Hike to an ancient wall and take in majestic mountaintop scenery on the westernmost point of the Blue Ridge mountains. Once home to the Cherokee people, Georgia’s Fort Mountain State Park has history, mystery, and miles of natural beauty to explore. Also worth noting: Fort Mountain is bear country and we were lucky to spot some bears from a safe distance on the Gahuti Trail!
Location
181 Fort Mountain State Park Rd, Chatsworth, GA 30705, just southwest of the Cohutta wilderness, about 2.5 hours from Athens and 2 hours from Atlanta
Hours: 7am-10pm, the park office is open daily 8am-5pm
Cost: $5, or included with a Georgia State Park Pass (tip: borrow a Park Pass from your public library!)
The Gahuti Trail and Cool Springs Overlook
The Gahuti Trail forms a big loop around the park’s edge, totaling 8.7 miles if you stick to the orange blazes. (Or, if you’re like me, you might accidentally detour onto the red-blazed biking trail, and end up hiking a little over 10 miles.) This trail is rated “hard,” and as a regular but soft hiker type, it’s the hardest trail I’ve done. It took my boyfriend and I a little over five hours to complete, with plenty of rest stops. That being said, the Gahuti is absolutely worth it.
Start at the Cool Springs trailhead. The Cool Springs Overlook is a very short hike from the parking lot and offers eastern views of the Holly Creek Valley and Cohutta Mountains. The trail takes you into the woods, over a couple of creeks, to another amazing mountain view (at an intersection with the bike trail – make sure to follow the orange blazes from there!), and by the backcountry campsites. By the end, you’ll have passed below the summits of both Cohutta and Fort Mountains.
For me, the highlight was seeing a black bear! He froze like he was playing freeze tag when we spotted each other. We ran into other hikers who had just seen a mama bear and cub (glad we missed them!) and we saw plenty of bear poop, so there’s no telling how many bears we did NOT see on the trail. If you’re reading this, you know bears are to be respected, but it never hurts to review bear safety.
The Stone Tower Combo Trail
If you’re short on time or just don’t feel like spending the entire day looking for bears on the Gahuti, check out the park’s landmarks on these connected trails. Altogether, the hike is a about 1.5 miles and will take only take you an hour or so.
The Ancient Wall
Fort Mountain State Park gets its name from an ancient stone wall on the bald of the mountaintop. The wall zigzags 855 feet in length and stands about 2-3 feet high. Its origin remains a mystery to this day, though there are several theories. A popular origin story is that Native Americans built the wall around 500 AD for ceremonial purposes. Another theory credits a Welsh prince and explorer named Medoc, who supposedly built the wall as fortification against Native Americans. The least probable but coolest explanation is that it was constructed by the Moon-eyed people. Cherokee lore describes the “Moon Eyes” as a race of light-skinned people who could see in the dark with their large, pale eyes. No artifacts have been found to support any of these theories.
Fire Tower
In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed much of Fort Mountain State Park’s structures including the lake, the trail steps, and this stone observation tower. The tower stands four stories tall and allowed rangers to see up to 40 miles away. Although it’s no longer in use, you can admire its construction and look for the hidden heart. One of the workers carved a large stone heart and put it above the east window as a tribute to his sweetheart.
The West Overlook
Take the Stone Wall Trail to the wooden stairs that lead to the West Overlook viewing platform. This deck gives you the park’s most spectacular, panoramic view of the mountains, looking out towards Chatsworth and Dalton. I would love to see these trees during fall color change!
Camping
Fort Mountain has accommodations to suit RV and tent campers of all preferences. We booked Platform Campsite 1, which I think offers the best of both worlds – privacy from the campers on the RV loop and the convenience of a short walk to the car. Our site had a two-night minimum stay.
More Activities
- Fort Mountain has over 13 miles of hiking trails, over 14 miles of mountain bike trail, and over 25 miles of horse trails. I definitely want to make time to see the old mines and waterfalls next time. Read more about the trails here.
- In warmer months, the park offers mini golf, a lakeside beach, and paddle boat rentals. There are also plenty of picnic spots.
Two Quick Tips
- Dogs: Leashed dogs are welcome, but the park asks that they be kept on a leash at all times. I have a worst-case scenario imagination, so when I saw “Lost Dog” signs in the park, I immediately thought someone’s dog became a bear snack. I hope not!
- Cell Service: Cell service is limited to non-existent in the park. Grab a trail map at the Visitor Center.
What’s Nearby?
- Expedition Bigfoot – 35 minute drive. A 4000 square-foot complex of Bigfoot artifacts, lifesize displays, and movie room
- Ellijay – 40 minute drive. A mountain town with my favorite pick-your-own farm Hillcrest Orchards. Highly recommend them for apple picking, adorable goats, a fairy tale trail, and other fall treats
- Amicalola Falls State Park – 50 minute drive. Amicalola is Georgia’s tallest waterfall. A real beauty year-round
@yallwaterfall Camping and hiking at Fort Mountain State Park! 🐻🌲🪨 #georgia #hikingadventures ♬ Dreams Never End (2015 Remaster) – New Order