Hello! Thank you for stopping by to watch. Your kind words are encouraging. God is amazing and I am so thankful that we are blessed to have the opportunity of exploring His beautiful creation. Yes, the mountains of Georgia are special indeed. Many people do not connect mountains with Georgia. Yet they are here…..rugged and gorgeous at the same time. I appreciate you! God bless you and your family! Keep Hiking!
Yes indeed! Jacks River is an amazing place. The Cohutta Wilderness is my favorite place to hike. Neat that you have been out in this area before. Maybe we will see each other out there on the trail soon. Take care and God bless you!
I know those trails. My next hike has to be somewhere near there, I have missed being there. seen plenty of bears on the rough ridge trail off of cow pen trail. That is the place to see bears. You can see them in some of my previous videos in the cohutta. Great video!
Hello! Excellent! Yes, the Cohutta Wilderness is an amazing place and is one of my favorite places to hike. Every time I am out hiking there it is like experiencing it for the first time. There is so much to see and explore. Neat that you are familiar with this area and plan to hike there soon. Then you must know what I am describing. You are right. There are plenty of bears in this wilderness. The craziest encounter I have ever had with a bear was just off of East Cowpen Trail along Panther Creek Trail. I definitely plan to check out your videos. Thank you for the kind words. I appreciate you stopping by to watch and leaving your nice comment. Take care and have a fantastic weekend!
First of all I am getting to this video really late man, sorry about that. It's still winter in your video LOL...my watch list is like 100 videos deep, I am way behind. Anyway looked like you had an awesome hike there. I loved the scenes with the fog coming through the woods! Beautiful! I'd love to get down to that part of the country and do some backpacking some day...several years ago I spent several months down in Cartersville, GA, but I was an idiot and I didn't get out and explore much...anyway awesome video, I will move on to part 2...
Smell N Roses Thank you Smell N Roses! I really appreciate you taking the time to watch some of my videos and comment. I am sure you are very busy and I know it is a huge time commitment. Very grateful! It is a beautiful location. Sometimes rough weather can provide amazing experiences. I hope you are able to make it back down this way and enjoy some of North Georgia's beautiful trails. I need to make it up your way and experience some of your hikes for myself. Again, thanks for watching and commenting. Keep hiking!
Jace Longnecker Yes indeed, the Cohutta Wilderness is one of my favorite areas to hike. It is beautiful and very peaceful. Thank you for checking out my video. I appreciate your support. Keep hiking!
Hey bud I really Enjoy your videos. Me and my buddies are planning a 2 night trip into the Cohutta Wilderness around the last wkd in Oct. Wanted to do a somewhat of a mid fall trip in higher elevation from what we are used to. We are from Alabama. And we usually go to the Sipsey Wilderness in Bankhead National Forest. And we been discussing about doing the loop starting at Beech Bottom Trailhead and seeing Jacks river falls and going down to East Cowpen TH and making our way up to Jacks river TH and then end back at Beech Bottom TH. But we are worried that there will be too many River crossings and getting wet. With it being that late into Oct. I guess we are scared of it being too cold. What do you suggest we do. We are not familiar with that area so... so any insight would be Awesome. Thanx!! Oh and by the way we heard that campfires are Prohibited on Beech Bottom trail all together, what's your knowledge on that and where can we have a campfire?
