Colby, Author at Southeast 4x4 Trails

Map Updates & Additions

January 22, 2020

A new GPS route, USFS forest service roads, points of interest and campgrounds have been added to the map. The new GPS route starts in Dillard, GA and covers USFS and paved roads to Helen, GA. Click this link to go directly to the page for this route.

The points on this map are a collection of places I have visited and also that others have shared. Please respect the property rights of others and do not trespass on privately owned property or on trails or roads that are closed. The points with a gray pin are closed or inactive. When planning to travel on USFS Forest Service Roads always check the status of the road at the USFS Visitor Map as some roads are closed seasonally and some are open year-round. You can also check the USFS Forest Service Road Google Map for road status as well.

I try to keep the map updated to note when a trail or road is closed, but please reply to this e-mail or send me a message via the form on the ‘About’ page if you visit a point on the map that needs to be updated.

You can find any of the points in this e-mail by clicking the magnifying glass (search) icon on the map legend on the left-hand side of the map on the main page and typing in the name of the point.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MAP

GPS Tracks

The GPS track below starts in Dillard, GA and travels over 5 US Forest Service and paved roads to Helen, GA and is 46.87 miles long. The Google Map on the track page also includes a number of points of interest such as a fun (rocky) hill climb and water ford on Forest Service Road 72 – Charlies Creek Rd, scenic areas, waterfalls and campgrounds. Downloadable GPS tracks are available in KML and GPX format.

Dillard, GA to Helen, GA

Forest Service Roads

Added the following Forest Service Roads in GA:

Forest Service Road 283 – Indian Grave Gap Rd (Hiawassee, GA)

Updated the following Forest Service Roads in GA:

Forest Service Road 72 – Charlies Creek Rd
- Added photos and coordinate for water ford on the road
Forest Service Road 32 – Patterson Gap Rd
- Added photos

Points of Interest & Features

Added the following points of interest and features:

Bettys Creek Recreation Area (Rabun Gap, GA)
Coleman River Scenic Area (Clayton, GA)
Coleman River Scenic Area Trailhead (Clayton, GA)
High Shoals Trailhead (Hiawassee, GA)
High Shoals Falls (Hiawassee, GA)
Blue Hole Falls (Hiawassee, GA)

Campgrounds

Added the following campgrounds:

Permission Valley Campground (Clayton, GA)
Nichols Campground (Clayton, GA)
Tate Branch Campground (Clayton, GA)
Sandy Bottoms Campground (Towns County, GA)

Map Updates

Map Updates & Additions

January 6, 2020

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MAIN MAP

New USFS forest service roads, points of interest and campgrounds have been added to the map. I have also added a section to the site called ‘GPS Tracks’ which contains route information in Google Maps format and downloadable track files for import into your GPS or mapping device.

The points on this map are a collection of places I have visited and also that others have shared. Please respect the property rights of others and do not trespass on privately owned property or on trails or roads that are closed. The points with a gray pin are closed or inactive. When planning to travel on USFS Forest Service Roads always check the status of the road at the USFS Visitor Map as some roads are closed seasonally and some are open year-round.

I try to keep the map updated to note when a trail or road is closed, but please send me a message via the form on the ‘About’ page if you visit a point on the map that needs to be updated.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MAP

GPS Tracks

The GPS track below is a loop that starts in Ellijay, GA and travels up to Ocoee, TN and then Tellico Plains, TN along the Tellico River and loops back to the starting point in Ellijay. It also includes a number of points of interest such as the Conasauga River Snorkeling Hole, Mill Creek Scenic Overlook and Bald River Falls on the Tellico River. The downloadable GPS tracks are available in KML and GPX format.

Ellijay, GA – Oconee, TN – Tellico Plains, TN

Forest Service Roads

Added the following Forest Service Roads in GA, NC and TN:

