Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest
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Roadless Rule Area Interactive Map
I don’t love posting about current events, but this resource is timeless -> https://www.onxmaps.com/onx-access-initiatives/roadless-rule
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Clearing Blowdown on Conasauga River Trail
The most satisfying parts of volunteering with a Forest Service Trail Crew (specifically the amazing Cohutta Wilderness Trail Volunteers) is the direct connection between work and result.
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Conasauga River in Summer
Conasauga River in Georgia’s Cohutta Wilderness, Chattahoochee National Forest
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Ancient Rock Formation in the Cohutta Wilderness
The Cohutta Wilderness protects some of the oldest land in North America as part of the Ocoee Supergroup.
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Mountain Laurel Flowering
This mountain laurel was growing on a overlook with a perfect dotted pattern on its white petals.
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Catawba Rhododendron Flowering
I get a lot of the rhododendrons mixed up but one easier(?) way for me to just to note when it’s flowering. This guy was a particularly hot pink along the trail.
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Bend on the Conasauga River
Georgia’s Conasauga River is one of the loveliest rivers I’ve ever seen.
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A Saddle on The Conasauga River Trail
The Conasauga River Trail is wholly within Georgia’s Cohutta Wilderness. Even though it’s mostly along the river, it also goes up onto saddles between ridgetops, especially at the end.
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Dogwood Tree Growing on The Ground
This dogwood was pushed to the ground by a larger tree, but it stayed rooted and healthy. Now it looks like Dogwood flowers are blooming on the trail.
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Luna Moth Chillin’ in Georgia’s Cohutta Wilderness
Luna moths are so striking, especially when they contrast against an oak tree.
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Dwarf Violet Iris Showing Out in the Chattahoochee National Forest
I love the pop of purple color that Irises’ bring to the Southern Appalachians.
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Honeybees Working Hard
Bees are such a win-win-win. These hives are in a clearing in Smithgall Woods State Park. They are maintained by Ally Bees Honey (who I highly recommend for local Georgia honey). They pollinate the wildflowers, native plants, and wildlife food plots…all while creating so much extra honey.
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Wildlife Clearing on an old Appalachian Bald
Appalachian Balds are a historical mystery. But they are very man-made now. This one is one of my favorites. I’ll gatekeep the exact location (it’s up an old logging road in a Georgia State Park donated by a dedicated conservationist near Cleveland, GA), but it’s maintained by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources as a wildlife clearing. There are views in the winter, but birds and wildlife year-round.
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Cohutta Wilderness Trail Crew Work on Hickory Creek Trail
The Cohutta Wilderness Trail Volunteers spent a good bit of time in 2025 working on the Hickory Creek Trail. It is one of my favorite trails, but has been hit hard by storms in the last couple of years.
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Clear Conasauga River
I’m always amazed at how clear Georgia’s rivers run near their headwaters in the Chattahoochee National Forest. The combination of running across rocks and being filtered by forest instead of being silted with erosion is lovely to see.
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Makeshift Bridge over a Swollen Jacks River
In the Cohutta Wilderness, the Jacks and Conasauga Rivers can rise fast after a rain. Due to a bit of poor planning, I woke up one morning to an uncrossable Jacks. Thankfully, this tall and otherwise healthy pine tree had fallen at just the right spot across the river. It provided a useful bridge and a bit of adventure.