Thank you! Glad you have checked out some of my videos. Your trip to the Cohutta Wilderness is going to be a blast. I know you guys are going to enjoy it. October is the start of my favorite time to hike in the wilderness. If I am not mistaken, the highest elevation in the wilderness on the Georgia side is Cowpen Mountain at 4149'. This is a peak along the Cohutta Mountains. Alabama has some neat wilderness areas. I need to check out Sipsey Wilderness as I have watched several TH-cam videos from this area. Your plan is a good one. You are correct if you hike along the Jacks River Trail, plan on getting wet. I always take along another pair of light weight shoes for the river crossings as I do not like to get my hiking shoes and socks wet. Of course, if it rains there is nothing you can do. The weather in the Cohutta Wilderness is definitely different than the surrounding areas mainly due to the elevation. In October it is not uncommon to have temperatures in the low 30s or even lower at night. Make sure to keep an eye on the weather forecast for rain and temperatures. If there has been lots of rain plan on the river moving pretty swiftly and much deeper. It is usually from knee to thigh deep. Here are a couple of loops that I enjoy and you can experience the river and keep the crossings to a minimum. Beech Bottom Trailhead (actually in Tennessee) --> Jacks River Trail --> west to Jacks River Falls --> west to the first river crossing --> just after crossing take Rice Camp Trail (multiple creek crossings but can walk on rocks......usually) --> take East Cowpen Trail to Buckeye Mountain --> take Hickory Ridge Trail back toward Jacks River --> cross the river and the Beech Bottom Trail is just to the west --> take Beech Bottom Trail back to the trailhead. This will give you only two river crossings and you get to experience Jacks River Falls and some higher elevation. I think Buckeye Mountain is near 3600'. Make sure to fill your water bottles from the creek along Rice Camp Trail. There is very limited water at the higher elevations. If you want a longer loop instead of taking the Hickory Ridge Trail continue several miles on East Cowpen Trail toward Cowpen Mountain. Just past the mountain take Rough Ridge Trail back toward Jacks River --> west on Jacks River Trail --> Beech Bottom Trail back to the trailhead. This will give you several more miles and some more creek crossings. I know campfires and camping is prohibited in the Jacks River Falls area. I think there is one area along Beech Bottom Trail where you can camp and have a campfire. It is a site along Beech Creek. Hope you guys have a wonderful time. Let me know how it goes and if you have any more questions, just send me a message. Take care and Keep Hiking!
please tell me you have a bear deterrent with you cause you are right smack dab in the middle of bear country. nice vid. surprised ga. dnr hasn't put a fee box up yet, they gottem for everything else.
Hey man, is this the Jabo I know? I definitely keep a little bear deterrent with me. You are correct, I hike in this area all the time and I see plenty of bear. I have only had one incident where I felt uncomfortable. You are kind. Thank you for your nice comment. I am sure the fee box is coming soon to a location near you. LOL. Hope all is well with you and your family. Take care!
So this route starts at Hemp Top Trailhead ---> Penitentiary Branch Trail --->Jacks River Trail and then come back the same way we came from? So the over all hike was 12-13 miles + 6.5 miles? I really want to go there this month and just wanted to prepared for it. Thanks in advance
+rock lee I appreciate you stopping by and watching the video. As you probably already know the Cohutta Wilderness is a beautiful place. I know you will enjoy it. This hike is a large loop. You do not have to return the way you came. I have another video Cohutta Wilderness Penitentiary Branch Part 2 which shows the remainder of the loop back to the trailhead. The route starts at Dally Gap which is the Hemp Top Trailhead. Dally Gap can be accessed by taking Highway 5 in Blue Ridge, GA to GA Highway 2 then at Watson Gap a four way intersection turn right onto Forest Road 22. Drive 3.5 miles to Dally Gap. The trail route from the Hemp Top Trailhead is as follows: Hemp Top Trail (2.4 miles) -> Penitentiary Branch Trail (3.5 miles) -> Jacks River Trail (6.4 miles) which brings you back to Dally Gap for a total of approximately 12-13 miles. It is a really nice loop. Try to make an overnight of it since there are plenty of camp sites at Jacks River. When Penitentiary Branch Trail connects with Jacks River Trail make sure to turn left and go up river. There is an immediate river crossing at this point. Plan on getting wet because there are 18 river crossings on the Jacks River Trail back to Dally Gap. My Part 2 video shows each of the crossings. Be very careful after heavy rains. Hope you enjoy. Give me a follow up and let me know how it goes. Keep Hiking!
Hello! Yes, a wilderness area can be a little disconcerting. Sleeping alone in the forest for the first time is definitely a different experience. I remember my first time and I don’t think I slept more than a few minutes at a time without waking up. There are all kinds of weird sounds and noises. Give it a try. You can do it. Can’t say I ever saw a Bigfoot but as you say......who knows! I agree with you.......I don’t want to ever see one especially alone in the wilderness. You made me smile. Have a wonderful weekend! Take care and thank you for watching!
I really enjoyed your video. Music too. God made some beautiful mountains in Georgia! Thanks for sharing.
