Cohutta Wilderness Trailheads — Attraction in Chatsworth

Second visit for me and still in love with Hickey Gap. Even though the wind was so strong on my 5th day there, it nearly sank my tent into the river.

So glad one of the regulars, was there whenI arrived. He helped me set up my campsiteand get some firewood cut, just in time before it rained.

I was a little worried at first about neing there alone. Well with my dog too. Nut seeing so many people tjat work and volunteer for the area made me feel more ay ease.

A volunteer came ny and noticed, I was breaking a few rules, unknowingly. Because I never read them myself. But he was very kind and helpful.

He let me know black bears were spotted in the area recently and to keep my food inside my truck. Also the correct place to park.

After the wind blew my tent over I decided Mother nature was sending me signals it was time to go.

So I started packing up everything. I got everything packed except my tent eas a little twisted by the wind and I couldn't get it to fold up. I prayed out loud for someone to please come help me. Ten minutes later, a maintenance person showed up and gave me a hand. Couldn't have asked for better timing.

Over all had a great time and plan to go back soon. Enjoy my photo's, i would have taken more had I not ran out of storage space. I only got to take anout 4k pictures this...

After winding through the breathtaking Cherokee National Forest, we weren’t quite ready to head back, so we pulled off for a walk through the Cohutta Wilderness Trails.

As a boy mom, I’ll admit I’m half-thrilled, half-terrified watching my little explorers scale boulders and splash along the edges of rivers. But even with my eyes half-closed in protective mama mode, I couldn’t help but be in awe. These trails are phenomenal. Towering trees, the cool whisper of river mist and the steady rhythm of whitewater rafters gliding by like poetry in motion.

One highlight? Watching rafters intentionally flip their kayaks and practice water recovery drills. It was wild, exciting and oddly reassuring. People really out here living and learning! It reminded me that nature is both a playground and a classroom and the best thing we can do is let it teach us.

This trail? It’s peace. It’s grounding. It’s a break from the noise of the world. Whether you’re solo or wrangling your wild ones like me, take the trip. Walk slowly. Breathe deeply. Reset often.

We’ll be back and next time, I just might keep my eyes open...

Live a few miles east and south of this area. Not good for motorcyclists in some areas, but great for hiking and primitive camping. Some of the last Old Growth Forests in the world, this area was one part of the Atlas Mountain range of Spain and Morocco when there was only one major land mass known as Pangaea.

The area is home to the Cherokee and other indigenous tribes and civilizations going back thousands of years. Once forested literally to death, horrible liberals instituted "government regulations" that allowed nature to reclaim that which white men stole fair and square in previous centuries.

If you want the "Deliverance" experience without the crazy pig pokers, Cohutta is your spot. So many trails, creeks, rivers, trails, trout, generally nice areas and small towns around the Forest. It is a great place for young and old alike to see what it is like to get back to nature, without having to be Ned Beatty.

Ned Beatty had the...