Recreation

Recreation Activities - A comprehensive list of all recreation opportunities across the national forest, grouped by type of activity or by Ranger District.

Frequently Asked Questions - Got questions about the forest? Please take a look here before you pick up the phone. You'll probably find the answer to your question.

Outdoor Safety in the South - Adventure awaits you on the national forest, but the best adventures are also safe. Know Before You Go - safety is your responsibility.

Outdoor Fun in the North Georgia Mountains highlights 16 the most popular mountain recreation spots.

Wilderness - 10 of Georgia’s amazing Wilderness Areas on the national forest offer more than 100,000 acres of solitude!

Maps - Explore and locate destinations on the forest, including waterfalls and scenic drives.

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Recreation Conditions Report

Area Name	Status	Area Conditions
Anna Ruby Falls Recreation Area
Beasley Knob OHV Trails		Open
Boggs Creek Recreation Area		Boggs Creek Recreation Area is open from sunrise to sunset every day of the week, but remains closed to all camping.
Brasstown Bald Visitor Information Center		The elevator at Brasstown Bald is back up and running. Facilities are open 7 days a week, 10am-5pm. As a reminder, the gate at the bottom of Highway 180 Spur up to the Bald will close if conditions are unsafe for travel.
Chestnut Mountain Shooting Range
Cohutta Wilderness Trailheads		Closed trails include Jacks River (from Rice Camp downstream to the northern terminus at the TN state line), Rice Camp, Horseshoe Bend, and Hickory Ridge. The danger of suffering injury on these trails is serious, and communications and emergency response access is limited. Trails that have reopened include Benton Mackaye, Hemp Top, Penitentiary Branch, Conasauga River Trail, Tearbritches, Chestnut Lead, East Cowpen, Panther Creek, Hickory Creek (from western trailhead only), Rough Ridge, Beech Bottom and the portion of the Jacks River trail from Dally Gap to the intersection with Rice Camp trail. Forest Service road 51 is open to the 'burnt schoolhouse' to allow hunter access. Sign up for email updates on the home page.
Cottonwood Patch Campground
Davenport Mountain OHV Trails		Open
Dry Creek Equestrian Trailhead
Houston Valley OHV Trails		Call before you haul. Houston Valley closes for several days after significant rainfall.
Lake Conasauga		In the Lower Camping Loop, there is currently no water in the spigots due to a water line break. The restroom has been reopened. Please use the upper loop water spigots.
Lake Rabun Beach Recreation Area
Lake Russell Recreation Area
Oakey Mountain OHV Trails
Oconee River Campground		Temporarily closed due to hazard trees due to a pine beetle outbreak. Crews are working in the area to remove the dead and falling trees.
Roberts Bike Camp OHV Trails
Rock Creek ORV Trail		Beginning January 2017, Rock Creek trail will observe a winter closure annually from January 1 through March 31.
Rocky Flats OHV Trail		Due to a sinkhole at the gate, Rocky Flats is currently closed.
Sandy Bottoms Campground
Sumac Creek Shooting Range
Tate Branch Campground
Tatum Lead ORV Trail
Town Creek OHV Trails
Waters Creek Day Use Area
Whissenhunt OHV Trails		Open
Windy Gap, Milma Creek, and Tibbs OHV Trails		Beginning January 2017, this trail system will observe an annual winter closure from January 1 through March 31. The northern portion of Tibbs Trail has been decommissioned due to poor trail conditions. There is no longer access to Tibbs Trail from the Lake Conasauga Overflow Campground. Only the southern portion of Tibbs Trail remains, with access via Milma Creek Trail from Windy Gap Trail.

Spotlights

Track Rock Gap Petroglyph Site

Photo 2 of the Track Rock Site after the 2010 Renovation

Visit this special site where the people of long ago carved their stories into the boulders of Track Rock.

Appalachian Trail in Georgia

The AT plaque can be seen on the rock outcrop below a panoramic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains

Stretching across 14 states, more than 76 miles of the Appalachian Trail (AT) are in Georgia. This stretch of the AT offers views of some of the state's most diverse and stunning ecosystems as it winds northward through the Blue Ridge Wildlife Management Area and passes through five federally designated wilderness areas.

Russell-Brasstown National Scenic Byway

Cool in the summer, mild in the winter, the Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway encircles the headwaters of the Chattahoochee River and is surrounded by the Chattahoochee National Forest. The drive is ideal for viewing colorful wildflowers or dazzling fall color. Secluded valley views of Wilderness Areas abound along the way. The 40-mile loop follows State Highways 348, 180, and 17/75. Allow at least three hours driving time. Outdoor Fun in the North Georgia Mountains highlights the byway and popular mountain recreation stops.