Fort Mountain

Fort Mountain SP https://gastateparks.org/FortMountain https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Mountain_State_Park Fort Mountain State Park is located between Chatsworth and Ellijay on Fort Mountain in Georgia. The state park was named for an ancient 885-foot-long (270 m) rock wall located on the peak. The park offers many outdoor activities, such as hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. There are 14 miles (23 km) of trails inside the park. The park is also known for its unique scenery, a mixture of both hardwood and pine forests and several blueberry thickets. In addition, the park contains a 17-acre (6.9 ha) mountain lake. Atop Fort Mountain itself is a tower constructed by members of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).

Fort Mountain State Park Trail Map 405 301 407 301 408 407 201 407 West Overlook Big Rock Trail 401 302 #3 301 302 #4 Cool Springs Overlook & Gahuti Trailhead P P ldm Go ine 301 Creek Tr ail 410 #2 #1 GeorgiaStateParks.org/FortMountain #5 401 Office 301 Gahuti Trail 301 P PARK ENTRANCE 52 52 412 n Park Boundary Ga ho r ti Connecto 301 hut Tr ai l 1/2 mile Criminal trespass charges and search & rescue costs can be charged to parties guilty of negligence or failure to get user permits. 0 SCALE 52 Ellijay 1 mile Since trails may be closed for maintenance or inclement weather, check with the Park Office to ensure availability. Pi Permits required for all Bicycle, Equestrian and Backcountry Use Park Boundary Stone Wall Trail Fort Mtn. tone N. Sr Tr e ail Tow P #4 303 Mtn. Bike Trailhead Permit Required P Lake Trail #6-15 52 Park Boundary Park Boundary P 303 P Picnic Shelter 5 #1-5 Old Fort Picnic Area CCC S tone Towe r Trail #2 403 401 407 401 181 Fort Mountain Park Road • Chatsworth, Georgia 30705 • park: 706-422-1932 • emergency: 706-695-4592 • reservations: 1-800-864-7275 LEGEND Pinhoti Connector Trail Hiking Trails Big Rock Trail Campers Loop CCC Stone Tower Cool Springs Overlook Gahuti Trail (Backcountry) Creek Conn. 404 401 400 301 #1 #3 301 P a rk Bo ar y un d 410 Goldmine Creek Lake Trail (multi-purpose) Multi-use 201 North Stone Tower Stone Wall Upper Cabin Access West Overlook Biking Trails 301 302 303 Horse Trails 401 400 403 404 Park Boundary 52 West Overlo o k Tr ail Gahuti Trail 405 407 408 410 412 Parking “You are Here” Checkpoint Markers Park Office RV and Tent Camping Pioneer Camping Area Backcountry Campsite Mountain Biking Cottages Overlook Picnic Area Paved Roads Gravel Roads Symbols P Horse Stables Cliff Mine Road Chatsworth 52 Park Boundary i Tr ail Combination Trails Accessibility for Selected Trails Big Rock Trail 2350 2300 Mystery of Fort Mountain High atop Fort Mountain are the rocky ruins of an ancient “stone wall” with prehistoric origin steeped in legend. Generations of archaeologists and historians have unsuccessfully sought to unravel the riddle of this wall, one of several stone assemblages scattered throughout the Southeast. More than 150 years after its discovery, answers still evade us as to who built the wall, when and for what purpose. Theories abound, and one of the more realistic explanations is that the wall was built around 500 A.D. by a tribe of Native Americans for ceremonial or religious purposes. Others assert the wall was built by wandering bands of Welsh explorers during the 14th century as fortification against Indians. Welsh Prince Madoc has been credited with building several stone petroglyphs in the Southeast after supposedly sailing into Alabama. Another theory, based on Cherokee legend, is that the wall was built by the “Moon Eyes,” a race of light-skinned people who could see in the dark because of their larger or paler eyes. Or perhaps Spanish conquistadors, possibly Hernado de Soto, built the wall as a defense against Indian attacks. Since no artifacts have been found to support these theories, no one knows who built the “wall of stones” zigzagging across the southern face of the Cohutta mountain range’s most prominent peak. This part of the southern Appalachian Mountains rises above the Piedmont Plain and offers 80-mile views, making it an ideal location for ceremonial practices or defensive needs. The stone wall runs east and west for 855 feet, and its height varies from two to six feet. Archaeologists believe it was much higher before exploration and plunder by previous scientists and treasure hunters. Adding to the mystery are 30 “pits” built into the wall. Were these gun emplacements or symbolic to some ceremonial practice of earlier inhabitants? Will the secrets contained within these stones forever remain a mystery? Trail Safety & Etiquette • Tell someone your itinerary and expected return time. • Be prepared for unexpected weather changes by dressing in layers and carrying rain gear. • Take a map, water, snacks, first aid kit, flashlight and whistle. • Three short blasts on a whistle are known as a call for help. • Do not stray from trails. If you become lost, stay in one location and wait for help. This will make it easier for rescuers to find you. • Pack out all trash. • Keep pets on a leash. • Do not pick flowers or disturb wildlife. • Protect the landscape by staying on trails. Mountain Biking Safety & Etiquette • Wear a helmet. • Bikers yield to hikers and horses. • Announce your presence to others. When passing, a polite “On your left” or “On your right” is suggested. • Carry maintenance tools and replacement inner tubes. • Prevent erosion by staying on trails and not skidding. made by combining trails shown on the map 2800 2200 2750 2150 2700 2100 feet above sea level clockwise Compacted Natural Soil Surface Avg. Gra

