Atlanta, GA: Conasauga River Trail Hike

Atlanta, GA: Conasauga River Trail

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Distance: 12.2 miles

You'll cross the Conasauga River 38 times on this challenging, 12.1-mile shuttle hike past wooded beaver ponds, trout pools, and countless waterfalls.

Submitted by: sestep1

Trip Description
Waypoints

CRT001

Location: 34.8548698, -84.5811539

Conasauga River Trailhead: From this roadside parking lot, a well-worn dirt trail drops 200 feet in 0.2 mile from Betty Gap. Expect a gentle, but steady downhill grade. Note: Hiking east to west on the Conasauga River Trail is a bit more manageable for its slight downhill grade.

CRT002

Location: 34.8598061, -84.5885391

The trail parallels a small creek that feeds into the Conasauga River. Pass the first of many small campsites along the river. The campsites on this trail range from small (1-2 tents), to medium (3-4 tents), to large (5 or more tents). Due to heavy trail use, the Conasauga Ranger District plans to restrict some of the smaller campsites over the next year; look for signs that may restrict usage.

CRT003

Location: 34.8666344, -84.5974503

Pass a small set of waterfalls to the left of the trail. For the majority of the hike, the trail is shaded by a mix of conifer and deciduous trees (including Eastern hemlock, white pine, maple, oak, and poplar). Large, SUV-sized boulders are another common site along the trail. Look for blue rectangle blazes at the ford spots, but keep in mind that these markings aren't always at the easiest place to cross. The trail is easy to follow except at the larger campsites where smaller trails run between the sites.

CRT004

Location: 34.8675499, -84.6003494

Continue straight @ 3-way junction as the Conasauga River Trail bears slightly to the right. Here, the Chestnut Creek Trail approaches from the left after a river crossing (marked with an old sign). There's a large campsite (room for 10 tents) at this intersection.

As the trail continues east to west, the river gradually picks up speed, width, and depth, ranging from a trickle in the beginning to 40-feet wide and about 2-feet deep at the end. The speed and depth of the water are largely determined by recent rainfall. During heavy rains, this trail can be dangerous as water speed and depth can increase exponentially.

CRT005

Location: 34.8678741, -84.6005554

Go left @ Y-junction. Don't follow the well-worn, dead-end trail that continues downstream to the right. Next, cross the river. Tip: Cross immediately to the left of the campsite at Waypoint 4; look for large boulders lining the trail on the opposite bank.

The trail crisscrosses the river throughout the hike (plan on getting wet). When in doubt, always hike downstream after fording. Trekking poles are must for keeping your balance during fording; dry bags are also recommended. Picking the safest fording route is an acquired skill. Look for wide, flat routes with sand, gravel, and smaller rocks. Avoid areas where several large boulders "squeeze" the river and accelerate water speed. The river fords become more difficult during and after rainfall. Novices to this kind of river-trekking may want to consider cutting the trip short by hiking out at the Hickory Creek Trail intersection (where the fords become deeper and trickier).

CRT006

Location: 34.8713264, -84.6021729

Pass a small campsite next to a waterfall and pool. Spots like this are great for trout fishing. Rainbow and brook trout can be caught here (Georgia fishing license and trout stamp required).

CRT007

Location: 34.8724403, -84.6026993

Tricky spot: Veer right @ Y-intersection and descend to the water (and a crossing point).

CRT008

Location: 34.8868103, -84.6125946

Stay right @ Y-junction.

CRT009

Location: 34.8942184, -84.6190567

A small campsite is located just west of the Panther Creek Trail intersection.

Note: Panther Creek Trail (to the east) is accessed by fording a large, wide spot in the river by the Panther Creek Trail sign. From here, it's a 3- to 4-mile trip to Panther Creek Falls. The falls are reached by navigating a slightly technical boulder field scramble.

CRT010

Location: 34.8979683, -84.6208038

Continue straight @ 3-way junction; the Tearbritches Trail enters on the left. Tearbritches continues 3.5 miles, summiting a 4,000-foot peak before descending to a parking lot on FS 17. This trail provides an alternative route for shortening the trip, but it doesn't necessarily make it easier (Tearbritches gains about 2,000 feet in 2.7 miles).

CRT011

Location: 34.898407, -84.6215057

Bear left @ Y-intersection. There are numerous false trails between campsites at the Bray Field area. With space for over 20 tents, this campsite is a great option for large groups. To the right and across the river is the continuation of the Hickory Creek Trail. From here to Waypoint 12, the Hickory Creek Trail and the Conasauga River Trail share the same riverbed.

CRT012

Location: 34.9043159, -84.6318817

Go straight through a medium-size campsite, past the western intersection of Hickory Creek Trail and the Conasauga River Trail (to the left, marked by a very old sign). Next, cross a small creek. The ford here can be tricky; the best spot to cross is just to the right of the end of the dirt path.

The Hickory Creek Trail can serve as an emergency exit route if the weather turns bad. From here, it's roughly 1.9 miles to the parking lot with a gentle 400-foot climb. This is also a good spot for river-hiking novices to pull off. From here, the river crossings become deeper and more challenging to navigate.

CRT013

Location: 34.9045868, -84.6322861

After the river ford, head north.

CRT014

Location: 34.9049644, -84.63237

The trail crosses back over Conasauga. The best place to ford is roughly 50 feet upstream of the trail where the water is deeper and slower than at the base of the falls. From here on, there are no intersecting trails for the rest of the trip. Camping: The trail skirts a large campsite (near tall rock bluffs, falls, trout pools, and gravel beaches) with room for 10-20 tents.

CRT015

Location: 34.906662, -84.6359558

The trail passes another small campsite. Numerous small and medium campsites dot the river for the next 5 miles. In a pinch, a tent can be pitched in flat areas along the trail.

CRT016

Location: 34.9375267, -84.6447144

The trail turns west off the river and climbs 400 feet over the final 1.2 miles.

CRT017

Location: 34.9397507, -84.6582413

Go left @ Y-junction. The parking lot is a short distance away.

CRT018

Location: 34.9387398, -84.6585388

The trail ends at the western end of the Conasauga River Trail at a roadside gravel lot.

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Trek into the heart of the Cohutta Wilderness on this 12.1-mile shuttle hike along the Conasauga River Trail. This hike scours the river’s most scenic stretches, passing SUV-sized boulders of limestone and granite, towering hemlock and oak trees, beaver ponds, and an unending succession of waterfalls and trout pools.

Drop a car off at the western end of the trip at Murray’s Lake trailhead and hike from Betty Gap along (and through) the riverbed’s gentle downhill grade. The real challenge is the trail’s 38 river crossings. River shoes (or sandals), trekking poles, and a waterproof stuff sack are required as the water can be waste-deep near the western end of the trail. When in doubt, keep hiking downstream and downhill.

Note: This trail is a fun challenge in normal weather conditions. During or after moderate to heavy rainfall, the river crossings increase dramatically in both difficulty and danger. A Georgia fishing license and trout stamp is required to fish on this on this trail.

Mapped by Scott Sanders

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