Rock Creek Section GA15
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
NOTE: 5.8 miles of this section are unmarked road walk.
A proposed route change will extend this section to the vicinity of Dennis Mill.
To reach the beginning of the marked trail leading up Baker Branch, use the following directions:
0.0 | From the junction of US Highway 411 and US Highway 76 in Ramhurst, follow Highway 76 east. |
0.2 | Turn right on Highway 76 then immediately turn left on Old Federal Road. |
2.5 | Turn right on Forest Service Road 3 (Peeples Lake Road). |
5.8 | Turn left, downhill, on road to begin marked section of Pinhoti Trail. |
Mileage
U.S. Highway 411 at Ramhurst to Cohutta Overlook (Georgia Highway 52 and 2)
7.0 miles
.
Trail Description - South to North
0.0 | Beginning of marked Pinhoti Trail at the junction of Forest Service Road 3 and Forest Service Road 3A. |
0.5 | Ford Bearpen Branch. Continue on woods road. |
0.9 | Ford stream with good campsite to right. Pass barricade in road 300 feet beyond. |
1.4 | Woods road enters wildlife opening. |
1.5 | Turn right, leave wildlife opening, and ford Baker Branch. |
2.2 | Begin steeper climb toward Tatum Lead. |
3.1 | Reach crest of Tatum Lead. Turn left on old road, skirt left (west) side of ridge. |
3.7 | Leave Forest Service land. Continue on woods road, crossing ridgeline several times. |
4.9 | Reach high point on road (and for section: 2890’). |
5.2 | Reach gap. Turn right on gated woods road. Re-enter Forest Service land shortly thereafter. (No horses are allowed beyond this point.) |
5.6 | Turn left from woods road onto graded trail. |
6.5 | Turn right on Georgia Highway 52 and 2 at the Gilmer – Murray County line. |
7.0 | Reach end of Section GA15 and the beginning of Section GA16 where graded trail begins on north side of road.
This point is 800 feet west of the exit road from Cohutta Overlook and features a large Forest Service sign. |
Trail Description - North to South
0.0 | Follow Georgia Highway 52 and 2 west from a point 800 feet west of the exit road at Cohutta Overlook. |
0.5 | Turn left onto graded trail at Gilmer – Murray County line. |
1.4 | Turn right into woods road. |
1.8 | Reach gap on Tatum Lead. Pass gate and turn left on dirt road along Tatum Lead. Next 1.5 miles is through
private property. Stay on road. Horses are allowed from this point to the end of the section. |
2.1 | Reach high point on road (and for section: 2890’). |
3.3 | Enter Forest Service property. Skirt right (west) side of Tatum Lead. |
3.9 | Reach gap on Tatum Lead. Turn right onto faint woods road. |
4.8 | Begin more gradual descent with stream to right of trail. |
5.5 | Ford Baker Branch. Turn left into wildlife opening, following woods road. |
5.6 | Leave wildlife opening. |
6.1 | Pass barricade. 300 feet beyond, ford stream. Good campsite is to left of woods road. |
6.5 | Ford Bearpen Branch. |
7.0 | Turn right onto Forest Road 3 (Peeples Lake Road). (This ends marked section of Pinhoti Trail.) |
Nearby Accommodations: Cohutta Lodge is one mile from the trail at Mile 11.0 south to north (Mile 1.9 north to south).
Follow Tatum Lead Road for 0.5 mile and Highway 52 west for another 0.5 mile. The entrance to Fort Mountain State Park is 2.6 miles
beyond Cohutta Lodge. No camping is allowed on road segments through private property.
Water: Stream crossings are frequent from Mile 0.3 to Mile 2.6 south to north (Mile 4.4 to Mile 6.7 north to south).
Intermittent stream crosses trail Mile 6.0 south to north (Mile 1.0 north to south).
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