The Georgia Overland Blog - GEORGIA OVERLAND

The Georgia Traverse Status - Reported Conditions

2/1/2018

Last Updated: 11/2021

To this great group of explorers and travelers, please consider sharing your recent Georgia Traverse experiences with the community. If you have relevant information regarding road conditions, closures, trees down, difficult terrain, etc. along The Georgia Traverse, please leave a comment below. Users will be able to visit the comment section and get a sense of what to expect as the road conditions along the Traverse change quite frequently. Note: Click Comments and scroll to the bottom for the latest updates.

In addition to any comments provided by users, you should always (I cannot stress this enough) check the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests Alerts and Notices Page before you visit the area.

Safe travels, David.

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest Service Road Closures Map Dates: Jan 10, 2020 - onward
The wonderful folks at the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest Service published this fantastic map with road closures and maintenance level descriptions. You really should be visiting this page prior to exploring our Forest Service roads. Their content follows...

For the convenience of national forest visitors, a new interactive map is available to help people understand temporary road closures. Official Motor Vehicle Use Maps determine if a road is open to public motorized vehicles. Contact our office for daily updates. Please note roads may be closed at any time. Roads not on the map are not open to public vehicular use. Please remember to practice TreadLightly! principles when traveling on public Forest Service roads.
Travel Responsibly
Respect the Rights of Others
Educate Yourself
Avoid Sensitive Areas
Do Your Part

174 Comments

Matthew W. Street

10/25/2016 07:22:12 pm

I'm doing the trail (hopefully in its entirety) this weekend. I'll report back.

Matthew Street

10/26/2016 09:27:21 am

^^ UPDATE. I'll be attempting it on a KLR650. Planning on camping along the way. Starting midday on Friday morning (it'll take 3 hours to get to the eastern-most terminus), and finishing on Monday early afternoon near Cedar Bluff, Al. I've been backpacking 20+ years, but this will be my first multi-day motorcycle camping trip. I'm trying a couple different GPS options along the way (Gaia GPS app and Map My Tracks Pro app). I'll post either a summary at the end, or some along the way if battery and signal permit.

Paul0580

1/2/2018 10:25:08 am

Does anyone know if Matthew ever got this trip in? Enduro camping sounds like a good time.

Nick Chapman

12/29/2019 07:41:23 pm

Looking at running this trail January 1-4. Anyone up for it?

David Giguere link

12/30/2019 10:03:59 am

Hi Nick,
I'm not too sure folks will see your post. Thanks to the Weebly platform idiosyncrasies, the latest/newest post is found at the bottom of the page. Also, you should definitely consult the Forest Service Motor Vehicle Use Maps and check the route you intend to take for seasonal road closures.

Check here under 'Download the Maps' https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/conf/maps-pubs/?cid=fsm9_029112&width=full

Google Map version here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=13PWpFMKC2-qAnwlVhbIWbUX5TXtImlCr

Safe travels and a Happy 2020 to you and yours!
David

Matt Nolle

12/30/2019 06:19:19 pm

We are running from east to west during that time. Packing our stuff now. We’ll be in SC tomorrow before dinner so we can start Wednesday

Scott Mac

12/30/2019 06:28:24 pm

Matt everything was open and in decent condition when we went just over 2 weeks ago only hard closure was Dicks creek rd if I'm not mistaken and locals said because it had an excess of trees down that FS was going to get to in spring. If your not going blazing fast do some of the off beat 4x4 trails as that's where the true wheeling really is. Other than chimney rock rd and section after charlies creek 90% of the traverse as marked with out going off the labeled pass is passable by grabdmas mini van but no matter what the back woods views of the mountains and back country was well worth it regardless. Going up to old cemetery was a must do and a good tiny bit of wheeling to do so and trey mount ascent from Chimney rock road was awesome wheeling and lengthy bit at that. Be aware of the minimal primitive non camp ground camp sites in last 90 to 100 miles there really out west really not much. Good luck to ya

Ryan Duarte

1/16/2020 10:28:00 pm

Has anybody hit the trail lately?

Dayne

10/10/2020 06:39:16 pm

ANYONE INTERESTED : heading up to Georgia next week and starting some trails around the 18th Feb 2020 for a week. Anyone keen as im heading up there solo. Got a full rig and winch. Just finish my truck build and going to have some fun - dont have a snorkel but will get by without it.
If you keen let me know 305 680 6874
Cheers

Stephen link

10/17/2020 08:09:59 am

The gate at Dick's Creek Road from highway 76 was closed and the road had road closed and no trespassing signs on the other end of the road. Tray Mountain Road was closed at the Chimney Mountain Road junction. That's as far as I got on my first day. Charlie's Creek Road was rough, but fun. I was able to pass without lockers.

David link

10/27/2016 02:17:42 pm

I'm looking forward to hearing about the trip. Thanks for sharing and safe travels, Matthew.
-David

Jeff

11/2/2016 07:30:32 pm

I am interested, too, to hear what the conditions, closures, etc. are like for this route. We are considering traveling this route next weekend. Thanks.

Jeff

Jeff

11/2/2016 07:30:54 pm

I am interested, too, to hear what the conditions, closures, etc. are like for this route. We are considering traveling this route next weekend. Thanks.

Jeff

David link

11/5/2016 06:14:54 pm

Pay close attention to trail closures, particularly in the Cohuttas as they are fighting fires in the area:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/conf/recreation

Scott ledingham

11/25/2016 02:25:21 am

Looking to ride this in its entirety in spring

David link

11/25/2016 10:55:43 am

Hi Scott,
Let us know how the ride goes this spring!
Safe travels,
David

2/21/2018 10:25:01 am

Ahoy Scott!
I just came across this site and associated tracks. I'm hoping to ride some segments soon. If you ride it sooner than me, looking forward to reading about your traverse.

2/21/2018 10:26:23 am

DOH! Might help if I read the dates of these posts. :|

Jeff C.

1/2/2017 10:42:20 am

I just did the majority of the traverse from 27-29 DEC 2016. We ran into two blockages/closures which I will detail shortly.

First things first: This is a great route! We had a great time on the trip and got to visit some beautiful areas. My brother and I grew up in Georgia and spent a lot of time in the mountains backpacking and camping, but this route took us to plenty of undiscovered areas we had never been to. I want to thank David for what was obviously a huge amount of effort to scout the route and create the GPS tracks.

Large portions of this route can be done in a two wheel drive vehicle. Traction was rarely a problem even in the rain, but a higher clearance vehicle is necessary to avoid the rocks typical of some of the less maintained forest service roads. Having said that, I strongly advise using a high clearance, four wheel drive vehicle with low range for the section from Dillard to Helen. Do not try this section in a Subaru or RAV4.

Navigating the route is easy using the tracks available on the web site. I followed the instructions on the FAQ page and used Dropbox to import the tracks into the Motion X GPS app on my phone. Using this app with the tracks proved to be very easy and we experienced no problems with staying on the route. I did not do a very good job of preloading the maps onto my phone, so there were plenty of times when we had the track line to follow but no map to look at. Was not a problem at all, but would have been a bonus to have the maps available when cell coverage was gone.

I consider this route to have five sections. The first section is from Burrell's Ford to Dillard. These roads are easy and just about any car could do this part of the route. To get to the beginning of the route we used Waze to point us to the Burrell's Ford Campground, which is essentially the beginning of the route. This route ends outside of Dillard. After completing this section, we headed into Clayton for some lunch. From the track Dillard is just a mile or two and Clayton is about 10 miles.

After lunch we started the second section which is from Dillard to Helen. This portion of the route is the most challenging of the trip and I feel that you should have a high clearance four wheel drive vehicle. We got a late start on the first day so we only finished about half this section before dark. Because of steady rain the whole day we decided not to camp. Instea we came across the Top of Georgia hiker's hostel right along the route at Dick's Creek Gap on US 76. Since it was Christmas time, the hostel was almost completely empty and we had the place almost to ourselves.

The next morning we continued on the route, eventually coming to Trey Mountain road which is where we had our first issue with trail conditions. After climbing this road for over an hour we came to a portion of trail that was washed out and was not passable for my almost stock Tacoma. There was a 50 yard long section that had 2-3 foot deep ruts and ledges. We probably could have spent a couple hours rock stacking and digging to get through, but we decided that it was best to turn around. My Tacoma is my daily driver and I had a nine hour drive back home after the trip, so for us retreat was the best option. It is possible that a heavily modified vehicle could make it through. This section is on the way up Hickory Knob on Trey Mountain road. If you are doing the route I would still do this section because it is a beautiful part of the mountains and because the road may be passable in the future. Worst case you have a great drive up a fun trail and turn around, best case you make it all the way through.

