly rushing below through several courses of waterfalls. Panther Creek becomes increasingly louder as the trail approaches a large campsite at .6 miles. The trail then approaches two large rock overhangs at .85 miles. This section of the trail has been rerouted in recent years due to heavy trail erosion; be careful to follow the green blazes through this section to make certain you’re following the current trail.

The trail begins to climb at 1 mile through a wooded area high above creek; the roaring sounds of the creek are still audible as it rushes below. The trail swings back towards the creek, now noticeably calmer in its flow, at 1.25 miles. The trail crosses the creek at a large bridge at 1.4 miles.

Hike along the flat, sandy trail on right floodplain of creek, crossing a small bridge at 1.9 miles as the first of many side creeks meets Panther Creek.

Cross a third bridge at 2.1 miles, and pass a large campsite, as the trail begins to rise above the creek.

At 2.25 miles, bear to the left at fork in the trail back towards Panther Creek; the trail isn’t currently blazed here at this intersection. Panther Creek meets another set of small waterfalls at 2.35 miles as the hiking trail climbs over a large rock outcrop. Cross a small side creek by a small bridge at 2.75 miles before the trail begins to climb a second huge rock outcrop.

The trail crosses another feeder creek at 3.18 miles; well-placed stepping stones make this crossing fairly easy. The trail rises to meet another huge rock outcrop at 3.26 miles; care should be exercised here as trail erosion, as well as a steep dropoff to Panther Creek below, leave little room for error in your step.

Reach the upper falls of Panther Creek at 3.43 miles.

Cross the rock outcrop to reach the lower falls at 3.52 miles, where a sandy flat bordered in large rocks provides the perfect breakfast or lunch spot while watching the impressive – and beautiful – roaring Panther Creek waterfall. Our favorite time to visit the falls is early in the morning ahead of the crowds, especially on weekdays… you’ll likely be the first to the falls and have enjoyed some serenity while eating breakfast before the next hikers arrive.

Return to the trailhead by retracing your route to the falls.

GPS coordinates: 34.698752º N, 83.419456º W

Getting there: signs for the Panther Creek Trail are along US 441, 14 miles North of Cornelia. Turn left, following the sign, onto Glen Hardman Road. Immediately take a right onto Old 441; signs for the trailhead are in 1 mile. There is a $3 parking fee to park.

Bear Creek is a popular destination for both hiking and mountain biking – and for good reason. The valley through which Bear Creek runs is beautiful – and the trail passes alongside a majestic tulip poplar tree that was spared from logging and stands as a reminder of how majestic Georgia’s forests once were.

The hike leaves the parking area at the signed trailhead, coursing alongside Bear Creek to the right of the trail.

The trail begins to climb, leaving Bear Creek below, and splits in a junction with the Pinhoti Trail; keep right at this intersection to continue hiking the Bear Creek trail.

The trail dips down to cross a small creek feeding into Bear Creek at .3 miles. You’ll soon come to a second split of the trail just before a second creek crossing; keep right at this trail split to cross Little Bear Creek as it feeds into Bear Creek.

You’ll cross Bear Creek at .6 miles, your third stream crossing in just over a half mile, and the trail rises to the opposite bank of Bear Creek to meet the Gennett Poplar at .8 mile. This massive poplar rises high into the forest canopy, its circumference of 18 feet dwarfing the trees around it (and most of the trees in the Eastern U.S., for that matter).

The Gennett Poplar was spared from being logged during the heavy deforestation that took place in the 19th and 20th centuries in the Southeast, at which time nearly every tree in Georgia was removed by an environmentally irresponsible logging industry. The forests of Georgia full of trees the size of this poplar must have been a sight to behold.

Leave the Gennett Poplar by turing left on the trail to travel deeper into the Bear Creek valley. Two white blazes on a tree to the left of the trail signify a trail intersection ahead; cross a small stream, and then at the trail junction, turn right to continue on the 3 mile loop. (Or, for a longer hike, continue straight at this intersection for the longer, 6.2 mile loop.)

Travel a short tenth of a mile to a second trail junction at 1.1 miles; here, turn right onto the wide trail, a reclaimed logging road.

The trail follows this reclaimed road through a series of clearings. The trail leaves the roadbed at 2.5 miles, descending towards Bear Creek and the trailhead. Cross Bear Creek as the trail makes a final turn into the parking area.

GPS coordinates: 34.819032º N, 84.564246º W

Getting there: take GA 52 West out of Ellijay 5 miles to Gates Chapel Road, turning right onto Gates Chapel. Just after crossing the bridge at 5 miles, take a right onto Forest Road 241. The Bear Creek Trail parking area and trailhead are 2 miles ahead on FR 241.

Quick Stats
Length: 6.25 miles, out-and-back
Elevation change: 4400 feet
Difficulty: Moderately strenuous
Highlights: Spectacular, unbelievable views abound on this Glacier National Park hike. Add a side trail to a rushing waterfall, and it’s easy to understand why this hiking trail is named Scenic Point.