Forest Service Road 16 – Cisco Alaculsy Rd (Old Hwy 2)
Forest Service Road 17 – West Cowpen Rd
Forest Service Road 18 – Holly Creek Rd (Conasauga Rd)
Forest Service Road 24 – Beaverdam Bald Rd
Forest Service Road 34 – Buckhorn Rd
Forest Service Road 46 – Amicalola Creek Rd
Forest Service Road 55 – Baker Creek Rd
Forest Service Road 61 – Sycamore Rd
Forest Service Road 67 – Sina Branch Rd
Forest Service Road 68 – Potato Patch Rd (Old CCC Camp Rd / W Cowpen Rd / Lake Conasauga Rd)
Forest Service Road 68D – Conasauga Lake Rd
Forest Service Road 77 – Oswald Rd
Forest Service Road 81 – Upper Santeetlah Rd
Forest Service Road 99 – Blue Ridge Rd
Forest Service Road 126 – Bald River Rd
Forest Service Road 185 – Clear Creek Rd
Forest Service Road 210 – Tellico River Rd
Forest Service Road 216 – North River Shortcut Rd
Forest Service Road 217 – North River Rd
Forest Service Road 221 – Peavine Sheeds Creek Rd (Sheeds Creek Rd)
Forest Service Road 244 – White Oak Gap Rd
Forest Service Road 384 – Wildcat Creek Rd
Forest Service Road 420 – Davis Creek Rd
Forest Service Road 420-1 – Davis Creek Rd / Beaver Dam Rd
Forest Service Road 630 – Mill Creek Rd
Forest Service Road 646 – Burrells Ford Rd

Points of Interest & Features:

Added the following points of interest and features:

Ocoee River Overlook
Dukes Creek Falls
Barnes Creek Falls & Picnic Area
Raven Cliff Falls Trail
Cullasaja Falls
Rainbow Falls Trail
Rainbow Falls
Turtleback Falls
Wildcat Creek Sliding Rock
Ocoee Whitewater Center
Mill Creek Scenic Overlook
Conasauga River Snorkeling Hole
Tellico River Overlook
Bald River Falls

Camgrounds

Added the following campground:

Cottonwood Patch Campground

GPS Routes

Ellijay – Ocoee – Tellico Plains

January 4, 2020

This route starts in downtown Ellijay, GA and travels across several Forest Service Roads to Ocoee, TN. From Ocoee it travels across a mix of paved and Forest Service Roads to Tellico Plains, TN. From Tellico Plains it travels along the beautiful Tellico River on Forest Service Road 210 (Tellico River Rd) and then to Murphy, NC and back to the starting point in Ellijay. Check out the photos below the map as well!

You can download the track of my trip and import it into your GPS or mapping program in KML or GPX format. Please note that that the entire route shown in the Google Map below is not included in these KML/GPX files. My route stops at the end of Forest Service Road 210 – Tellico River Rd. It started snowing the day that I did this trip and I had to turn back at the end of Tellico River Rd and did not complete the route through Forest Service Road 420-1 (Davis Creek Rd), Hanging Dog Rd or Unicoi Turnpike and Highway 74. The route will appear as half of the full loop when you import it into your device or program.

Please check the status of any Forest Service Roads that you plan to travel on prior to starting your trip. Visit the USFS Interactive Visitor Map and choose the search icon in the box at the top of the page and enter the name of the Forest Service Road. Click on the road name in the results and then click the map marker icon to view the details for the road. Responsible use will benefit all of us so the roads can be properly maintained and open for our enjoyment.

Make sure you take some time to stop along the following points on interest along the way:
■ Barnes Creek Falls & Picnic Area
■ Mill Creek Scenic Overlook
■ Cottonwood Patch Campground
■ Conasauga River Snorkeling Hole
■ Tellico River Overlook
■ Bald River Falls on the Tellico River

MAP PIN LEGEND:
Blue – Paved Road
Green – Forest Service Road
Red – Point of Interest

GPS FILE DOWNLOADS:
KML | GPX

Old Firetruck off of Forest Service Road 18 (Holly Creek Rd / Conasauga Rd)

Mill Creek Scenic Overlook

Jeep Near Mill Creek Scenic Overlook

Conasauga River

Conasauga River Snorkeling Hole

Forest Service Road Headed Towards Ocoee, TN

Hiwassee Union Bapist Church Near the Ocoee River

Historic Information for the Hiwassee Union Bapist Church

Tellico River Scenic Overlook

Tellico River

Tellico River

Bald River Falls on the Tellico River

GPS Routes

Dillard, GA to Helen, GA

April 27, 2019

This route starts in Dillard, GA and travels over 5 US Forest Service and paved roads to Helen, GA and is 46.87 miles long. The Google Map below also includes a number of points of interest such as a fun (rocky) hill climb (34.95823, -83.60152) and water ford (34.95083, -83.55275) on Forest Service Road 72 – Charlies Creek Rd, scenic areas, waterfalls and campgrounds. Also check out the red pin marked ‘Tallulah River Rd Jeep Trail’! The pins for FSR 283 – Indian Grave Gap Rd, FSR 72 – Charlies Creek Rd, FSR 32 – Patterson Gap Rd, Old Hightower Rd Campground and Tallulah River Campground include photos as well.