After turning around we headed back down Trey Mountain Road, hit the pavement and headed into Helen for gas and lunch. I recommend the Troll Tavern, which is located right on the river in the middle of town.

After Helen the hard stuff is behind you. This third section goes from Helen to the beginning of the Cohutta loop. This section is pleasant but the roads are rocky and we didn't make very good time. The Cooper's Creek WMA is especially nice and has a very nice campground that would make for a great night if your timing is right. It was only mid afternoon for us so we continued on. Eventually we decided to leave the route in Suches head down into Dahlonega for the night because the forecast called for thunderstorms and winds above 30 mph. I went to college in Dahlonega so I am always looking for an excuse to visit, so it wasn't a hard decision for us. We had some awesome pizza at Gustavo's on the square and called it a night.

We got up the next morning and headed back up to Suches to pick up the trail. It had rained heavily during the nigh so the trails were slippery, but nothing too difficult. By lunchtime we arrrived at the beginning of the Cohutta loop, which is the fourth section.

If you consider the loop to be a clock face we entered the loop at the 3-4 o'clock position off Old GA 2, which is where the GPS tracks

Jeff C.

1/2/2017 10:56:49 am

If you consider the loop to be a clock face we entered the loop at the 3-4 o'clock position off Old GA 2, which is where the GPS tracks bring you in. We decided to turn right and go around the loop counter clockwise. The roads in this section are good, but some sections are rough and rocky, making for slow going. It took several hours to get around the loop and we averaged 10-15 mph on this section like we did for the rest of the route. This section is gorgeous and feels very isolated. Through happy coincidence, we wound up on the far west side of the loop just before sunset. There are two overlooks on the west side that provide absolutely jaw dropping views, and seeing these views at sunset made them even better.

At the very end of our trip around the loop we encountered our only locked gate. After 4 hours on the route we came across a random closed gate right at the Jack's River Fields campground. At this point we had completed over 90% of the loop but could not get past the gate to complete the loop without going back around the entire loop clockwise. At this point it was getting dark so we turned around at the gate and exited the loop at the southernmost point of the loop at Cow Pens Rd. Eventually we made it down into Elijay and then made our way back to my brother's place in Athens.

To reiterate, this is a great tip that I highly recommend. The navigation is easy, there is plenty of food and gas along the route and the forests and overlooks are amazing. My favorite section was from Dillard to Helen due to the more challenging 4wd trails in this area. My brothers favorite section was the Cohuttanloop for the isolating and breathtaking views. Whether you have a few hours or a few days, I recommend you load up the GOS tracks and give it a go. You will not be disappointed.

David Giguere link

1/2/2017 05:50:50 pm

Hi Jeff,
Thank you very much for taking the time to write this detailed post and for sharing your experience with the community. The information you provided is invaluable! I'm happy to hear you had an enjoyable and exciting trip!
All the best,
David

Max

1/25/2018 11:33:25 am

Great write up! Thanks for the information. How long did the trip take you?

Sticker link

2/6/2017 05:04:32 pm

Recently found this through a Facebook group. I have to admit this is incredible and just what I've been looking for.

Have a GIS bachelors degree, I can vouche for the incredible amount to of work that went into this. I myself will soon begin assisting where I can with my own data and experiences.

David, killer work. I look forward to running this in the wrangler and adding in my own information.

Best regards,
Sticker

David Giguere link

2/8/2017 04:26:21 pm

Sticker,
Thank you very much for the kind words. It really means a lot coming from a GIS professional. Stay in touch and please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with the community. I will migrate the site from Weebly to WordPress in the coming months as I work toward providing a better platform for users to share information and ideas. Wish me luck!

Joseph Grant link

2/26/2017 02:28:58 pm

We made our first attempt at completing the GA Traverse late last summer / early fall. Had a great time but technical difficulties cut our trip short. My buddy lost a tire on the rocks at Tray Mountain and we didn't have a spare with us...

We will be hitting the traverse again in April. Not looking for a lot of folks to join us but if anyone is interested in the trip, let me know. We have the proper recovery equipment to get you out of a mess if you happen to need the help.

I am really looking forward to our next outing.

David Giguere

6/11/2017 10:08:59 pm

I somehow overlooked replying back in February...apologies for the oversight! Tray Mountain has developed a rugged stretch that is proving challenging to many prepared rigs. Good luck out there!

Anthony

5/8/2017 05:16:21 pm

I can't thank you enough for making this website and putting in such an incredible amount of work to share with others. I am down in Fort Lauderdale, FL, but I want to get some friends together and do a nice trail ride now that we all have the vehicles and means to do so. This will more than likely be our first endeavor.

Thanks again.

David link

5/10/2017 10:54:11 am

Thank you very much for the kind words, Anthony. Keep us posted on your travels!

Zachary Evers

8/1/2017 08:55:56 pm

Im looking to do the traverse trail in my 99 stock 4 runner 4x4 with factory e locker a few days before thanksgiving, are there any recent trail updates? ill be coming from St. Augustine, FL. Thanks in advanced.

David Giguere link

8/25/2017 01:41:40 pm

Hi Zach,

Before you make the journey, and while en route, keep an eye on road closures and conditions here:
https://www.facebook.com/ChattOconeeNF/ and https://www.fs.usda.gov/conf
In addition to road closures, you may find a few areas of difficult terrain along The Georgia Traverse. Safe travels and let us know how your trip was!

Jon Lindquist

10/15/2017 09:12:21 pm

Hey man I'm planning on doing this route at the same time you are and I'm coming from port saint lucie. I have a 4runner same as yours. Maybe we will see each other out there. My 4runner is black and I'll be pulling a black trailer that has a truck bed with a topper on it. Good luck

Ryan Gomiela

10/24/2017 05:12:14 pm

I was thinking of doing it at the same time in my 2000 2wd lifted 4runner. I would be coming from Melbourne FL

Jason Koertge link

9/22/2017 05:27:09 pm

Hey everyone! Just released vlog 40 where we tackle Tray Mountain. If you want to see what it looked like as of end of June 2017, check out the vlog!

https://youtu.be/3WaOdtBkqrc

David Giguere link

9/24/2017 04:23:36 pm

Thanks for posting, Jason! Your videos are amazing and I really appreciate the (multiple video) Georgia Traverse coverage. I recommend everyone take a look at Jason's Swell Runner Overland Youtube channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQK7hF9bit4jpmXGoSNl3BQ

All the best,
David

Cameron

10/26/2017 09:33:12 am

Awesome replies guy, I have a f350 I ll be taking up that way from savannah ga probabaly 12/28/17-1/1/18 if anyone has any suggested sections, it's a fairly capable truck, however has pretty horrible turning radius even for a long bed.

Justin

10/29/2017 09:16:06 pm

I've been exploring the N. GA mountains for a while now and stumbled across the website while planning a trip of my own. You've really helped me make some good trips around the area.
I'm writing this sitting in a cabin in Blue Ridge that I took the Helen to Blue Ridge section to get here. As I've only been familiar the Tray Mtn portion so far, thought I'd get my feet wet on another part.
I started my trek turning onto 348 from 75A and headed West. I stuck to the Doug's route for pretty much the whole journey and ended on 515. For the most part the trip was uneventful and easily tackled by a 2wd and competent driver. It did start to get interesting after turning off of Skeenah Gap onto FS640. This road was really the least improved as section of my drive and is starting to resemble sections of the lower East side of Tray Mtn Rd. Not too technical but also not for anything with low clearance. There were a couple of spots with pretty sticky mud holes that could be an issue if you don't carry some momentum into them.
I never shifted in to 4wd though I did have traction control disabled.
Drove FS95 again today after a day of rain, a little dusting of snow, and below freezing temps and it was a little sloppier than on Fri.

My total trip time from my house to downtown BR was 5h37m and 119mi. Nothing fancy about my rig, stock 2011 f150 4x4 ecoboost with 35's, so decent ground clearance. Would have been a little quicker but I planned poorly for the navigation part of the trip. No cell service made the Duncan ridge to FS640 stint difficult.