Hello! Thank you for stopping by to watch. Your kind words are encouraging. God is amazing and I am so thankful that we are blessed to have the opportunity of exploring His beautiful creation. Yes, the mountains of Georgia are special indeed. Many people do not connect mountains with Georgia. Yet they are here…..rugged and gorgeous at the same time. I appreciate you! God bless you and your family! Keep Hiking!
Now this us where I been before. Jacks River Falls. Awesome
Yes indeed! Jacks River is an amazing place. The Cohutta Wilderness is my favorite place to hike. Neat that you have been out in this area before. Maybe we will see each other out there on the trail soon. Take care and God bless you!
I know those trails. My next hike has to be somewhere near there, I have missed being there. seen plenty of bears on the rough ridge trail off of cow pen trail. That is the place to see bears. You can see them in some of my previous videos in the cohutta. Great video!
Hello! Excellent! Yes, the Cohutta Wilderness is an amazing place and is one of my favorite places to hike. Every time I am out hiking there it is like experiencing it for the first time. There is so much to see and explore. Neat that you are familiar with this area and plan to hike there soon. Then you must know what I am describing. You are right. There are plenty of bears in this wilderness. The craziest encounter I have ever had with a bear was just off of East Cowpen Trail along Panther Creek Trail. I definitely plan to check out your videos. Thank you for the kind words. I appreciate you stopping by to watch and leaving your nice comment. Take care and have a fantastic weekend!
First of all I am getting to this video really late man, sorry about that. It's still winter in your video LOL...my watch list is like 100 videos deep, I am way behind. Anyway looked like you had an awesome hike there. I loved the scenes with the fog coming through the woods! Beautiful! I'd love to get down to that part of the country and do some backpacking some day...several years ago I spent several months down in Cartersville, GA, but I was an idiot and I didn't get out and explore much...anyway awesome video, I will move on to part 2...
Smell N Roses Thank you Smell N Roses! I really appreciate you taking the time to watch some of my videos and comment. I am sure you are very busy and I know it is a huge time commitment. Very grateful! It is a beautiful location. Sometimes rough weather can provide amazing experiences. I hope you are able to make it back down this way and enjoy some of North Georgia's beautiful trails. I need to make it up your way and experience some of your hikes for myself. Again, thanks for watching and commenting. Keep hiking!
I love bushcrafting out there.
Jace Longnecker Yes indeed, the Cohutta Wilderness is one of my favorite areas to hike. It is beautiful and very peaceful. Thank you for checking out my video. I appreciate your support. Keep hiking!
Hey bud I really Enjoy your videos. Me and my buddies are planning a 2 night trip into the Cohutta Wilderness around the last wkd in Oct. Wanted to do a somewhat of a mid fall trip in higher elevation from what we are used to. We are from Alabama. And we usually go to the Sipsey Wilderness in Bankhead National Forest. And we been discussing about doing the loop starting at Beech Bottom Trailhead and seeing Jacks river falls and going down to East Cowpen TH and making our way up to Jacks river TH and then end back at Beech Bottom TH. But we are worried that there will be too many River crossings and getting wet. With it being that late into Oct. I guess we are scared of it being too cold. What do you suggest we do. We are not familiar with that area so... so any insight would be Awesome. Thanx!! Oh and by the way we heard that campfires are Prohibited on Beech Bottom trail all together, what's your knowledge on that and where can we have a campfire?
Thank you! Glad you have checked out some of my videos. Your trip to the Cohutta Wilderness is going to be a blast. I know you guys are going to enjoy it. October is the start of my favorite time to hike in the wilderness. If I am not mistaken, the highest elevation in the wilderness on the Georgia side is Cowpen Mountain at 4149'. This is a peak along the Cohutta Mountains. Alabama has some neat wilderness areas. I need to check out Sipsey Wilderness as I have watched several TH-cam videos from this area.
Your plan is a good one. You are correct if you hike along the Jacks River Trail, plan on getting wet. I always take along another pair of light weight shoes for the river crossings as I do not like to get my hiking shoes and socks wet. Of course, if it rains there is nothing you can do. The weather in the Cohutta Wilderness is definitely different than the surrounding areas mainly due to the elevation. In October it is not uncommon to have temperatures in the low 30s or even lower at night. Make sure to keep an eye on the weather forecast for rain and temperatures. If there has been lots of rain plan on the river moving pretty swiftly and much deeper. It is usually from knee to thigh deep.