Please check the status of any Forest Service Roads that you plan to travel on prior to starting your trip. Click any of the links for the Forest Service roads below or visit the USFS Interactive Visitor Map or USFS Forest Service Roads (Google Maps) and choose the search icon in the box at the top of the page and enter the name of the road. Click on the road name in the results and then click the map marker icon to view the details for road. Responsible use will benefit all of us so the roads can be properly maintained and open for our enjoyment.

US Forest Service Roads:
■ FSR 32 – Patterson Gap Rd (Open Yearlong)
■ FSR 79 – Tallulah River Rd (Open Yearlong)
■ FSR 72 – Charlies Creek Rd (Open Yearlong)
■ FSR 283 – Indian Grave Gap Rd (Seasonal 3/17 – 12/31)
■ FSR 79 – Tray Mountain Rd (Open Yearlong)

MAP PIN LEGEND:
Green – Forest Service Road
Blue – Paved Road
Red – Point of Interest
Orange – Campground

GPS FILE DOWNLOADS:
KML | GPX

rocky-hill-climb-on-forest-service-road-72-charlies-creek-rd.jpg

Rocky Hill Climb on FSR 72 - Charlies Creek Rd

FSR 32 - Patterson Gap Rd

FSR 283 - Indian Grave Gap Rd

Old Hightower Rd Campground

Old Hightower Rd Campground

Old Hightower Rd Campground

Tallulah River Campground

GPS Routes

Forest Service Road 150 – Darnell Creek Rd

January 4, 2019

Rabun Gap, GA

forest-service-road-150-darnell-creek-rd-google-maps-track.jpg

Rabun Gap, GA
Latitude: N 34.95918° (N)
Longitude: 83.36274° (W)
Combined: N 34.95918° W 83.36274°
US Forest Service Chattooga River District

Road Data:
USFS Rating: 2 – High Clearance Vehicles
Length: 4.68 miles

GPS File Downloads:
KML | GPX

Notes:
■ The road is partially gravel but it gets rough in places. Not suitable for a non-4×4 vehicle. Moderate to high clearance suggested
■ The Darnell Creek Shooting Range is approximately 3 miles from the start of the road. It is a basic range with a couple of picnic tables. Bring your own target stands and materials to attach the targets to the stand
■ The Darnell Creek Shooting Range is located at N 34.95918° W 83.36274°

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Map Updates

Map Updates & Additions

January 1, 2019

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MAIN MAP

New forest service roads, points of interest and campgrounds have been added to the map.
3 new Journal (blog) posts have been added as well.

Journal (Blog) Posts

Added the following Journal posts:

William Preston Brown Homesite
Historic homesite within the Lake Russell WMA

Mountain Grove Cemetery & School
Historic cemetery and school site within the Lake Russell WMA

Toccoa River Swinging Bridge
270 foot long swinging/suspended bridge that crosses the Toccoa River in Suches, GA

NOTE: All Journal posts are visible on the Journal page as well. The main page with the map also displays the 3 most recent Journal posts as well (At the bottom of the page under the map legend)

Forest Service Roads

Added the following Forest Service roads in the Lake Russell WMA (GA):

Forest Service Road 92 (Red Root Rd)
Forest Service Road 92D (Kelly Mountain)
Forest Service Road 193 (Post Oak Corner)
Forest Service Road 92F (Farmer Mountain)
Forest Service Road 89A (Sellars)
Forest Service Road 89 (Pumping Station)
Forest Service Road 92B (Browns Bottom)
Forest Service Road 92A (Stephens)
Forest Service Road 87 (Guard Camp)
Forest Service Road 59 (Lake Russell Entrance)
Forest Service Road 59A (Lake Russell Loop A)
Forest Service Road 59B (Lake Russell Loop B)
Forest Service Road 59I (Nancytown Lake Rd)
Forest Service Road 191 (GA Mountain Orchard Rd)
Forest Service Road 191A (GA Mountain Orchard Br)
Forest Service Road 87A (Stone Grove Ridge)
Forest Service Road 62 (Currahee Mountain Rd)
Forest Service Road 62A (Pear Orchard Loop)
Forest Service Road 62B (Pear Orchard Rd)
Forest Service Road 389 (Frady Branch)
Forest Service Road 389A (Frady Branch Dr A)
Forest Service Road 389B (Frady Branch Trail Head)
Forest Service Road 194 (Allen Mountain)
Added USFS Road Ratings and length for all Lake Russell WMA roads