I've got unedited video of the trip that I'll try and share somehow if someone wants a preview.

4runner crowd going in Nov, you guys shouldn't have any issues, but check the closure dates on the forestry roads. Many of them are closed Oct30-Apr1.

F350 guy, some of the trails are a little tight as the side of my truck will atest but you should do fine.

If anyone has any questions let me know and I'll do my best to help you out and wouldn't mind joining some folks in a leg or two.

Travis Rayner

10/29/2017 10:30:40 pm

My wife and I are planning a 4 day Thanksgiving trip to north GA. We drive a Subaru Outback (stock) and are looking for some good backroads to explore. Don't need to go rock climbing due to ground clearance, but still need a little adventure that won't tear up the vehicle.

I am glad I found this group and have started looking at the maps, etc. Any insight that may be helpful would be appreciated! We only have about 3 weeks before we roll! Thanks!

Justin

10/31/2017 10:51:02 am

What part of N. Ga are y'all headed to?

Jon lindquist

11/4/2017 09:24:59 pm

Thanks for the info bud. I'll have to look into the closure dates as that might be an issue

Travis Rayner

11/8/2017 10:07:31 am

We are still planning, but it looks like we will start at the far western side which is nearest to home. We will be pulling our little Bunkhouse motorcycle tent camper with us. I plan to lower the air pressure to soften the ride a bit. I know it will slow us down...as I don't want to beat it to pieces!.

I have been following several of the detailed tracks and from the west side to near Blue Ridge looks doable in the Subie. Don't want to go rock climbing or heavy mudding...just looking to enjoy a slow pace and great scenery.

Thanks...I do need to also check for closures!

James

10/31/2017 08:20:55 pm

Just completed another of the GA Traverse legs. We have previously run the Burrell's Ford to Dillard sections and always found conditions, even in the rain, to be fun and relaxing as well as offering beautiful forest scenery. What surprised me is that in mid September and early to mid October the wild flowers along the roads were just outstanding!

Over the last few days (10/28-10/31) I explored and camped at a variety of campsites, one along Hale Ridge Rd which appeared to be an unidentified 4x4 trout fishing campsite and located another site by taking FS 696 off of Hale Ridge (Holcomb Creek Rd) which intersected with FS86B. I headed south back towards Hale Ridge/Overflow Creek Rd. finding another unidentified two-track leading deep into the forest. Both sites were wonderful and so very private in late Oct. However the colder air loves to settle into the valleys so be prepared for a bit of a chill at night in the bottoms or be prepared for lots of windy conditions on the ridge tops.

On my final day and night I connected with eastern side of Tray Mountain and found it to be very exhilarating! Rain had been heavy two days before I got there so there was still a lot of run off but no serious rutting. The rock crawling was awesome and provided a first time to seriously test my little 2002 Ford Ranger 4X4. Made it all the way up, however not finding a suitable camp site after passing the first AT crossover, I reversed back down Tray Mountain east and used one of the 2 roadside sites which worked out great.

Upon leaving the Tray Mtn. Rd camp early in the morning heading to Helen I had a great surprise. I encountered a black mountain lion walking down the road towards my campsite. It turned quickly, swinging its long tail around and scampered back up the road then cut right into the forest not to be seen again.

Like other posts, the Coopers Creek Duncan Ridge Rd is a fine gravel road and other than great campsites and scenery didn't prove any challenge for my travels. The only concern I have at this time is that many of the Traverse roads are also within various WMAs and all those campsites are full of hunters.

Since I have a disdain for group campsites I always look for very remote dispersed camping and so far have had no problem finding sites to suit my temperament.

David, can't thank you enough for all the work and effort you've put into this collection of routes. I have and will continue to enjoy these special places with my wife of 30+ years. Since she is a biologist we spend enormous amounts of time stopping to identify wildflowers, mushrooms, birds, butterflies & trees. So, as you can imagine, travel time and distance are secondary to the outstanding outdoor natural experience.

Best to all!!!

David Giguere link

11/23/2017 10:53:18 pm

James,

Thank you very much for your trail report! It sounds as though you had a wonderful trip last month. Thanks for sharing your experience with the community and I'm jealous of the black cat/panther/mountain lion sighting. That's practically legend and a rare sighting indeed! Amazing.

All the best,
David

Paul0580

11/30/2017 07:50:54 am

Any word on a road closure list? des USFS post this anywhere?

David Giguere link

12/1/2017 01:55:22 pm

Hi PAUL0580,

The links are found here: http://www.georgiaoverland.com/plan.html

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest Alerts are here:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/conf/alerts-notices

Also, take a look at the Motor Vehicle Use Maps for seasonal closures: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/conf/maps-pubs/?cid=fsm9_029112

Have a great weekend,
David

travis west

12/24/2017 08:02:44 am

hoping to start the traverse the day after Christmas, i looked on the USFS website and did not see any road closures that corresponded with the traverse map. Does anyone know of any closures that are on the traverse map that I might run into?
thanks in advance.

David Giguere

12/26/2017 10:57:31 am

Travis,
Take a look at the Motor Vehicle Use Maps for seasonal closures: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/conf/maps-pubs/?cid=fsm9_029112

Safe travels,
David

Michaeluessing 3 days

12/31/2017 08:59:18 pm

I am looking at this adventure in the spring. Recently purchased a jeep and overland trailer with rooftop tent. I want to make this trip with my 10 yr old son. What is the typical time frame. I'm guessing 3 days. Thanks for providing this great resource!

David Giguere link

1/4/2018 04:51:30 pm

Hi Michael,
Thanks for the kind words and I'm happy to hear it's a useful resource. Three days is a reasonable time frame, with the vast majority of your time spent exploring the areas east of Dalton, Georgia.
Safe travels!
David

Paul0580

1/2/2018 12:18:42 am

I completed the western leg from Silver Hill Road to the end of Conway Road today. It's all clear. It doesn't look like that area had any snow damage from the recent storm. Such a beautiful area, but it was frustrating to see all the garbage strown down the roadsides. Thanks for putting the routes together.

paul0580

1/2/2018 10:40:25 am

BTW, the gate at the southern end of FS205 at Jenkins Gap Rd is open.

David Giguere link

1/4/2018 04:47:59 pm

Hi Paul,
Thank you for sharing the information with community!
Happy 2018,
David

dave barnes

1/23/2018 08:45:00 pm

Hi David
had a couple of questions:

I was planning on doing the traverse, starting on 1/26/2018 thru 1/28. starting in dalton and headed east. is this going to be a bad time to go because of hunting season and will i be able to find a camp spot. Also do i need any kind of permit from wma, to ride the traverse.

Thanks for your help

Kevin

1/31/2018 06:01:04 pm

Hi all I'm from Ohio and was thinking about going in early March with my Famley any insight on weather temps to expect?

David Giguere link

2/23/2018 01:01:58 pm

Hi Kevin,
I would plan for overnight lows in the mid to high 30's and daytime highs in the low to mid-60's. It will be chilly in the evenings and while it's not likely, you should plan for even cooler temps and the possibility for inclement weather in early March.
Have a great trip,
David

Paul

3/1/2018 05:15:25 am

AND wind. With the wind forecast for the next few days, I would be concerned about blow-downs. With limited resources, any road obstructions blown down will likely be there for several days or weeks.

Ben Harper

3/2/2018 09:06:01 am

Hey all, I was thinking of making this trip with my wife and two kids. From what I've read it doesn't seem like it would be a problem but if anyone has done this trip with kids I would to hear how it went with them. My kids love the outdoors, camping, and some mild 4 wheeling. Thanks in advance.

Frank Wilson

3/6/2018 07:24:36 pm

We took Tray Mountain Road North from GA75 to Corbin Creek Road. The gate at Corbin Creek Road was closed.
There was a road closed barrier across Tray Mountain Road at this point also. We had to backtrack to Indian Grave Gap Road. We then used Indian Grave Gap Road to go back to GA75 .

Just wanted to give a heads up for the road closures at Corbin Creek Road .

Paul0580

3/26/2018 10:51:00 pm

I'd be willing to bet that gate was opened on the 7th. USFS site said the seasonal closures were over then.

