Let's work together to keep these fantastic trails maintained and open for use! Elevation Change: 900 feet Cautions: Cumulative ascent 1300 feet south to north. Note that when driving to the destination there are eleven miles of gravel road (22 round trip) which is easily passable with a two wheel drive sedan but which should be taken with care. Would definitely do it again. And before you go, always check the trailhead kiosk, official maps, and the park or ranger office for notices of changed routes, trail closures, safety information, and restrictions. Stay on the marked trail, tell someone where you're going, pack safety and wayfinding essentials, and don't rely on a mobile phone to find your way. Really fun! See more ideas about (The actual trailhead for the Grassy Mountain Tower Trail is on the opposite shore of the lake.). Feb 17, 2018 - Hike the best, most scenic stretches of the Appalachian Trail in NC, scaling to view-packed grassy mountain summits, historic fire lookout towers and dipping to lush river valleys. The hike reaches the Grassy Mountain trailhead near the end of the dam, hanging a right on the Tower Trail. Harman Trail (Tr #525). Finally, the path will reach the top ridge of Grassy Mountain before opening up onto a gravel fire road. There is no parking there for day hikers. Always leave no trace, pack out everything you pack in, and if you see trash, pick it up and pack it out. Awesome little hike. There is a slight problem with the AllTrails Google Map directions to this destination. Twisted, gnarly branches of rhododendron frame the sides of the trail, and evergreen needles from the scattered, sporadic hemlock overhead litter the forest floor. The trail begins at the dam and leads to the top of Grassy Mountain, where there is a tower offering a 360 degree view of the surrounding area. ft. house located at 194 GRASSY MOUNTAIN TRL, LITTLE SWITZERLAND, NC 28749. I was not aware that you are able to drive all the way to the top where the lookout was of it wasn’t chained off. See more ideas about He’s also the co-founder of Atlanta Trails and Asheville Trails, digital magazines that highlight the South’s best outdoor adventures. Bearwallow Mountain offers exceptional scenery in reward for a short hike! Turn right at the only traffic light and follow the road, which becomes forest road 18, for 10.4 miles. Directions from Chatsworth: Take US 411 north from Chatsworth and go 3 miles to Eton. The Grassy Mountain fire tower rises several stories from the summit, stretching over the treeline. Difficulty: Moderate to difficult south to north.Easy north to south. The trail reaches the swimming beach and picnic area at just over 5 miles, turning right on the lake spur trail to return to the parking area, and completing the adventure. Description Although you can't go up to the tippy top of the tower itself, the views off the Grassy Mountain tower are spectacular! His mission? TRAIL 50—LOGAN TURNPIKE TRAIL 19 TRAIL 51—GRASSY MOUNTAIN TOWER TRAIL 20 TRAIL 52—LAKE CONASAUGA TRAIL 20 TRAIL 53—MILMA CREEK ATV TRAIL 20 … This trail begins at the dam on Lake Conasauga and Makes a gradual ascent to the old fire tower atop Grassy Mountain. When it’s time to hit the trail again, the hike descends from the mountain, following the outbound hike in reverse to the Lake Conasauga Trail. It is uphill to the tower and you can walk up the stairs to the first landing for a good view. At the high point of the ridge the Grassy Mountain Tower allows for excellent views of both the Cohutta (Georgia) and Big Frog (Tennessee) Wilderness areas. View sales history, tax history, home value estimates, and overhead views. Because this area is so remote, challenging, and the trails are sometimes sporadically blazed or not marked at all, always tell someone where you’re going and pack an official paper map and wayfinding essentials, such as a GPS and compass (and know how to use them if you’re lost). The trailhead begins off Old CCC Road. Check out our favorite hikes to historic fire lookout towers near Asheville, NC for some more summit-scaling adventures. Round Mountain GEORGIA LOOKOUTS GRASSY MOUNTAIN Murray County Chattahoochee National Forest A 50-foot high steel K-brace tower with a CL-100 series all … Or check out our full guide to the Cohutta Wilderness for even more ways to adventure in this wildly remote stretch of North Georgia. great view of the top. trail is pretty much all uphill. The Western portion of this mountain is less sparse and has a lot more junipers to deal with. Note that there are no restroom facilities at the boat ramp parking but there is a nice restroom in the campground. (Which closes for the season at the end of October by the way.) Turn right onto Harman Trail and follow it through scattered meadows and mountain laurel to an intersection with Rocky Ridge Trail (Tr #524) on the western edge of the Dolly ... Harman Trail (Tr #525). 