Camp and Explore- Cohutta Wilderness- Rice camp trail to Jacks River

About Cohutta Wilderness:

The Cohutta Wilderness is located north of Atlanta and covers 37,000 acres (both in Georgia and Tennessee). It was once owned and intensively logged by lumber companies. In the 1920’s it was bought by the U.S. government and in 1975 was added to the National Wilderness Preservation System. Now it's the largest National Forest Wilderness in the southeast and attracts more than 60,000 visitors each year

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About the Trip:

This trip covers around 8 miles minimum from car to camp and back. The Plan is to hike 4 miles the first day and camp close to Jacks River. After setting the camp you are free to go explore (as long as you tell me your plan and have a map in hand) or sit next to camp fire and enjoy the wilderness. The second day we will return to our cars using the same trail. The drive from car pool location to the trail head takes around 2 hours and includes around 9 miles of dirt road; it's a beautiful drive and should not be any problem. Since the camp sites is first come first serve I want to have an early start  to have time for exploring and hopefully find a nice camp otherwise we may need to walk around to find an empty one. Mike Pawloski showed me a hidden one before so we are safe :). 

I will cancel the trip in case of severe weather. 

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More detailed itinerary

Day One: 4 miles (195 ft Ascent – 647 ft Descent)

Start:  Rice camp Trail Head

End: Jack’s River

The plan is to reach the trail head parking lot by 10:30 AM. We will start at Rice Camp trail head (parking lot). We will continue east and north on the Rice trail for 4 miles to reach Jacks river trail. There are couple good camp sites but it is first come first serve so we may need to walk around to find an empty one. After finding our camp site, you are free to do as you wish. I am planning to run around the area and explore places. We will have a nice camp fire for dinner and comradeship. 

Day two: 4 miles  ( 647 ft Ascent – 195 ft Descent)

Start: Rice camp trail at Jack’s River

End: Rice camp trail parking lot

After getting up, re-starting fire and having breakfast we slowly break the camp and back steps the first day to the cars. There is no rush in leaving the camp site and I like to have a relax coffee next to fire. 

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Notes:

- We might have river crossings, so be prepared.

-  I will bring water filter to treat water for everyone at camp site.

- Don’t forget to bring your allergy or other medicines.

- I may cancel the trip based on the weather condition.

- On the way back we can stop for lunch at Chatsworth or Ellijay. 

- PLease plan to arrive at least 10 minutes before departure time to car pool location.

-There is a limit of 3 total dogs allowed to accompany the group for the trip.  First come first serve. 

-Dogs must be well behaved with both people and other animals.

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Trail Map:

Direction from car pool to trail head:  Click here  for google map