David Giguere link

3/27/2018 09:54:28 am

Thanks for the feedback Frank and Paul! The 2018 Motor Vehicle Use Maps are available and should include the seasonal and usage information. Take a look here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/conf/maps-pubs/?cid=fsm9_029112

Safe travels,
David

Chris

4/16/2018 11:04:33 am

David,

Thanks for putting this together! A small group of us from Dallas, TX and the DC area will be travelling the route from the eastern-most trailhead west as far as Eton, GA next week. Will document and report conditions as we go.

-Chris

David link

4/18/2018 09:17:55 am

Hi Chris,
Thanks for the heads-up and safe travels to the group. The community looks forward to hearing about your experience. Be sure to check the Chattahoochee-Oconee NF alerts page for closures and prescribed burn notices so you can plan accordingly.
Have a great trip,
David

Chris link

4/19/2018 05:17:47 pm

Looks like Dick's Creek Road (FS 164) and Tray Mountain Road (FS 79) are currently closed after all the rain in the area.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/conf/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD573027

Just a quick FYI to anyone else heading this way soon.

-Chris

David link

4/29/2018 09:21:37 am

Thanks for the update, Chris.

I received this from Dave N. on 4/20:

"FSR 164 (Dicks Creek) has a closed gate as of 4/20/2018. It was closed back in early March too but we figured it was due to not all roads had open gates for the season.

We entered from the south where this sections exits and went north and there were a lot of Posted signs so we figured best to turn around about half way up."

Thanks for sending the message, Dave, and apologies for the delay in posting.

Hannah McClure

5/24/2018 11:16:58 pm

My husband, pups and myself will be spending some of the memorial day weekend exploring this trail, starting from the east and headed west. Probably just end in Blue Ridge this time. We will update you all with anything crazy in case you plan to get out for the weekend as well.

David link

5/25/2018 02:50:02 pm

Hi Hannah,
Thank you for keeping us posted and have a wonderful time exploring North Georgia this weekend!
Safe travels,
David

Paul0580

6/17/2018 09:47:16 pm

https://www.lumpkincounty.gov/2018/06/13/rainbow-family-gathering/

There are MANY FS road closures around Nimblewill Church area. The Bull/Jake Mtn areas have been invaded by the "Rainbow Family Gathering." Plan accordingly and check the USFS site for current closures and restrictions.

David Giguere

6/27/2018 09:08:59 am

Thank you for sharing this, Paul. I've updated the Georgia Overland FB page and failed to post this here. Much appreciated!

Derek Kern

6/23/2018 12:28:40 am

Ill be attempting portions of the Traverse starting July 9th. Ill be doing it on a klr 650.

I've been studying the maps from National Geographic, trails illustrated #777 Springer and Cohutta . Also trails illustrated #778 Brasstown bald and Chattooga RIver. Ill be adding/subtracting some roads, and areas as I go. Ill update as time permits.

Thanks for the information you've compiled so far. Its been a grate resource in planning!

David Giguere

6/27/2018 09:10:27 am

Thanks for the kind words, Derek. Have a great ride and safe travels! Also, be sure to keep an eye on the Rainbow Family updates here:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/conf/RainbowFamily

Jake

6/24/2018 09:43:10 am

Kennesaw Ln/Dicks Creek Rd #164 is currently closed. Riding to the National Forest boundary is open(2 miles), but there is a closed gate that prevents further travel.

David Giguere

6/27/2018 09:25:17 am

Thanks for the update, Jake!

David Giguere link

6/27/2018 08:58:42 am

Rainbow Gathering Information for the Chattahoochee National Forest is found here:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/conf/RainbowFamily

"The Rainbow Family of Living Light has chosen to hold their 2018 Annual Rainbow Gathering on the Chattahoochee National Forest on the Blue Ridge Ranger District. The unauthorized gathering site is located near Bull Mountain off of Forest Service Road 28-1 in the community of Nimblewill about 15 minutes from Dahlonega, Georgia.

The unauthorized gathering could draw anywhere from 2,000 -- 10,000 people. Officials expect the attendance to peak the week of July 4. Any event of this size can have significant impacts on local communities, natural resources, traffic, and visitors. Please continue to visit this site for regular updates. "

Nolen Grogan link

7/31/2018 12:19:57 pm

Abe Gap Rd / FS 32c leg is closed. If you come in from the west like I did here is a well worn path around the gate that could be mistaken for a hazzard marker since the road is washed out.

The east end at Patterson Gap Road is gated and impassible so this required a full backtrack to Persimmon Road.

Nolen Grogan link

7/31/2018 12:32:29 pm

Tray Mountain Road and Corbin Creek Rd section Tray Mountain Rd 1 had a ROAD Closed sign.

I ended up traveling north on Unicoi Turnpike north to Hiawassee HWY 76 and picked up the Traverse again at Barefoot Rd and Hwy 76

David Giguere link

8/2/2018 01:24:46 pm

Hi Nolen,
Thank you very much for sharing the Abe Gap Rd, Persimmon Road and Tray Mountain Road closures. This will certainly save others considerable time! Unless it's a scheduled or seasonal closure, you just never know what to expect from one day to the next. I suppose that is what makes it an adventure!

All the best,
David

PS. Check out Nolen's See and Eat Mississippi site!
http://seeandeatms.com/

Brandon

8/30/2018 09:07:07 am

Did the traverse this weekend, We ran into one trail with the gate closed it was off a major road but i cant remember which and tray mountain was very washed out. I think tray mountain is actually closed right now due to heavy rains.

David Giguere link

9/3/2018 04:55:43 pm

Thanks for the update, Brandon! The community should plan on Tray Mountain closures.

Safe travels,
David

Robert Temple

9/3/2018 09:04:33 pm

Patterson Gap Rd is blocked off due to a serious washout approx. 8 miles up from Dillard, GA side.

Phillip Billingsley

11/11/2018 08:39:20 am

Hi!
I have a Stewart Stevenson overland truck and was wandering if any of the trails is passable in a truck that size.
Thanks in advance for any feedback

Paul

11/11/2018 02:10:10 pm

Most of these roads are gravel service road in the NF. Others are paved or semi-paved county and state routes. You will encounter some low or encroaching branches from time to time, but probably 80-90% of the time your height/length won't be an issue.

David Giguere link

11/12/2018 10:04:04 am

Hi Phillip,

Cool rig! As Paul mentioned, low trees (branches, fallen trees, etc) will likely be the primary issue for you. Your S&S is a foot or two taller than many of the typical 4wds on the trails, so it's possible you may find downed trees that everyone else could just drive underneath. Not sure how much height reduction is available through airing down with the CTIS. Width shouldn't be too much of an issue as long as you don't mind the occasional branch making contact in the overgrown sections. The wheelbase shouldn't be much of a challenge as you will not find too many really tight turns. It's possible you may find a bridge that's not built to support 10 tons. The bridge on the western side of the Cohutta Wilderness, on Old Hwy 2, had signage stating a 6 Ton limit. Granted, that was many years ago and it's possible it was upgraded since then. Keep the weight of the M1078 in mind, though.
Safe travels,
David
Georgia Overland

Phillip Billingsley

11/14/2018 07:40:43 am

Thanks Paul and David for the feedback. I'm not too concerned about the occasional brush contact. More on the height and weight. I can't wait to go explore the trails, I don't live very far from The start at BF and never knew they existed until now. I'll keep you posted on how it turns out with the S&S
Thanks again guys!

Dave Nanney

12/10/2018 10:19:59 pm

Phillip, In regards to your S/S overland rig I agree with the others on the width and height clearances, you should be ok for the most part. There is one section that I took very recent (I just completed the entire Traverse the weekend of Nov 30 - Dec 3, 2018) and that is section FS-86C "Totter Pole Road" as a more scenic route that is a bit more adventurous. I would NOT recommend that a rig of your size would make it down this stretch. It comes out at Hale Ridge Road and turn right to get back to the Traverse. Check out my posting on the Georgia Overland Facebook page of my most recent trip. As far as Cohutta, there are no tunnels but there are some low hanging trees that could be a problem. But if you have a rig of that size, carrying a chainsaw shouldn't be a problem to have on board.

Now that I think more about it, there is a section off Patterson Gap Road about 5 miles past Dillard that might be a little tight for a rig that big.. Some of these places really look like you are driving through people's backyard and then a little while later look like you are driving right up another persons driveway into their front yard. (David, the road next to Santa's tree farm is what I am thinking of).... Anyway, good luck with doing the entire Traverse, its an amazing trip and well worth taking your time and see all there is to see along the way... especially in Cohutta Wilderness! Cheers -DN

Phillip Billingsley

2/12/2019 03:58:53 pm

Thanks Dave for the great information!