Atlanta Trails travels to Montana’s Glacier National Park to the Two Medicine area – a relatively secluded section of Glacier on the East side of the park – to a hike that affords absolutely stunning views along almost its entire length of climb to the summit.

This hike travels through breathtaking scenery to an awe-inspiring summit that was considered sacred land by the Blackfeet Native American Tribe – to a point that was site of several sweat lodges and was often used for ceremonies.  Once at the top, you’ll quickly understand why.

The total elevation gain along the 3.1 mile climb to the top is over 2200 feet along this out-and-back trail – with the same elevation descent on the way back down.  That’s a total elevation change of over 4400 feet;  relatively modest for Glacier National Park but with the breathtaking views that await at the top, well worth every ounce of effort.  The trail is open and exposed for much of the hike, giving fantastic views for nearly the entire hike along rocky and windswept terrain.

But the truly breathtaking view is at the summit – a small knob at the top that allows for sweeping views of the flatlands of Montana and the Blackfeet Reservation to the East, and a truly amazing panorama of the Eastern mountainscape of Glacier Park to the West.  From the 7522 foot high summit, views of Two Medicine Lake and Upper Two Medicine Lake are framed in steep, glacier-capped peaks to the West.  This is, without doubt, the most beautiful, scenic, can’t-stop-taking-photos trail that we’ve ever hiked.

The hike leaves the trailhead at the parking area and travels through relatively flat, densely forested land before beginning to open and climb through rocky, tumbled terrain.  Sounds emerge of the Appistoki Creek tumbling through a steep valley to your right, and you’ll soon pass a well-marked fork with a side trail that  leads to Appistoki Falls, a short hike away.

The trail soon becomes steep with switchbacks, ever-winding as ever-changing views open up around you in beautiful panoramas of Two Medicine Lake, Rising Wolf Mountain, Mount Henry, and Appistoki Peak.

You’ll pass through a  small, wind-whipped pine forest nearly halfway up the ascent, but will otherwise be exposed in rocky openness for most of the hike.

And be sure to bring plenty of water;  save for a tiny spring that trickles over the trail at around 1.75 miles (and is known to be dry seasonally), there’s no water availability on the trail, and high wind activity, almost constant sun exposure, and a decent ascent will leave you thirsty.

Ascend to an open knob at 2.75 miles and enjoy the 360 degree vistas around you… but your hike isn’t over yet.  The trail continues to extend around a steep, curving bowl along a narrow ridge before opening up to a rocky field as you approach the summit of Scenic Point.  A small wooden sign points you to the trail to the summit, extending to the left, nearing the 3 mile mark.

The views from the summit are breathtaking – but come prepared for severe weather.  Winds are generally high in the area, and snow is common along the trails near the summit.  During our late-August hike, snow was present near the peak and winds were in the 50-60mph range, making it hard to stand at the summit – and was cold even in windbreakers (and mid-80s weather).

After enjoying views from the summit, retrace your route along the same trail to return to the trailhead.

Wildlife sightings are common along the Scenic Point trail, and as the case everywhere in Glacier Park, bears are active in the area, so be sure to pack bear spray.

Getting there:  Drive North on Highway 49 from East Glacier and enter Glacier National Park at the Two Medicine entrance on Two Medicine Road. The trailhead, marked as “Scenic Point”, is on the left after entering Glacier National Park.

The trails in Red Top Mountain State Park might not offer the stunning vistas or peaceful serenity of the remote sections of the Appalachian Trail – but the Homestead Trail is within a half hour drive from Atlanta’s perimeter, affords pretty views of Lake Allatoona, and offers a decent hike along a moderate 5.5 mile, well-groomed trail.  The trail travels through a mixed pine and deciduous forest in the middle of Red Top Mountain’s peninsula, traveling North towards the lake where it follows the winding lake shore during a 3.5 mile loop.

The hike begins at the park’s visitor center, centrally located on the peninsula.  Look for the trailhead – well marked with a sign – to the left of the front porch of the visitor center.  The first portion of the trail, well-blazed with rectangular yellow blazes, travels through a mixed deciduous and evergreen forest over fairly flat terrain as the trail heads North towards the lake shore.  At 1 mile, the trial crosses Lodge Road and splits into a loop on the other side of the road.  Turn right to follow the loop counter clockwise, enjoying the solitude that the woods offer as the trail departs from the road crossing and the sounds of vehicles on the road become muffled by the terrain.

The trail winds downhill towards the lake and at 1.5 miles, the small stream that’s been following trail right begins to open up into an inlet to the lake.  This section of the trail winds continuously along the fingers of the peninsula that extend into the lake.  Well-placed benches offer a place to rest and enjoy the scenery of the rocky lake shore and the richly iron-laden soil that gives the lake’s perimeter the stunning red color along its shores.

Just after passing the 2 mile marker, a chimney  - a remnant of one of the homesteads for which this trail is named – is visible standing remotely between the trees.