2020 2020 Follow us and share your adventures. #GaStateParks GaStateParks.org Choose Your Own Adventure From mountains to lakes, and from salt marsh to streams, Georgia has dozens of places for you to kick back in the great outdoors. Tennessee North Carolina DADE Cloudland Canyon MURRAY WHITFIELD UNION Chief Vann House Fort GILMER Mountain 75 WALKER Resaca Battlefield CHATTOOGA Vogel Hardman Farm Smithgall Woods WHITE LUMPKIN New Echota Amicalola Falls DAWSON GORDON PICKENS Hike Inn James H. Floyd BARTOW 575 85 MADISON JACKSON BARROW 285 ATLANTA FULTON CLAYTON CARROLL Panola Mountain FAYETTE 20 Robert Toombs House Mistletoe TALIAGREENE FERRO COLUMBIA A.H. Stephens MORGAN 20 WARREN 75 JASPER BUTTS PIKE LAMAR UPSON 475 HARRIS CRAWFORD PEACH JEFFERSON BURKE Magnolia Springs MACON BIBB GriswoldvilleWILKINSON 75 Battlefield Ball’s Ferry TWIGGS TALBOT TAYLOR Hamburg JENKINS SCREVEN JOHNSON EMANUEL 0-150 16 WARNER ROBINS George L. Smith HOUSTON COLUMBUS LAURENS BLECKLEY CANDLER BULLOCH TREUTLEN MACON EFFINGHAM MARION CHATTAHOOCHEE MONTGOMERY SCHLEY PULASKI Florence Marina STEWART Providence Canyon Georgia Veterans SAM Shortline Excursion Train RANDOLPH Little Ocmulgee Gordonia-Alatamaha JEFF DAVIS BEN HILL ALBANY CALHOUN DOUGHERTY Kolomoki Mounds Flint RiverQuarium Jefferson DavisIRWIN APPLING GeneralBACON Coffee COFFEE WAYNE BAKER ATKINSON BERRIEN MITCHELL Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation BRANTLEY COLQUITT WARE COOK MILLER MCINTOSH Reynolds Mansion on Sapelo Island Fort King George GLYNN PIERCE EARLY Reed Bingham Laura S. Walker LANIER 95 CLINCH DECATUR Seminole Lapham-Patterson House GRADY 75 BROOKS CHARLETON LOWNDES Stephen C. Foster VALDOSTA THOMAS ECHOLS Florida GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES | 2020 Fort Morris LONG 95 TIFT WORTH CHATHAM Wormsloe Skidaway Island LIBERTY Fort McAllister TATTNALL TURNER George T. Bagby CLAY 75 LEE TERRELL SAVANNAH BRYAN TELFAIR WILCOX CRISP Fort Jackson EVANS TOOMBS SUMTER WEBSTER 16 WHEELER DODGE DOOLY QUITMAN SEMINOLE 4,500+ WASHINGTON 185 MUSCOGEE GLASCOCK JONES MONROE F.D. Roosevelt HANCOCK High Falls Jarrell BALDWIN Dames Plantation Ferry PARTNER ATTRACTION AUGUSTA 520 RICHMOND Elevation (Feet) Roosevelt’s Little White House GOLF COURSE HISTORIC AREA MCDUFFIE PUTNAM Indian Springs SPALDING PARK & LODGE HISTORIC SITE LINCOLN WILKES HENRY COWETA MERIWETHER OGLETHORPE Hard Labor Creek NEWTON 85 TROUP PARK Elijah Clark a lin ro Ca uth So ama Alab Chattahoochee Bend HEARD ROCKDALE 675 285 Watson Mill Bridge OCONEE WALTON DEKALB Sweetwater Creek ELBERT Fort Yargo ATHENS GWINNETT HARALSON Richard B. Russell 985 CLARKE Pickett's Mill Battlefield PAULDING 20 HART Victoria Bryant HALL COBB POLK Hart Don Carter GAINESVILLE Red Top Mountain Allatoona Pass Battlefield FULTON Etowah Indian Mounds Tugaloo FRANKLIN BANKS CHEROKEE 75 Traveler’s Rest HABERSHAM Dahlonega Gold Museum (5-mile hike from the park) Rocky Mountain FLOYD Black Rock Mountain TOWNS MoccasinRABUN Creek Tallulah Gorge Unicoi FANNIN CATOOSA Atlan tic O cean 59 CAMDEN Suwannee River Eco-Lodge (located 18 miles from the park) GaStateParks.org 1-800-864-7275 (PARK) #GaStateParks #See_Them_All Crooked River Family bonding? We’ve got you. In Sandy Springs, family vacations are a walk in the park—and our parks are exceptional. Enjoy the wooded scenery year-round, order an aquatic adventure right from the menu, or explore our unique playgrounds to make the most of your quality time together. visitsandysprings.org PLAY OUTSIDE ATLANTA. 2020 Guide to Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites High Falls Table of Contents Accommodations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14–15 Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 11, 13 Advertiser Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Chart of Accommodations & Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–7 2020 Guide to Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites Group Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 is published by: Historic Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 42–45 Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2600 Hwy. 155 SW Stockbridge, GA 30281 770-389-7286 State Parks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27–41 Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites are operated by the Department of Natural Resources. If you need this in an alternate format, contact the DNR. Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites accept no responsibility for errors of fact or omissi