I still have a lot of work to get done on the rig and hopefully be finished by mid summer. All the information I can gather till then is greatly appreciated

Thanks again

JAY A NORWOOD

2/10/2019 08:58:27 pm

Completed from Burrles Ford to Trey Mountain this weekend with my 14 and 12 year old. No issues with the Google map version and GPX upload into Gaia Maps. Ran into many on the trial and learned some tricks and tips for solo trips. Trail conditions were excellent and camped off FSR 79 Lat: 34.76959 Lon: -83.66886 at the McClure Creek and Chinquapin Branch-can hold 4-6 vehicles and after the rough trail we were ready to burn some steaks and relax. My 12 year old did a hel of a job ground guiding and we used the MAX TRAX to help down the trail from Lookout Campsite to Chimney MTN

Dicks Creek Rd near Moccasin State park was in poor condition with lots of trees down but the water crossings were fun-all the way to the end where we found a locked gate at HWY 76 Lat: 34.90093Lon: -83.60890. There were some good campsites there but with all the private property signs I didn't like the route.

Next trip we will bypass and pick up where we left off after some fly fishing off Warwoman Rd and Overflow Creek Rd and FS 86 Junction. Love this site and was happy to find some challenging trails only well equipt 4x4's can travel. Beutific, scenic and excited to pick up-see you OUT THERE!

David Giguere link

2/11/2019 08:37:38 pm

Thanks for the great report, Jay!

Bryan Haskell

3/2/2019 04:40:54 pm

Heading up to do the traverse. Going to start in Eton, GA and head east. Anyone have any updated trail conditions? I know some of the forest roads were supposed to open 3/1. Going to bring a chainsaw to clear any trees.

Bryan Haskell

3/5/2019 08:57:47 pm

Made it from Eton to Clayton in 2 days. Only encountered two short sections of closed trail. Super fun route. Going to finish the last section tomorrow and the head up to hurricane creek

Tray mountain is no joke but my xterra made it through no problems.

Paul Rushing

3/6/2019 06:20:07 pm

So, what were you driving?

Bryan Haskell

3/6/2019 08:19:20 pm

Finished the GT early today and headed up to run Hurricane Creek Rd .That run was a lot more than I anticipated but made it through without any issues. Headed the rest of the way to max patch and watched the sunset.

Did all of this in a 2011 xterra with 2" lift and 33" tires.

David Giguere link

5/3/2019 04:46:36 pm

Thanks for the feedback, Bryan! I'm sure users found the information useful.
-David

Fischer Lord link

4/3/2019 11:02:46 pm

I completed almost the entire traverse (from west to east).
I encountered two closures, one of which actually ended up being a major detour.
Again, these directions assume WEST to EAST
The first is Dicks Creek Rd right after Lake Burton is closed with a gate. Detour is to go back out, turn left, and head up GA2 (Lookout Mtn Scenic Hwy) till you get back on track.
The second is right after the Abe Gap Rd/ FS32C junction, there's a clearly brand new gate blocking the road before any of the fords. This requires a detour back out and onto Patterson Gap Rd I think. I did not actually take this route so cannot confirm for sure whether it's open.

As for everything else, my 2001 Dakota did well. I used the Atlogis US Topo Maps Pro app for navigation which was a breeze, and had my laptop as backup (which was really helpful). Overall a good trip I plan to repeat in the summer.

Fischer Lord

4/3/2019 11:04:37 pm

I should mention my Dakota has a 3" lift, all terrain tires

David Giguere link

5/3/2019 04:49:11 pm

Thanks for the intel, Fischer. The detours can be a bummer and they do keep things interesting!
-David

Kevin R Phillips

6/25/2019 08:55:18 am

Hey all!

My schedule is a little cramped, so I am going to attempt this on a Friday afternoon through a Sunday night.

I am about an hour away from the eastern trailhead. Would probably hit the trailhead around 5pm and drive from there.

With Tray Mountain being closed and having to route around it, do you think I could finish in one weekend? I have plenty of lighting, so I am fine doing some night driving if I need to go until 9-10pm at night to make it.

Thanks!

Nolen Grogan

6/25/2019 09:42:35 am

I ran it last year in 2 full days. The entire thing.

This year I did West Side to Tray Mtn in an afternoon and Tray to Dalton GA in one day.

I was solo. Running pretty hard but I did drive all over Tray Mtn. Just one section is closed. Plenty tk see up there

Kevin Phillips

6/25/2019 09:52:52 am

That is awesome to know! Thank you Nolen!

What vehicle were you in? Did you have a winch? I do not yet have a winch and am trying to determine if I need a buddy to drive along or not.

I have a 3 inch lifted Tacoma trd off road, so locker and ATRAC should help out unless it is a mud pit!

Nolen Grogan

6/25/2019 10:12:47 am

I have a bone stock TRD pro 4Runner on 285s. No winch. The only 4 low spots on the trail are the closed trails on the south side of Tray Mtn. Maybe one climb going west just north of there. I’d say you would have to be way off route or tearing up a mud hole like I saw a bunch of idiots doing to get stuck.

Kevin Phillips

6/25/2019 10:32:54 am

Perfect! That is all I needed to know.

Thank you sir!

Chad Lauderbaugh link

6/27/2019 10:39:19 am

Ran the open sections in full June 17-20th east to west, taking our time. At 34.64723, -85.2156, right at the junction, we came upon what I believe was a blocked road and a meth lab. There was black and yellow tape - the kind you'd buy at a hardware store that looks like police line but isn't. It was across the road, with a tree stump sitting behind it. Further behind that, was another tape line, and then a dump of several cases of fluorescent tube-style light bulbs which were crushed and broken to prevent driving through. Beyond that was another tape line and a parked car (sedan). The tape was new, unfaded and not dirty, so it likely just happened that morning. I've come across a deterrence situation like this before in my travels and know it's best to not confront. But it did block a large section of the trail south down 212.

Paul

6/27/2019 10:21:43 pm

Did this get reported to the Rangers or local sheriff?

Chad Lauderbaugh

6/28/2019 08:05:35 am

In our reroute, we came upon a forest service worker fixing a sign. We told him and left it at that. We didn't actually "see" anyone, but all of the warning signs to stay away were there and an armed confrontation wasn't in my vacation plans.

Paul

6/28/2019 03:21:48 pm

In no way did I intend to suggest you confront anyone up there, just wanted to be sure they know about it. Tweekers are dangerous folks and I just wanna ride!

David Giguere link

7/16/2019 09:51:52 am

Thank you for sharing this with the community, Chad. Be safe out there!

Jatween

7/16/2019 12:35:47 am

I’m so excited that we will set on to run the whole trails in 5-6 days this August. I’ve been running through Tray Mountain and Flat land, and other small trails. This time, the first time is all in. And btw we from Florida. Please please leave any tips and tricks or dos and donts. All is appreciated.

Kevin P

7/16/2019 09:18:13 am

From what I understand, Tray Mountain is closed right now due to deep ruts.

Otherwise, you should be in for a beautiful trip! Have fun!

David Giguere link

7/16/2019 10:00:33 am

Thanks for sharing the current conditions on Tray with the community, Kevin. Have a great time, Jatween. Five to six days will allow you to really take your time camping, hiking, etc. Safe travels and be prepared to re-route as trail/road conditions and closures pop up with little notice. Take a look at the "Current Forest Service Road closures on the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests" Map found here:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=13PWpFMKC2-qAnwlVhbIWbUX5TXtImlCr

Bert Poston

7/16/2019 12:43:44 pm

Drove the loop around Cohutta and Big Frog wilderness areas yesterday (7/15/19), all clear, all open.

David Giguere link

9/25/2019 07:47:19 pm

I know it's a late reply and thank you for sharing your experience, Bert!

Brett

8/20/2019 12:37:22 pm

Ran it back in June 14- 20 in my stock LX470 on 285's. Got on around Eaton just north of Chatsworth. Stayed in the forest service campground first night.Had to clear a small tree on Cow Pen Rd. Got off around Blue Ridge, no issues along the route.

Jumped back on at Skeenah rd, then through the northern part of Cooper Creek (where all the campsites were taken). Made it down to Helen.

Next day tried Tray mountain from the eastern side of Helen which was definitely closed, but people had been running it anyway (you guys are going to mess it up for everyone) Went up the west side of to the first campsite and found it full of trash, that section was open.