Here are a couple of loops that I enjoy and you can experience the river and keep the crossings to a minimum. Beech Bottom Trailhead (actually in Tennessee) --> Jacks River Trail --> west to Jacks River Falls --> west to the first river crossing --> just after crossing take Rice Camp Trail (multiple creek crossings but can walk on rocks......usually) --> take East Cowpen Trail to Buckeye Mountain --> take Hickory Ridge Trail back toward Jacks River --> cross the river and the Beech Bottom Trail is just to the west --> take Beech Bottom Trail back to the trailhead. This will give you only two river crossings and you get to experience Jacks River Falls and some higher elevation. I think Buckeye Mountain is near 3600'. Make sure to fill your water bottles from the creek along Rice Camp Trail. There is very limited water at the higher elevations.
If you want a longer loop instead of taking the Hickory Ridge Trail continue several miles on East Cowpen Trail toward Cowpen Mountain. Just past the mountain take Rough Ridge Trail back toward Jacks River --> west on Jacks River Trail --> Beech Bottom Trail back to the trailhead. This will give you several more miles and some more creek crossings. I know campfires and camping is prohibited in the Jacks River Falls area. I think there is one area along Beech Bottom Trail where you can camp and have a campfire. It is a site along Beech Creek. Hope you guys have a wonderful time. Let me know how it goes and if you have any more questions, just send me a message. Take care and Keep Hiking!
please tell me you have a bear deterrent with you cause you are right smack dab in the middle of bear country. nice vid. surprised ga. dnr hasn't put a fee box up yet, they gottem for everything else.
Hey man, is this the Jabo I know? I definitely keep a little bear deterrent with me. You are correct, I hike in this area all the time and I see plenty of bear. I have only had one incident where I felt uncomfortable. You are kind. Thank you for your nice comment. I am sure the fee box is coming soon to a location near you. LOL. Hope all is well with you and your family. Take care!
So this route starts at Hemp Top Trailhead ---> Penitentiary Branch Trail --->Jacks River Trail and then come back the same way we came from? So the over all hike was 12-13 miles + 6.5 miles? I really want to go there this month and just wanted to prepared for it. Thanks in advance
+rock lee I appreciate you stopping by and watching the video. As you probably already know the Cohutta Wilderness is a beautiful place. I know you will enjoy it. This hike is a large loop. You do not have to return the way you came. I have another video Cohutta Wilderness Penitentiary Branch Part 2 which shows the remainder of the loop back to the trailhead. The route starts at Dally Gap which is the Hemp Top Trailhead. Dally Gap can be accessed by taking Highway 5 in Blue Ridge, GA to GA Highway 2 then at Watson Gap a four way intersection turn right onto Forest Road 22. Drive 3.5 miles to Dally Gap. The trail route from the Hemp Top Trailhead is as follows: Hemp Top Trail (2.4 miles) -> Penitentiary Branch Trail (3.5 miles) -> Jacks River Trail (6.4 miles) which brings you back to Dally Gap for a total of approximately 12-13 miles. It is a really nice loop. Try to make an overnight of it since there are plenty of camp sites at Jacks River. When Penitentiary Branch Trail connects with Jacks River Trail make sure to turn left and go up river. There is an immediate river crossing at this point. Plan on getting wet because there are 18 river crossings on the Jacks River Trail back to Dally Gap. My Part 2 video shows each of the crossings. Be very careful after heavy rains. Hope you enjoy. Give me a follow up and let me know how it goes. Keep Hiking!
Im scared to death of the wilderness. Alone..hell no! BigFoot? Who knows?
Hello! Yes, a wilderness area can be a little disconcerting. Sleeping alone in the forest for the first time is definitely a different experience. I remember my first time and I don’t think I slept more than a few minutes at a time without waking up. There are all kinds of weird sounds and noises. Give it a try. You can do it. Can’t say I ever saw a Bigfoot but as you say......who knows! I agree with you.......I don’t want to ever see one especially alone in the wilderness. You made me smile. Have a wonderful weekend! Take care and thank you for watching!
Not sure about about that shirt
Hilarious! It is a Salomon shirt. I think it might be a bikers shirt. Thank you for watching! Take care!