5/5 would definitely hike again. The total distance for the hike with the optional Song Bird Loop was 5.1 miles. My dog Aska and I saw no one at all, neither on the trail nor at the trailhead. And it’s immense, spanning nearly 36,000 acres, the largest wilderness area east of the Mississippi. Grassy Mountain is a summit in Murray County, Georgia. Hike the Grassy Mountain Tower Trail from the shores of Lake Conasauga, the highest-elevation lake in Georgia. Please support them by making a donation or joining a volunteer day. Read more in our guide to Wilderness areas in the South.). Glassy Mt. Our favorite fall foliage hikes in North Georgia, Our favorite spots to hang an ENO hammock, Amicalola Falls State Park: our favorite hikes, Arabia Mountain & Panola Mountain: our favorite hikes, Waterfalls in Georgia: our favorite hikes, Appalachian Trail: Dicks Creek Gap to Bly Gap, NC, Cumberland Island camping, hiking, and backpacking guide, Lake Conasauga: Grassy Mountain Tower Trail, Slaughter Mountain and Lake Winfield Scott Loop, Hemlock Falls Trail at Moccasin Creek State Park, view maps, parking info and driving directions. Loved the hike, and up for exploring some more sublime views from nearby towers? APN 0787-01-18-0443. (What is Wilderness, and why is it important? From the parking there is a short trail down to the lake trail. Perched on the summit of Grassy Mountain, nestled deep in the Cohutta Wilderness, is a weathered, gray, steel fire lookout tower that rises from a tree-lined mountaintop, offering exceptional, long-range views of nearby Fort Mountain. There always a beautiful view at the base across a small creek and a great view from the first landing of the tower at the top. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Check out more of our favorite. Road to Fire Tower is a 1.9 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Clayton, Georgia that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as moderate. Did you have trouble accessing the trail, or notice some recent trail updates or storm damage? Making a final ascent to the mountain’s summit, the hike turns right on the gravel road, trekking southwest through abundant wildflowers and breeze-blown grasses. While you can't access the top of the fire tower, you can still climb above the tree line for some of the best views in the area. Hike (or trail run) to tumbling waterfalls, epic vistas and through beautiful forest:. The route veers right at the beaver dam intersection, following the Tower Trail westbound on a joined segment of the Songbird Trail. The hike reaches the summit at 2.6 miles. Solitude is the word of the day. Awesome trail. And it’s always best to avoid trails along the rivers and creeks in the weeks following a heavy rain. Park in Lake Conasauga picnic or boating parking lots. Great moderate hike up to the tower. You can follow it by going either left or right. This trail is maintained thanks to the hard work of countless volunteers and donations from supporters of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Only downside is you can’t access the top of the lookout tower. Reaching the campground at .5 mile, the hike hangs a left on a gravel road, trekking through the campground and continuing to skirt the lakeshore. Camped 3 days at the lake. Long drive on gravel roads. Turn right, park in the Lake Conasauga picnic or boating parking lots and walk to the trailhead on the dam. It was an moderate walk, not that long and once you get to the lookout it’s amazing. Lake Conasauga: Grassy Mountain Tower Trail - Atlanta Trails From the parking lot take the lake loop trail to the dam(on the left), or park in the overflow area and follow the Songbird Trail to the intersection with the Grassy Mountain Trail The trail brings hikers along the Grassy Mountain ridges, through deep forest, and along more open scenic pathways. A careful climb to the first platform reveals a spectacular panorama, stretching nearly 360 degrees to the nearby Fort Mountain and over the rolling, tree-covered, mountainous landscape of the Cohutta Wilderness. This map shows our approximate route while exploring this trail, but does not replace an official trail map. The hike to the summit begins at the Grassy Mountain Tower trailhead and delves into the forest to a beaver dam, meeting up with the Songbird Trail. The views from the historic metal tower are simply incredible, the perfect place to soak in some classic Blue Ridge beauty. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Not sure if this is allowed but didn't want to get shot. Pisgah. Contact us here, and thanks for helping us keep this site updated! It is generally wide enough for passing on coming cars and while steep, not particularly dangerous. AllTrails Retta Singleton The Cohutta Wilderness spans over 37,000 acres, extending all the way into Tennessee, however, there are nearly 90 miles of trails within the section of the wilderness inside Georgia. All rights reserved. With the advent of effective wildfire suppression during the twentieth century, the open, grassy woodlands slowly transformed into forest and dense woodlands with a continuous canopy. Gorgeous trail and views and waterfalls, wild life. Bring bug spray! Google maps will take you to the trailhead located in the camp ground. Hiked Thursday, 10/26/17: This has been my favorite hike from AllTrails. Allow yourself at least an hour, one way for travel as this road twists and turns for 11 miles before getting to the trail head. Consider spending the night: the Lake Conasauga Campground at the eastern edge of the lake offers some prime, off-grid lakeside campsites. This was a GREAT hike with GREAT views. © 2009 - 2020 Trailful Outdoor Co. // Made in the mountains of Hiawassee, Georgia. interesting hike throughout until the end where you’re walking on a forestry road for a bit. Both distances will summit Grassy Mountain (ele 3600 ft), experience pristine singletrack, and circumnavigate Lake Conasauga, Georgia's highest alpine lake. There are a few pot holes and a bit of washboard in places but all in all the road right now is in pretty good condition. Fire tower was locked, but great view of the area from as high as you can go on the stairs. The trail to the tower is made up of old logging roads and connecting trails. The hike parallels a boulder-filled creek, switching back as it rolls over several small knobs. Novice hikers and … Leashed dogs are allowed on this trail. The hike ascends through a forest of fern, mountain laurel, and hemlock, rolling elevation over a small, shady knob. Highly recommend!! Lake Conasauga, Songbird Trails, Grassy Mountain, East Cowpen, Rough Ridge, Jack's River and Sugar Cove, East Cowpen to Hickory Creek and Panther Creek, East Cowpen to Jack's River and Rough Ridge Loop. The good news is it’s all downhill going back out;) It is a beautiful trail. 34.857924, -84.650595     //     N34 51.476 W84 39.037. it was so pleasant and was able to hike three days before it closed for Winter. Grassy Mountain Tower Trail is a 4 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Crandall, Georgia that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Very dissapointed in this trail. The Cohutta Wilderness is simply stunning: it’s rugged, remote, broad and beautiful. Hike to gorgeous views of Fort Mountain and the Cohutta Wilderness from the historic Grassy Mountain fire tower, climbing from the shores of Lake Conasauga, a small, glassy mountaintop lake. The climb intensifies, grabbing elevation on a rocky, rooty trail bed, before the trail reaches a gravel road at 2.2 miles. Trecking up mostly on a gravel road was very difficult for me and the view was lacking due to trees and haze due to pollen and Controlled fires happening in the area. To inspire others to get fit outdoors and explore the South’s incredible scenic beauty. Grassy Mountain Tower Hike around Lake Conasauga, Georgia's highest elevation lake, before trekking up to Grassy Mountain and catching views from the fire tower at the summit. Cast out into the Cohutta wilderness and take a hike up Grassy Mountain for panoramic views and a … Was worth the hour in and out on bumpy gravel roads. We walked up the trail to the top where the tower is and back down the forestry road. Although you can’t go up to the tippy top of the tower itself, the views off the Grassy Mountain tower are spectacular! Rising from the deep Cohutta Wilderness, Grassy Mountain has some amazing hiking trails that take you through remote wilderness to see some of north Georgia’s most dynamic peaks. Please always practice good trail etiquette. The trail climbs elevation, beginning a nearly unrelenting ascent to the mountain’s summit and climbing through leafy brush and vibrant green fern. Thank you to all the previous reviewers who told us to park at the boat ramp! Ride up people say very rigid...SUV..no problem! The upside is that the gravel road is probably one reason for the solitude. Head west from Grassy’s summit, and there is no higher ground until the High Plains. On the way back we took the optional Song Bird Loop which took us past the beaver pond. He's the co-owner of Trailful Outdoor Co, a locally-owned hiking outfitter shop in Hiawassee in the