Coosa Backcountry Trail

 The approach trail starts in Vogel State park near the lake and Visitors Center. Plenty of campsites and cabins are available to rent at Vogel. Most of the blazes on the route are Yellow, but sometimes you'll see Blue, Orange, and an occasional Green Blaze. Pay attention to your track at the trail intersections. Like most other N Georgia Mountain hikes, you'll see plenty of hardwoods - Oaks, hickory, some white pines, and along the creeks and streams you'll find rhododendrons, ferns and a wide assortment of wild flowers in the blooming season. Small campsites are abundant on the trail. It's rare that you have to walk more than a mile to find another campsite. Water is available on a regular basis from the start to near Slaughter Gap. Water is hard to find once you start the high altitude Peak to Gap section that runs from Slaughter Gap to the area near Coosa Bald. After Coosa splits from the Joint tread way with Duncan Ridge trail right before the Coosa Bald summit, the trail descends quickly and picks up a stream. At all the lower altitudes frequent seasonal streams and creeks are present.

If hiked clockwise the trail starts out with a big climb of about 1700 feet in the first three miles to near Slaughter Mountain summit. The trail is well maintained and is "smooth" considering it's a mountain trail. After almost reaching the peak of Slaughter Mountain, the trail descends steeply to Wolf Pen Gap at Ga Hwy 180 for a road crossing. Continue straight across the paved road to pick up the trail and continue to a right turn just before the Coosa Bald Summit. The next three miles is a long 2400 foot descent to a Road and creek crossing. The last climb of the day is not steep - only around 400 feet, but it's tough enough after all the miles you've bagged. You'll re cross Ga Hwy 180 and go straight across the road to pick up the trail. The final descent back to the park is a welcome grade that follows a creek.