Lake Conasauga, north Georgia

Triple · 08-15-2014, 11:55 AM

Since so many people frequent this forum (and the "Dirt" section in particular) these days...

Aboard the Triumph earlier this week, climbing Hwy 2/52 between Chatsworth and Ellijay past Fort Mountain State Park, I passed a signed labeled "Lake Conasauga Recreation Area, 14 miles." Having never noticed this before, I decided to research the lake upon returning home that evening. The following morning I mapped a very rudimentary route to the lake through the trails and service roads of the Cohutta wilderness.

And into the woods I went...

Good thing I brought one along!

It doesn't say "good" or "talented," just experienced. Guess I'm good to go...

I think the highest peak in this area reaches about 4000 feet above sea level. Wherever the trail breaks through the trees, you're met with views like these:

I found these creepy things in the middle of nowhere. Alien crypts? Secret military weapons stores? Nazi war bunkers?

Nearly 25 miles from where I entered the woods east of Eton, I finally reached the lake. At almost 3200 feet, it's the highest lake in the state of Georgia. It only has about 19 acres of surface area, but like most dammed, man-made mountain bodies of water, it is probably very deep. Beautiful area, and for such a remote place, very well equipped as well. There is a clearly marked swimming area, a nicely groomed trail that circumnavigates the lake, a boat ramp, two nice campgrounds, bathrooms with running water, and multiple pavilions with grills and picnic tables. Still, that far from civilization and on a mid-Thursday afternoon, the place was deserted.

A few miles beyond the lake, the trail ends at Grassy Mountain Tower (alt. 3400 feet). The tower's platform was inaccessible, but I snapped a few shots from the stairs:

All told, I covered just shy of 60 miles in the "wilderness" over the span of about five hours. With a good map and enough food/gas, I could camp in here and ride these trails and service roads for a week and still not cover the entire system. Most of the trails within 20 miles of my house dead-end a few miles into the woods-- great views and good times, sure, but nothing like the interconnecting network of trails in the Cohutta / Fort Mountain area. These trails connect at least three cities across 50 (or more miles) of wilderness in any given direction.

Turbo Ghost · 08-15-2014, 03:15 PM

Very nice! Looks like somewhere I might have to visit in the future!

Gas Man · 08-17-2014, 09:39 PM

WTF were those things? And is that a fire watch tower?

RedRider2k2 · 08-19-2014, 11:38 AM

Wow, beautiful area.

Tsunami · 08-25-2014, 02:00 AM

How fun! Make me want to get a smaller dirtbike so I can go play off the beaten path.

Triple · 08-25-2014, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsunami

How fun! Make me want to get a smaller dirtbike so I can go play off the beaten path.

Smaller than a DR200..?

Tsunami · 08-26-2014, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triple

Smaller than a DR200..?

I think something like a TTR125 would be perfect. I'm fine on flat packed wide trails but the technical stuff, I would like something smaller. I'm tiny!

EpyonXero · 08-26-2014, 05:16 PM

Cool, looks like fun.

08-15-2014, 11:55 AM	#1
Triple uncomfortably numb Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: JOH-JAH! Moto: WR250R & Bonneville Posts: 409	Lake Conasauga, north Georgia Since so many people frequent this forum (and the "Dirt" section in particular) these days... Aboard the Triumph earlier this week, climbing Hwy 2/52 between Chatsworth and Ellijay past Fort Mountain State Park, I passed a signed labeled "Lake Conasauga Recreation Area, 14 miles." Having never noticed this before, I decided to research the lake upon returning home that evening. The following morning I mapped a very rudimentary route to the lake through the trails and service roads of the Cohutta wilderness. And into the woods I went... Good thing I brought one along! It doesn't say "good" or "talented," just experienced. Guess I'm good to go... I think the highest peak in this area reaches about 4000 feet above sea level. Wherever the trail breaks through the trees, you're met with views like these: I found these creepy things in the middle of nowhere. Alien crypts? Secret military weapons stores? Nazi war bunkers? Nearly 25 miles from where I entered the woods east of Eton, I finally reached the lake. At almost 3200 feet, it's the highest lake in the state of Georgia. It only has about 19 acres of surface area, but like most dammed, man-made mountain bodies of water, it is probably very deep. Beautiful area, and for such a remote place, very well equipped as well. There is a clearly marked swimming area, a nicely groomed trail that circumnavigates the lake, a boat ramp, two nice campgrounds, bathrooms with running water, and multiple pavilions with grills and picnic tables. Still, that far from civilization and on a mid-Thursday afternoon, the place was deserted. A few miles beyond the lake, the trail ends at Grassy Mountain Tower (alt. 3400 feet). The tower's platform was inaccessible, but I snapped a few shots from the stairs: All told, I covered just shy of 60 miles in the "wilderness" over the span of about five hours. With a good map and enough food/gas, I could camp in here and ride these trails and service roads for a week and still not cover the entire system. Most of the trails within 20 miles of my house dead-end a few miles into the woods-- great views and good times, sure, but nothing like the interconnecting network of trails in the Cohutta / Fort Mountain area. These trails connect at least three cities across 50 (or more miles) of wilderness in any given direction.

08-17-2014, 09:39 PM	#3
Gas Man Trip's Assistant Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Imported from Detroit Moto: 2009 HD Street Classic Posts: 12,149	WTF were those things? And is that a fire watch tower? __________________ -Chris "Why pay somebody else to fuck up your bike?" Run Amsoil Product

08-19-2014, 11:38 AM	#4
RedRider2k2 Holier Than Thou Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: N.B, Canada Moto: 06 ZX10R, 18 400 Ninja, 11 KLX250s Posts: 463	Wow, beautiful area. __________________ Good judgement is the product of experience...Experience is the product of bad judgement. Sometimes The Faster It Gets, The Less You Need To Know. But You Gotta Remember The Smarter It Gets, The Furthur It's Gonna Go.

08-26-2014, 05:16 PM	#8
EpyonXero AMA Supersport Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Redneck Riviera, FL Moto: 2003 VFR800f6 Posts: 2,531	Cool, looks like fun. __________________

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08-15-2014, 03:15 PM	#2
Turbo Ghost Movie Star Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Kingsport, TN. Moto: KLR650 Posts: 682	Very nice! Looks like somewhere I might have to visit in the future!

08-25-2014, 02:00 AM	#5
Tsunami Pug Queen Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Las Vegas, NV Moto: DR200, SV650 Posts: 2,486	How fun! Make me want to get a smaller dirtbike so I can go play off the beaten path.