Ended up getting on around barefoot rd and taking Charlies creek all the way through to the Tallulah River crossing with no issues.

Can't wait to go back and finish the last bit.

David Giguere link

9/25/2019 07:51:56 pm

Thanks for your post, Brett. Sorry to hear about Tray Mountain and you're right about people ignoring the closures. I do believe we will see a section of the Tray Mountain trail permanently closed one of these days unless folks make better choices. Thank you for being a good role model and steward.

Scott Mac link

11/12/2019 04:23:14 pm

To my knowledge the technical south side of tray mountain if I have that right has had road closed signs since 2/2017. The Forestry service has never removed them knowing I've been there a few times since 2017 till now. I gather they are to lazy to assess it for people to drive up who are experienced and dont want to deal with the novice that may make a mistake. I dont believe the section should be closed there make many passes out west that are far worse and stay open constantly. I'd love someone to get an official plan/word on that section because honestly I know the section well and while I dont dare say go on I will say a little plastic half assed barricade that's collecting dust is no longer preventing me from venturing on. Looking forward to updates I'll be headed up again myself early winter and depending on conditions will make the pass and relay back. But I'm only in area from FL couple times a year but have a very capable rig

Scott Mac

12/10/2019 09:05:09 pm

So just finished up the traverse and not bad some more "possible campsites" need to be established west of Wilscot GA. Other than that here is the big update on Chimney Rock Rd. The status is there is no barricaded road closed only soft signs on trees. According to Georgia DRS the road will remain forever in the state it is in and the reason for road closed signs are for simple fact they are no longer maintaining. So that being said I made it all way from bottom to top ascending. There is 2 trees very large down across the rd. The max clearance is 8ft 8 inches unless you have a 24inch chain saw and some skill. I'll post video but again people are going up and down Chimney Rock Rd they are not working on it so its use at your own risk and user maintained. The wash out area and culvert pipe was easily conquered with stacked set of maxtraxx. Cheers all trail was great. Ph and Dicks Creek is barricaded closed due to excessive down trees which they are working to clear but not until spring apprently.

David Giguere link

12/28/2019 08:54:20 am

Thanks for the update, Scott! This is great information and I ask others traveling to this area to contact the Forest Service for confirmation on the status of Chimney Rock closure. I cannot encourage folks to cross a Road Closed sign and that’s not meant to contradict your report, Scott. Thanks again and safe travels!
David

Bryan

5/27/2020 03:57:24 pm

Any updates on the Traverse (Of late).....we are planning to run it in the next 30 days.

Gary

6/6/2020 09:46:53 pm

Ran a good part of the center section the last couple of days from Persimmon Rd to Cavender Gap Rd. The only closure we encountered was the section of Tray Mountain Rd between Chimney Mountain Rd and Corbin Creek Rd. Also, the Charlies Creek Rd section was easily my favorite. Some challenges but still fine for a novice like me.

eddie G edmonds

6/12/2020 04:48:03 pm

Hi, there, heading there in a couple of weeks with a 12 foot offload trailer, do you think that it could handle the terrain ? and were the bugs an issue ?, thanks

David link

6/15/2020 07:34:28 am

Thank you for sharing your experience, Gary!
Best regards,
David

Scott Mac

6/15/2020 07:51:41 am

Gary was Trey Mtns section between summit and Chimeny Rock Rd hard closed or signs only?

David link

6/15/2020 07:37:14 am

Hi Eddie,
I posted your question to the Georgia Overland Facebook group. You can view responses here:
https://www.facebook.com/829264830450089/posts/3164273106949238/

eduardo G. Edmonds

6/15/2020 12:26:16 pm

Thanks David

Brent

9/10/2020 11:00:31 am

Ran the eastern part of the Traverse this past weekend. Trail conditions were perfect. Only bummer was the Dick's Creek trail area was mostly closed on both ends. You could run some of it from South to North, but it closed off all of the potential campsites in the area.

Tom

9/22/2020 08:16:36 am

Ran the Cohutta loop this weekend, trail was perfect, except big big big tree down just west of jacks river fields horse camp.

Jack Forester

11/30/2020 12:49:18 pm

Can that FS map be right? Green is "temporarily closed"? Seems like those would be Red...

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=13PWpFMKC2-qAnwlVhbIWbUX5TXtImlCr&ll=34.993427357444475%2C-83.52435529491133&z=11

Levi

12/1/2020 09:04:09 am

Jack, the labels are wrong, green is open, yellow is seasonally closed, red is temporarily closed and black is permanently closed.

Brad Bishop

12/8/2020 04:01:26 pm

Charles Creek Rd

When you cross the Tallulah River you're met with severe erosion for pretty much the rest of the way until you get just outside of Hiawassee.

Brad Bishop

12/8/2020 04:09:15 pm

Patterson Gap Rd -> Coleman River

It's an untitled road. At the end you cross Coleman River (East -> West) and then there's a gate which is locked/closed which you have to drive around through the mud.

Jack

12/9/2020 07:13:07 am

I believe you are referring to FS32C. We were parked just north of that gate on FS54 on Dec 5th. We hiked up FS54A on Forest Service maps (or FS54B on the FS Status Google maps) to hit FS198 to head up to Chestnut Mt. Then we continued up to Steeltrap, Dicks Knob, Little Bald, hit the AT for a bit, then to Ridgepole Mt, then bushwacked down the south face to get to the trail coming down from Carters Gap to Grassy Ridge, eventually hitting Patterson Gap. We hiked Patterson Gap to FS 32C, which was open on that end, but was closed where it connects to FS54, but with room that people have been driving around the gate. Pay attention if driving FS32C, as there is some major erosion from the river choosing to take this road at times. I saw some 3ft deep washout, but looked like they could be driven around.

Kevin Nassery link

1/20/2021 06:15:50 pm

FS32C that connects FS32 to 54 is closed, I bypassed along FS32/A to Rogers Sale Lake which connects to Patterson Gap Rd, eventually meeting back up\
with the route after Patterson converts to Persimmon and intersects with Coleman River Rd.

I'm sure this is somewhat well known, but after the water crossing on on 70 to Charlies Creek, a high-clearance vehicle is pretty much required. I aired down to 20PSI here due to the sharp rocks observes as well. By far the most technical terrain of the open route between Wahalla & Mount Trey (what I've completed so far).

Off of HWY 76 the FS-164 is closed, just bypass on 76 (which becomes G197 and intersects the route back at Dicks Creek Rd. I did not backtrack on this segment to see if any of it was open from the other side.

Ok, heres the bummer. You can take Eugene Rd->Chimney Mtn Rd All the way up
through the neighborhood up until the gate of FSR79. I believe this segment
up to the top of Trey mountain is the one in Jason's (swellrunner) video and
was supposed to have the most challenging terrain. Here I decided to go around
on 356 and making a Right onto 17 going North in order to get some coverage
of Trey Mountain. You can take FS79/Rice Cabin Crk up all the way and met
what I believe is the other locked gate for the FSR79. This is a T intersection
(and the camp sight featured in Jason's videos). Corbin Creek Rd/698 was also
locked, so I backtracked back to the 238 which was open. This segment seems
to be used pretty heavily by crossovers and hikers FYI so it's a bit more
heavily trafficked than other segments. There is a water crossing at the
end of this segemnt that intersects again with 17 a few miles north of the
Rice Cabin Crk/79 trail I took up to the top of Trey Mountain.

That's where I'm at right now, stopped to write up these notes.

David Giguere link

2/17/2021 06:18:09 pm

Thank you for sharing your experience and taking the time to share detailed rerouting instructions. I will pass these updates along to the Georgia Overland Facebook page as they may prove useful to others. Safe Travels, David

Jack Forester

1/31/2021 07:20:20 am

Update on Tray Mt area

We were out peak bagging for the GA 4000 Challenge and mountain biked up FS283 (well, south) from Indian Grave Gap, then east on FS79 to Tray Mt. Could have driven all the way up to the intercession at Tray Mt, but from there, FS79 (headed SE) and FS698 (headed north) were gated off. FS79 coming from the southeast shows on the FS map as open year-round, but it was gated off at Tray Mt...

Saw some Overlanders at Tray Mt where the road was cut off. We hiked up to the top of Tray Mt to see the amazing views, then flew down the FS road passing all the Overlanders on the way down. We wanted to say thanks for pulling over and letting us pass!