Georgia mountains near the Appalachian Trail. At 1.75 miles you gain the ridgeline at a junction with the Tower Trail. The trail climbs through a scenic forest and visits a beaver dam on a grassy marsh before summiting Grassy Mountain, the site of a historic fire … The adventure starts at the Lake Conasauga picnic and day use parking area (view maps, parking info and driving directions, dropping elevation from the trailhead northbound to the shores of the lake. Reaching the lake, this hike turns right, following the lake counterclockwise, skirting the lake’s shore. LOCATION:Cohutta Wilderness near Ellijay, Georgia, PACK:our Osprey day pack and our hiking gear list, OFFICIAL MAP: Nat Geo 777 Trails Illustrated Map (find it at Trailful Outdoor Co.). BLACK MOUNTAIN SECTION Grassy Cove Segment Distance: 3.6-mile one way.Trail is described south to north. At 3,688 feet elevation, the mountain rises a full 2,800 feet above its base in the Great Valley, which separates Grassy and the Blue Ridge from the Ridge and Valley to west. At 4,232 feet above sea level, with a grassy meadow at its summit, the mountain features a nearly 360 view that includes Mt. At 1 mile, the hike reaches a small beaver dam at the end of a grassy marsh, meeting the Songbird Trail. Saw squirrels and deer. 3 beds, 3 baths, 1080 sq. Just before the summit you will connect with the old Fire Warden's road. This hike explores a glassy mountaintop lake near the Cohutta’s western border, climbing from lakeside vistas to the Grassy Mountain fire lookout tower, and exploring some beautiful forest and marsh along the way. Historical Weather Below are weather averages from 1971 to 2000 according to data gathered from the nearest official weather station. There were ALOT of bugs, like thousands. It’s a short but scenic adventure, catching wide views of a boggy beaver pond and following several boardwalks through a rolling forest filled with rhododendron and shallow creeks. In warm-weather months, the only view is from the tower’s rickety stairs – but the mountaintop is a great spot for a mid-hike snack and a perfect place to soak up the summit’s abundant sunshine and steady breezes. Pack hiking gear essentials (check out our hiking gear list for our favorite, trail-tested gear), including safety and wayfinding gear, since the wilderness is vast and remote. Tower is easy to climb and view is amazing! The route veers left at just under .6 mile, leaving the campground and crossing the lake’s earthen dam. Novice hikers and family groups will enjoy this relatively easy trail. The trail dives through a forest of hemlock and rhododendron, crossing a series of small wooden bridges and boardwalks on the lake’s shore. Honeymoon Island State Park The trail begins at the dam on Lake Conasauga and makes a gradual ascend to the old fire tower atop Grassy Mountain. The Tower Trail is your return route; keep left on the road for now. Only saw one other couple on the trail, a relatively easy incline up to the tower. It is well marked. Very remote with varying vegetation. Beautiful day on Grassy Mtn! Trailful Outdoor Co. and the Atlanta Trails logo are registered trademarks of Summit19 Studio LLC.Privacy Policy | Terms of Use No photo, illustration, data, or text on this website may be reproduced, published, or distributed without prior written permission and license. The trail is never really steep but once past the second left to the Song Bird trail it climbs pretty consistently to the top. Grassy Mountain Tower Trail Near Chatsworth. The fire tower stairs remain open for outstanding views of the surrounding countryside. Views across the lake are broad and beautiful. If you go, be prepared for an extended drive on wilderness gravel roads. Really cool view climbing up the tower with 360 degree views of the cohuttas. Been going to the lake my whole life and always wanted to hike this trail.... did it today!!! Look for an established dirt parking lot and a sign board marking the area. After reading the previous review, we went straight to the boat dock and parked. This loop meanders along Holly and Emery Creeks, then spirals around and up to the fire-tower summit of Grassy for a 4,000-foot adventure. Grassy Mountain Tower Trail The majority of the 37,000 acre Cohutta Wilderness sits within the remit of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. Pretty hike up to the tower not very good views from the the top though have to climb up fire tower to really see the surrounding mountains trail is not marked well but not much blocking path park at boat ramp and hike around lake canasauga to the dam where the trail starts branches off of songbird trail. 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