Johns Mountain Section GA10 (Johns Mountain Overlook)
The Georgia Pinhoti Trail
The Georgia Pinhoti Trail (GPT) is the longest foot trail in Georgia. It stretches from
the Alabama line in Polk County, Georgia southwest of Cave Spring to the Benton
Mackaye Trail deep in the Cohutta District between Ellijay, Blue Ridge, and Chatsworth.
The GPT has significant recreational opportunities for those living close to its path but
it also has national and international impacts. GPT links to the Alabama Pinhoti, which
extends for another 136 miles across the Talladega National Forest. To the north, GPT
connects with the Appalachian Trail (AT) via the Benton Mackaye Trail.
The AT ties to the International AT in Canada.
With approximately 140 miles of road walks between the Conecuh National Forest, which
is located just north of the Florida state line, and the Talladega National Forest, it is now
possible to walk from South Florida on the Florida Trail System up the eastern side of
USA into Canada. As best we can tell about five to ten elite long distance hikers are
already making this hike every year.
Georgia Pinhoti Trail is also a vital link in the proposed Great Eastern Trail (GET).
The proposed Great Eastern Trail southern terminus is Florida and goes through
Alabama to Georgia Pinhoti after which it departs northwestern Georgia through
Chattanooga, TN to the Cumberland Trail, the PineMountain Trail in Kentucky and on
to upstate New York.
Direction to Trailhead
Johns Mountain Section GA10.
From Rome, GA (Junction of Georgia Highway 20 and Georgia Highway 53 in downtown Rome):
To East Armuchee Road (GA9 & GA10): Follow U.S. Highway 27 north 18.3 miles. Turn right on Subligna Road and proceed 8.2 miles. Turn right on East Armuchee Road and proceed 3.9 miles to parking area on right side of road (30.4 miles total).
From Resaca, GA (Junction of Interstate 75 and Georgia Highway 136):
To Pilcher Pond Parking Area on Pocket Road (GA10 & GA11): Proceed west on Highway 136. Go 6.6 miles to the intersection with Georgia Highway 136 Connector. Turn right to continue on Highway 136 and proceed 5.8 miles. Turn left on Furnace Creek Road. Follow this road 1.9 miles to stop sign. Turn left on Pocket Road and proceed 2.6 miles to parking area on left side of road (16.9 miles total).
Mileage
Hiking distance from East Armuchee Road to Pocket Road at Pilcher's Pond parking area is 9.5 miles.
South Route Trail Description - South to North
0.0 | East Armuchee Road at small parking area. Trail proceeds from east side of parking area. |
0.2 | Cross intermittent stream. |
1.1 | Turn left on woods road adjacent to East Armuchee Creek. |
1.5 | Take right fork on faint woods road. |
2.3 | Ford East Armuchee Creek. Use extreme caution if gauge to left side of road reads more than one foot. |
3.2 | Veer right at end of logging road. Follow trail along west slope of Johns Mountain. |
6.7 |
Turn right on Forest Service Road 208. (North Route turns left to follow road. See below.) |
7.3 | Johns Mountain Overlook. Turn left on downhill leg of Johns Mountain Trail. |
8.1 | Take left fork where Johns Mountain Trail turns right at top of Keown Falls. |
8.9 | Keown Falls Parking Area. Follow entrance road. |
9.4 | Pocket Road. Turn left. |
9.5 | Pilcher Pond Parking Area. Turn right off Pocket Road to continue. |
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Horse travel is restricted at Keown Falls. Use North Route of Pinhoti Trail (see below ). |
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Bike travel is restricted at Keown Falls. Use North Route of Pinhoti Trail (see below). |
South Route Trail Description - North to South
0.0 | Pilcher Pond Parking Area. Turn left (south) on Pocket Road. |
0.1 | Turn right on gravel Keown Falls Road. |
0.6 | Keown Falls Parking Area. Follow trail under A-frame shelter. |
1.4 | Keown Falls. Observation platform and junction of Johns Mountain Trail. Take right fork. |
2.2 | Johns Mountain Overlook. Turn right on Forest Service Road 208. |
2.8 | Turn left off Forest Service Road 208 onto graded trail. Circle north end of Johns Mountain. |
6.3 | Enter Forest Service logging road. |
7.2 | Ford East Armuchee Creek. Use extreme caution if gauge to right side of road reads more than one foot. |
8.0 | Woods road comes in from right. |
8.4 | Take right fork off main woods road with East Armuchee Creek nearby on left. Ascend. |
9.3 | Cross intermittent stream. |
9.5 | East Armuchee Road at small parking area. Trail continues by turning left and following road. |
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Horse travel is restricted at Keown Falls. Use North Route of Pinhoti Trail ( see below ). |
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Bike travel is restricted at Keown Falls. Use North Route of Pinhoti Trail ( see below ). |
North Route Trail Description - South to North
This trail is specifically for horses and bicycles to bypass the trail segments at Keown Falls and Pilchers Pond
that are inappropriate for horse and bicycle use. It carries the same Pinhoti marking used for the trail described in this guide. |
0.0 | East Armuchee Road at small parking area. Trail proceeds from east side of parking area. |
1.1 | Turn left on woods road adjacent to East Armuchee Creek. |
1.5 | Take right fork on faint woods road. |
2.3 | Ford East Armuchee Creek. Use extreme caution if gauge to left side of road reads more than one foot. |
6.7 | Turn left on Forest Service Road 208. (South Route turns right to follow road. See previous page.) |
7.7 | Turn left along crest of ridge, leaving Forest Service Road 208. |
9.3 | Reach Pocket Road at a point 0.2 mile north of its intersection with Forest Service Road 208. |
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Horse travel is permitted in the North Route of Pinhoti Trail. |
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Bike travel is permitted in the North Route of Pinhoti Trail. |
North Route Trail Description - North to South
This trail is specifically for horses and bicycles to bypass the trail segments at Keown Falls and Pilchers Pond
that are inappropriate for horse and bicycle use. It carries the same Pinhoti marking used for the trail described in this guide. |
| 0.0 | Pocket Road at a point 0.2 mile north of its intersection with Forest Service Road 208.
Alternately follow trail and woods roads to the northwest, west, and southwest. |
| 1.6 | Turn right onto Forest Service Road 208. |
| 2.6 | Turn right off Forest Service Road 208 onto graded trail. Circle north end of Johns Mountain. |
| 6.1 | Enter Forest Service logging road. |
| 7.0 | Ford East Armuchee Creek. Use extreme caution if gauge to right side of road reads more than one foot. |
| 7.8 | Woods road comes in from right. |
| 8.2 | Take right fork off main woods road with East Armuchee Creek nearby on left. Ascend. |
| 9.1 | Cross intermittent stream. |
| 9.3 | East Armuchee Road at small parking area. Trail continues by turning left and following road. |
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Horse travel is permitted in the North Route of Pinhoti Trail. |
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Bike travel is permitted in the North Route of Pinhoti Trail. |
Camping: The Forest Service Pocket Campground is 2.0 miles south of the Pocket Road trailhead.
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