David Giguere link

2/17/2021 06:23:44 pm

Thanks for sharing the gated road update, Jack, and for the kudos to the considerate Overlanders. Great to hear! Safe Travels, David

MAC-GEAR link

2/17/2021 08:16:11 pm

Just went up to Tray Mtn again and sadly as we all know the South pass has been closed for good the western pass coming off of 17 is getting rough past the 2 year round home sites. Good and bad. One section is a hard work around and deep but small. Sadly at top Corbin Creek has also been closed off not sure why as it's a really nice road in great condition. So now all your left with is coming up to Tray Gap from west off 17 turning around going back down to Indian Grave Gap rd and heading back to 17 for the loop. Indian Grave is in fantastic condition.

Id like to say please do your best to not only leave no trace but help if you can so Forestry doesn't close it off for good.

Happy Trails

Levi Richardson

2/19/2021 02:44:23 pm

Corbin Creek road is a seasonal closure.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/conf/alerts-notices

gets updated fairly regularly

MAC-GEAR

2/19/2021 02:52:15 pm

Last year went up same time not closed so that would be new if your saying seasonal which is rubbish as winter time has some best views with no leaves and less rain.

Matt Mckenzie

3/11/2021 01:56:33 pm

I just finished a trip driving west from the SC/GA border and here were the closures I came across.

164 at the junction of Highway 76
Chimney Mountain RD off Eugene RD coming from the east toward Trey Mountain
39 at the intersection of 180
640 at Skeenah Gap Rd
35 at Highway 60
221 just north of Tumbling Creek Campground

David Giguere link

4/3/2021 03:51:19 pm

Thank you for sharing the closures you experienced.
Safe travels,
David

John Teutsch

4/18/2021 11:15:16 pm

Hey man any tips as im abbout to do my first trip next monday to friday. 912-255-2674 or if anyone wants to join id love someone experienced to learn from

Matt Bickford

4/24/2021 10:02:59 am

Wife and I just spent the better part of 3 days on major sections of the trail in our bone stock 2021 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands (THANK YOU FOR THE MAP!)

We stayed at Copperhead Lodge in Blairsville and entered the trail at the same location for days 1 and 2: the Sunrise Grocery at 7568 Gainesville Hwy.

Day 1: We turned right onto W Wolfcreek Road at Sunrise Grocery. This is a pleasant section of trail that didn't feel too challenging - a good entry level for nascent over landers like us - but it was great! The Bronco scoffed and made fun of us. This was easy stuff. Somewhere between Yellowjacket and Buckeye gap we were turned around by forestry workers setting up a prescribed burn so we made our way back to 180 and rejoined the trail at Cooper Creek Road and FS 33a. and made our way north past Coopers Creek WMA. At the intersection of FS 33a and Duncan Ridge, there was a "Smoke Ahead" sign on the east road so we turned west and meandered all the way to 76.

Day 2: We turned South at Sunrise Grocery, visited Helton Creek falls (worthy) and soon found our way to Tray Mountain road. THIS was much more challenging - rocky, steeper, and less maintained roads in some areas. We LOVED IT and once again the Bronco rolled his eyes. Near the summit where Corbin Creek road meets Tray Mountain road, Tray Mountain road was closed, forcing us to Take Corbin Creek all the way to the Unicoi turn pike.

Day 3. We drove hard roads to Dillard. GA and headed east on Bettys Creek Road - Patterson Gap - Persimmon Gap - then onto a very narrow trail that was by far the most challenging (fun) section we drove. Steep, narrow, and blind tops. We just kept hoping that we wouldn't encounter an oncoming vehicle on this section. The first water crossing was uneventful but the second one had a substantial wash out that I briefly dipped the left rear hoof of the Bronco into but throttled up and out with no problem except some clenched human butt cheeks. The Bronco giggled. A short distance later we encountered a closed gate. We went around it. No way we were going back the way we came! It was late in the day so we visited Tallulah river then made our way back to the cabin via paved roads, skipping Charlies Creek. Maybe next time...

We think the Bronco needs a modest lift of 1 - 2 inches and larger, more aggressive tires but it did just fine in stock config with the conditions we encountered.

Craig Lengyel

5/3/2021 10:24:50 pm

Quick overnight over the weekend. Drove in friends stock Jeep Rubicon on the Betty's Creek Road to Tallulah River Campground section 5/1. Got a late start so only did that section and camped for the night at Sandy Bottoms. Even though it was Saturday, the only other cars we saw on the trail was at the larger "possible campsite" on FS32C before the trail narrows and turns sharp to the right. Campgrounds were busy, but a few spots at Sandy Bottoms further up the road and good sites along the water too!

Day 2 did the Charlies Creek road crossing over the river and completed the tough section before going up over the AT and back down to 76 before heading home. This was certainly a tough section, but nothing my friends stock Rubicon couldn't handle. Needed 4L at one point, but never disengaged the sway bar or put on the lockers - should be able to do this in most high clearance vehicles but would def recommend 4WD.

Matt Bickford

5/4/2021 05:40:57 am

How was the wash out at the 2nd water crossing on your day 1? Was the gate still closed just after that?

Craig Lengyel

5/4/2021 07:26:26 am

Yes the gate was still closed. We had to go around it - you need to be careful with clearance on the go around - my friend bent one of his step bars!!

David Giguere link

5/4/2021 10:48:55 pm

I understand that the gate on one end of a road may be open and the other end closed and gated. I also understand it’s a drag to turn around and retrace your route when you find a closed gate. However, we cannot drive around closed gates. Period. Full stop.

Nolen Grogan

5/5/2021 08:16:27 am

Is the gate a USFS gate or just something some local tossed up?

Matt Bickford

5/5/2021 08:39:28 am

It's a USFS gate. It's not locked but it is closed. There is a well-worn path around it.

Michael

5/23/2021 05:09:08 pm

Anyone want to join me May 28-June 1st for the traverse? I am solo and wanting to find a group to go with, haven't done this yet.

Nikki

5/31/2021 08:02:07 pm

My husband and I will be headed that way around the 5th of June.

Nolen Grogan

5/31/2021 08:17:19 pm

I just got back from the Traverse. I ran Dalton to 20 miles from the end on Friday solo to beat the Memorial Day crowds

The trail was great. I skipped all of Tray Mountain so I would not be tempted to run the off limits stuff.

The difficult section west of Tallulah River did not disappoint. It was very washed out. I don’t have my rear locker working and I had to pay attention in the 100 series without it. That is the only section where I saw a little trash and as always some odd-trail mud hole nonsense. The rest of the trail was nice and clean and it looks like people are staying on the trail nicely.

The second day I drilled holes all over the forest in the Far East section and ran lots of one way trails to mark campsites and explore. Was nice. Lots of people were pouring into the forest so it was good to be getting done.

BILLY LATINO

6/9/2021 04:08:53 pm

We are making a trip the weekend of july 9th-12th and was wondering on how long is it from dillard westward before another town with a motel?
TIA

Nikki

6/9/2021 05:38:06 pm

Helen is off the trail maybe about 30 minutes. There’s lots of cabins and things. It’s like a mini gatlinburg. As far as a motel, you might want to buy a cheap tent with a good rain fly cover, and try to get a primitive site at a camp ground.

Nolen Grogan

6/9/2021 05:20:03 pm

Billy. It depends on how fast you travel but Blue Ridge is the first town. Helen would be the next.

Danny G

6/30/2021 05:36:02 pm

Hi everyone!

I will be in Mineral Bluff for a few days with family beginning of August and want to take my daughters with me in my Defender X to explore for a day trip.

Any tips or advice for a first time visiter to the area apart from making sure we tread lightly and love the land?

TIA

DG

L.A.

8/5/2021 07:19:35 pm

In addition to following the Chattahoochee Oconee Nat Forest page for updates, I find they update Twitter more reliably/frequently about road closures for prescribed burns. @chattoconeeNF

The former head of this region has retired and the "new guy" says he is temporary. No mention of any road projects being addressed. I was told bids haven't even been shopped around.

Ben

9/27/2021 11:57:57 pm

Anyone run this trail on a bike or know of the best segments for adventure moto riding? I have an R1200GS and I’m wanting to plan some camping trips out of the bike in north GA. I look forward to sending the trail in my 4runner but I’m trying to put more miles on the bike.

