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Gahuti Mountain Trail
Hiking Trail
Moderate
7.86 mi
1,868 ft
An 8-mile hiking loop with lush views, challenging terrain, and a waterfall.
Translated as 'Mother Mountain' in the Cherokee language, the Gahuti Trail is one of the best hiking loops in the state park. Compared to Trail 301, another popular route, this is a foot-traffic only trail that highlights Fort Mountain's best features.
On average, this is a half day hike and most popular in the cooler months. Along the way, you'll encounter several lush overlooks that offer different views of the North Georgia Blue Ridge. Along the southern portion of the loop, the Gahuti shadows Trail 301. There, you'll be rewarded with sweeping vistas to the south plus a few benches where you could stop to catch your breath.
Circling around the west side of the reservoir, Goldmine Branch Falls is another highlight of this hike. A wooden bridge below the large multi-tiered cascade also makes this a popular destination for a shorter day hike from the campground.
If you want to turn this into an overnight trip, the official map of the State Park lists four backcountry campsites along the way. You could also reserve a site at the main park campground, then access the Gahuti Trail via one of the spur trails. The main trailhead is located near the end of Old Fort Road in the state park before you reach the trailhead for the fire tower, stone wall, and main overlook. For an extra 1-2 miles to the loop, you could visit any combination of those other popular landmarks.
Sources:
Written by Brendon Voelker
Translated as 'Mother Mountain' in the Cherokee language, the Gahuti Trail is one of the best hiking loops in the state park. Compared to Trail 301, another popular route, this is a foot-traffic only trail that highlights Fort Mountain's best features.
On average, this is a half day hike and most popular in the cooler months. Along the way, you'll encounter several lush overlooks that offer different views of the North Georgia Blue Ridge. Along the southern portion of the loop, the Gahuti shadows Trail 301. There, you'll be rewarded with sweeping vistas to the south plus a few benches where you could stop to catch your breath.
Circling around the west side of the reservoir, Goldmine Branch Falls is another highlight of this hike. A wooden bridge below the large multi-tiered cascade also makes this a popular destination for a shorter day hike from the campground.
If you want to turn this into an overnight trip, the official map of the State Park lists four backcountry campsites along the way. You could also reserve a site at the main park campground, then access the Gahuti Trail via one of the spur trails. The main trailhead is located near the end of Old Fort Road in the state park before you reach the trailhead for the fire tower, stone wall, and main overlook. For an extra 1-2 miles to the loop, you could visit any combination of those other popular landmarks.
Sources:
Written by Brendon Voelker
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gahuti CW | 7.87 mi | 453 ft | 0.1% |
| Gahuti Trail | 7.96 mi | -502 ft | -0.0% |
| Old Fort Rd Climb | 0.25 mi | 197 ft | 14.9% |
| Georgia 52 Climb | 0.59 mi | 233 ft | 7.5% |
| Georgia 52 Climb | 0.19 mi | 144 ft | 13.9% |
| Cliffmine Rd Climb | 0.25 mi | 157 ft | 11.5% |
| Fort Mt Park Rd Climb | 0.31 mi | 148 ft | 8.8% |
| Old Fort Rd Climb | 0.34 mi | 207 ft | 11.4% |