Difficulty: Easy
Length: 0.75 Miles
Blaze: Yellow
Big Rock Nature Trail in Fort Mountain State Park is perhaps my favorite short loop trail in Northwestern Georgia. This trail has almost everything, a great hike, two babbling creeks, wonderful overlooks, and cascading falls.
The Big Rock Nature Trail begins just past the road crossing the lake. Parking for the trail is in a gravel area to the left of the trail.
Don’t let the beginning of the trail discourage as it does not look like much, as it is somewhat muddy, and crosses under a section of power lines, but shortly after continuing down this hill, the hiker will enter a section of deeper forest where the trail really begins to become enjoyable.
Follow the Yellow blazed trail down the pathway for a few hundred yards where it will begin to run parallel to a babbling creek, and intersects the the much longer Gahuti Trail at a wooden bridge marked with Orange Blazes.
The trail does not cross the bridge, instead, follow the trail to the right. Although I do recommend standing on the bridge as the creek runs underneath, as the forest opens a bit for a beautiful overlook.
The trail then descends farther into the mountain hollow before turning back up the mountain ridge as a Yellow and Orange Blaze (marking Gahuti and Big Rock Nature Trail). This ridge provides some wonderful overlooks.
As the trail bends back around the ridge, it will meet up with Gold Mine Creek.
Gold Mine Creek cascades down the mountain ridge. The Creek provides some beautiful views of cascading waterfalls as it runs towards the hiker. Hike up largest section of the cascades, and don’t forget to look backwards now and again for overlooks.
At the top of the trail, Gahuti and Big Rock separate. Gahuti crosses over the creek via a bridge, Big Rock continues back up the mountain. The trail leaves the forest at the base of a dam blocking the lake.
At the base of the dam, there is also small birding area with signs indicating some of the local birds in the area. The trail ends back at the road that crosses the lake.
Nearby Trails:
Old Fort Trail – 1.1 miles
Gahuti Trail – 8.8 miles
Lake Trail – 1.2 mile loop
301 Biking Trail – 14.6 mile loop
Gold Mine Loop Biking Trail – 6.3 miles
Directions:
1. Follow I-75 to exit # 333 towards 411
2. Take GA Hwy. 52 8 miles past Chatsworth onto Fort Mountain
3. Turn left onto park entrance.
4. Once in park, turn left towards the lake, and follow to the right of the trail, cross the dam.
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