Nikki

9/28/2021 07:15:55 am

If you have facebook, There’s a georgia traverse page it’s pretty active. However my husband and I saw some bikes riding through. I’ve been told that charlie’s creek has been bulldozed and graded, That would have been either a thrilling ride or a nightmare for you. We started near Helton Creek falls. There’s a camp spot right past this down a hill and to the right. There’s lots of space! You sleep beside the creek. We took our 4 runner. We didn’t do the whole trail and we got off onto the smokies 1000. Lots of nice riding through there as well.

Donny

10/26/2021 01:38:25 pm

Ran the trail from SC start to around Helen. Camped at Patterson Gap site and crazy but had Verizon service right there! 2WD almost the entire part I was on the trail. Made it past Charlies Creek and headed down through Helen and the madness of Octoberfest. Looking to come back in a month or two and complete a little more.

S. Velez

10/27/2021 08:47:07 pm

Just finished the portion from Burrell Ford, SC to Dalton, GA. The weather was perfect and so were trail conditions. The most challenging and also most beautiful section was right after the Tallullah river crossing. Thank you so much for all the info you provide on this site. We downloaded the tracks and waypoints and they were flawless.

Matt Bickford

11/1/2021 12:40:24 pm

Update from April - 2021.

We found ourselves "accidentally" on Charlies Creek road last week during vacation in N GA. I didn't even know that's where we were until I came to the Tallulah river crossing. We were trying to find our way back to the Tallulah campground area that we found in April and GPS routed us the "back way" via Hightower Road.

It seems Charlies Creek road has been substantially cleaned up because the conditions that caused us to avoid it in April, as evidenced by numerous YouTube videos we watched to prepare for the trip, were substantially better. Our Bronco Sport Badlands handled it well.

Ben

11/7/2021 06:34:56 pm

Starting in blue ridge and going west on the trail. Would I be safe in assuming I can establish campsites along the way big enough for my 4runner and a Jeep Wrangler just off of a FS road? Or am I looking at needing to reserve at specific sites? Going west meaning around the Cahuta Wilderness loop

will

11/17/2021 10:24:11 am

Hey Ben,
Yes if using gaia there are several "potential campsite" pins dropped that are basically first come first serve. I would not go in at night looking for one as they may all be full but we went last weekend with no issues and found sites peppered all throughout the trail. Use gaia and scan ahead to see if there are any in the area you think youll be in that evening. I was between burrells ford and helen. Have a great time!

Will

11/17/2021 10:19:58 am

Started burrells ford west to helen last weekend and had no issues, trail conditions were great and we did most of the trail in 2WD. Me in a lifted sequoia with 33s and a stock Xterra with mud terrains. There were 2 trail closures near lake burton; the right hand turn off of hwy 2 onto FS 164, and shortly after getting onto chimney mountain rd off of hwy 356 just before helen GA. Weather was perfect. Both were easy enough to work around using gaia. had a great time

will

11/17/2021 10:21:31 am

Yes, the section after charlies creek was graded and much less scary than the youtube videos i saw would make one believe.

Brandon

2/26/2022 04:37:13 pm

-I would not advise staying at Burrell's Ford Campground. You have to camp 1/4 mile from the parking area, and thieves took advantage of this and stole everything on the outside of my jeep and broke in.

Summary of current closures:
-32C/Abe Gap Road Closed. Continue on Patterson Gap to Tallulah River Road
-Dicks Creek Closed (off of 76/2), continue and make right turn onto 197
-Tray Mountain still closed; Bear left at the Tray Mountain "Y", Run that out to 75, and head south on 75
-FS39/33A (Off of Duncan Ridge) Closed
-West Skeenah Road Closed; Don't turn right onto Skeenah Gap Road, continue west on 60
-FS 35/95 Closed; Don't follow 60 North, take dial road West

David Giguere link

2/27/2022 10:05:12 am

Thank you for sharing this information, Brandon, and I’m very sorry to hear of the theft at Burrell’s Ford Campground.

Ana

3/2/2022 12:05:32 pm

Has anyone gone lately? we are planning on going at the end of march. Any suggestions as to where we should stop, camp, etc.? Are there parts close enough to the suburbs where we can go to the grosery to restock?

Kenneth James link

3/11/2022 02:08:24 pm

And maintenance level descriptions. You really should be visiting this page prior to exploring our Forest Service roads. Thank you, amazing post!

Hank

4/9/2022 09:11:19 pm

The entire route is open today except for the rough section of Tray mountain (Tray Mtn Road 1).

Winched several cars and small SUV's that were stuck on Tray Mtn Road 2 that were high centered or didn't have locking differentials. This section has some washing and is technical but doable with some ground clearance and proper tire placement We were in a JK and never needed 4wd.

MAC-GEAR Scott link

4/9/2022 11:14:49 pm

What are you calling Tray MTN Rd 2. There is only Tray MTN Rd, Corbin Creek Rd, Indian Grave Gap Rd (off west leg) and Chimney Rock Rd off East (closed leg) of Tray MTN Rd. I've actually been on all of them before they closed the one section.

Hank

4/10/2022 12:10:25 pm

I was referencing the GPX track section names in case someone is not familiar with the road names. Chimney Rock was closed yesterday.

I actually live on part of the route near the Cohuttas. I have been on Chimney Rock dozens of times - even in a car when it was just an easy dirt road. Is it closed permanently or just for repairs??

Eric Benner

4/24/2022 03:48:34 pm

Thank you for this report. I plan on leading a trip late in May and I do not know the area. So, any info is greatly appreciated. Is there an easy detour for the closed section? I'll check the maps. But if you know the area and can offer a detour, that is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Eric Benner
Curious Hound Overland (on Facebook)

Ben

5/5/2022 08:04:15 am

Doing the whole trail next weekend (13-16MAY). Done a couple of segments but now wanting to knock out the whole thing. Taking 3.5-4 days so I can take about a day longer than what the average time is according to the site. Overall, does anyone recommend starting in the east and going west or west going east? I was thinking starting west and going east due to the more technical stuff being last. Thanks y’all.

Brent link

5/23/2022 04:13:44 am

I think this site would help you:

https://www.onxmaps.com/offroad/trails/us/georgia/georgia-traverse

Thanks!

Ben

5/23/2022 09:45:17 am

Updating from my last post from when I went on the traverse on May 13th 2022:

I cut my 3.5 day trip to 2 days. Super scenic route overall but I was hitting numerous closed sections and after my 3rd road closure, I decided to move south into the Frank Gross recreation area to camp then head home the next day. The two sections that I can remember that were closed were "Tray Mountain road 1" FS Road 79 as titled in the Gaia route and "Dick's creek." There was another sizeable section that was closed but I forgot to waypoint it and also forgot the name of it with my bad memory. Tray Mountain could have possibly not been closed but there was a "road closed" sign nailed to a tree at the intersection beginning that section. I elected not to go up because I had gone up the other side of Tray mountain in the winter and there was a gate locked up at the top. So I elected to push more west since this was at about 1 pm during that day. However after being home for about a day, I already wished I was still out on the traverse again. I was hitting a lot of pavement and closures so I regrettably decided to call it. I think if those sections were opened, I would have changed my mind. I'll be uploading a video of my sections on YT in a day or two. I will definitely be doing more of it in the future to complete the route.

Ben McCloskey link

6/13/2022 04:25:41 pm

Hi all,

Just completed the GA Traverse this weekend. I started Friday night, and completed it late into the night Saturday (Sunday morning). I did it too fast. Should have spent one more night and taken my time on Sunday.

A few closures to list. My tracks linked below show the route I took to meet back up with the next portion.

- 32C is closed
- FS 164 Shook Branch is closed
- Kennesaw Rd is closed
- Tray Mountain East side road is closed
- Helton Creek Rd is closed until July 13, 2022

I think that’s all. My tracks are here: https://www.gaiagps.com/public/eiK6iaLZ6klOlcI4VvHzgIfI

My tracks show some wrong turns, but I typically figured it out pretty quickly, so overlaying it with the main files should be ok. Or just connect on your own, like I did. It’s not that hard to figure out how to meet up with the next section.

Most of the roads were in good shape, though. The roughest would probably be Charlies Creek Rd, FS 252 and FS 205. Not impossible, but high clearance was definitely needed for a few ruts, etc.

The Georgia Traverse Status - Reported Conditions

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