Continue hiking the trail through the coniferous forest flanking the lake shore as the trail begins its ascent.  Two small peaks are visible as the trail winds towards the West side of the peninsula and the trail continues to ascend.

As the trail begins to level out and finish the loop portion near the 4 mile marker, the trail will begin to follow Lodge Road towards the road crossing.  Turn right at the trail intersection to cross Lodge Road and double back on the 1 mile hike back to the visitor center trailhead and parking area.

GPS Coordinates: 34.149584,-84.707036

Camping is allowed in dedicated campsites only – look for parking spaces off the road and existing fire rings.  The sites are primitive – offering no amenities other than the stone fire rings – but offer the ultimate in beauty in the surrounding Chattahoochee National Forest and the tumbling Noontoola Creek that runs beside the camp sites.

The moss-lined, roaring creek cascades down in small waterfalls along many of the sites – providing great background noise at night (nothing beats falling asleep to the sound of a waterfall in a beautiful section of forest).

The campsites here are set back from the Forest Service Road far enough for decent privacy – and are very generously spaced from other sites (ours was nearly a half mile from the nearest sites).  You’ll be camping around a mile from the convergence of the Benton McKaye Trail and the famed Appalachian Trail – making these sites an excellent base camp for day hikes along either of these famed trails – check out our review of the hike along the Appalachian and Benton McKaye from FR 58 to Long Creek Falls.  Also leaving from this same trailhead, southbound towards Springer Mountain, is our trail review of the 8.6 mile hike of the Appalachian Trail from Three Forks to Springer Mountain, traveling to the Southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.  From the campsite, venture further South on FR 58 to the intersection of the Benton McKaye and Appalachian Trails.

Getting there: from Atlanta, take 75 North to 575 towards Ellijay.  In Ellijay, turn right onto the ramp to GA 52.  At the foot of the ramp, turn left to head East on 52, and travel 4.75 miles to Big Creek Road.  Follow Big Creek Road for 15 miles (.4 miles after the pavement ends) and take a right on Forest Road 58.  After passing several residences on FR58, enter the Blue Ridge Wildlife Managment Area of the Chattahoochee National Forest.

Campsites will be visible along the Noontoola Creek, which winds to the right side of FR 58.  Our campsite was about halfway to the intersection of FR 58 and the Benton McKaye and Appalachian Trails at GPS coordinates 34.671271,-84.191725.  

The hike starts from the trailhead with a climb up stairs from the parking area, climbing through rocky forest.  Follow a mountain stream as the trail switches back and forth as you ascend. Continue the climb as you pass the junction of the blue-blazed Rocky Mountain Trail (your return hiking route after passing through Indian Grave Gap later in this hike).  The Appalachian Trail is blazed white through its entire stretch from Georgia to Maine, with side trails (such as the Rocky Mountain Trail) blazed in blue.

The Appalachian Trail begins to level as you approach Rocky Mountain’s peak – and the forest begins to thin to reveal large outcrops of rock.

Views here – and as the trail extends down from the crest of the mountain – are beautiful and make for the perfect place to stop for a water break after the steep climb up.  Several campsites are visible from the trail – available to those who don’t mind packing their camping gear up the steep climb.

Oak predominates the forest as the trail descends and enters an area thickly vegetated with fern – a pretty contrast to the rocky face of the mountain in your ascent on the Western face.

Pass through Indian Grave Gap, so named for a stack rock pile to designate the grave of a Cherokee Indian buried off the trail, to meet the gravel Forest Service Road 283 at just over 2.5 miles from the trailhead.  Turn left on FR 283 and hike down the forest service road, following the blue blazes of Rocky Mountain Trail.  Blackberries grow alongside the road as it descends down, crossing several small streams along the way. As the road curves to the left, look for Rocky Mountain Trail to depart the road on the left hand side, marked by a double blue blaze at 3.3 miles from our trailhead.  The trail passes through rocky forest of tulip poplar and maple as it circles the mountain before beginning the ascent on the East side of the mountain to rejoin the Appalachian Trail.  You’ll pass a few sets of natural trail markers – as you likely saw at the trail where it departed FR 283 – of small stacks of rocks.

Small streams bisect the trail as it travels through the forest before crossing a stream during your climb.  The Rocky Mountain Trail intersects the Appalachian Trail at around 4.5 miles from the trailhead.

Turn right at the intersection of the Appalachian Trail to return to the trailhead, enjoying the decent downward. You’ll probably notice – as we did – more details of this beautiful, rocky section of forest on the decent than you did on the way up – as gravity is doing most of the work on your way down.

Getting there: take GA 75 North from Helen 9 miles to Unicoi Gap, passing one of our favorite camping spots in the Chattahoochee National Forest – the primitive sites along Forest Road 44 before the Upper Chattahoochee Campground – just before Unicoi Gap.  GPS Coordinates: 34.800927,-83.742955