Other Forest Service Road Updates:

Forest Service Road 516 (Stone Place) (Tallulah Falls WMA)
Updated the eastern portion of Forest Service Road 79 (Tray Mountain) to Chimney Mountain Rd
Changed John Rowland Br Rd to Forest Service Road 518

Points of Interest & Features

Added the following points of interest and features:

Mountain Grove Cemetery & School
William Preston Brown Homesite
Tallulah Gorge Overlook

Campgrounds

Added the following campgrounds:

Lake Russell Campground
Lake Tugalo Campground

Places + Trails

Toccoa River Swinging Bridge

December 31, 2018

I came across the bridge by chance on the way home from a trip to Forest Service Road 39 / Duncan Ridge Rd recently. Located in Suches, GA (Fannin County) off of Hwy 60 you can take Forest Service Road 816 (Tooni Gap) 3.39 miles to a parking area. The hike down to the bridge from the parking area is about 1/4 mile.

The bridge was built in 1977 by the US Forest Service with assistance from the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club to provide a safer way to cross the Toccoa River (as opposed to attempting to ford the river). It connects the Duncan Ridge Trail over the Toccoa to where it meets up with the Benton MacKaye Trail. Spanning 270 feet, the bridge is the longest swinging bridge east of the Mississippi. Crossing the bridge is an exciting experience as the it bounces with each footstep and sways right and left!

There are primitive campsites below the bridge at the Toccoa River as well. It is definitely worth visiting the next time you are in the Suches area!

From the intersection of Hwy 515 and Hwy 5 (McDonalds) in Blue Ridge, take Hwy 515 east for 4 miles to the traffic light at Hwy 60. Turn right and go to the stop sign, then turn left onto Hwy 60. Go 1.5 miles into Morganton, then turn right on Hwy 60 South towards Dahlonega for 11.3 miles until you pass Skeenah Mill. Go for 0.7 miles and look out for the sign in the photo to the right. It is visible from Hwy 60. This is Forest Service Road 816. Take it 3.39 miles down to the parking area then hike for approximately another 1/4 of a mile to the bridge.

FSR 816 is rated ‘2 – High Clearance Vehicles’ by the US Forest Service. The road is gravel, but it can be rough depending on the time of year and conditions. A 4×4 vehicle or Jeep is recommended, or at least a vehicle with high ground clearance. Thanks to this article BlueRidgeMountains.com for these directions.

Forest Service Road 816
(Tooni Gap / Toccoa River Swinging Bridge)
■ N 34.76609°
■ W 84.16426°
■ 3.39 miles from road (Hwy 60) to parking area
■ USFS Rated 2 – High Clearance Vehicles

Forest Service Road 816 – Parking Area
■ N 34.73922°
■ W 84.17027°

Toccoa River Swinging Bridge
■ N 34.73697°
■ W 84.16762°

This is the sign affixed to the support overhead as shown in the photo above

toccoa-river-swinging-bridge-from-duncan-ridge-trail-side.jpg — Bridge from the Duncan Ridge Trail side

You can also find additional info on the bridge via the two links below as well. Both articles were used as sources for this post.

■ Atlas Obscura
■ NorthFulton.com

History / Places + Trails

William Preston Brown Homesite

December 31, 2018

Location / Coordinates
N 34.52795°W 83.43354°
Forest Service Road 92B in Lake Russell WMA
(Browns Bottom Rd)

william-preston-brown-homesite-lake-russell-wma-ga-2.jpg — WP Brown’s 1913 US Government Retail Liquor License

The homesite of William Preston (WP) Brown is located within the Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Cornelia/Toccoa (Stephens and Habersham counties) of off Forest Service Road 92B (Browns Bottom Rd). Today the historic homesite is mostly leaves, dirt and kudzu, but it leaves behind an interesting history.

WP was a respected and active member of the Mountain Grove community that existed within the Lake Russell WMA. He was known for his hard work farming the land of Browns Bottom and for operating a syrup mill and a legal (pre-prohibition) whiskey still down by the stream at his syrup mill site. He died at age 96 (1865 – 1962) and was married to Mary Farmer Brown (1868 – 1946).

Many of the Farmer family are buried in the Mountain Grove Cemetery which is also located at the intersection of Forest Service Roads 92 and 92B within the Lake Russell WMA. WP and Mary raised 9 children at this homesite.

WP was a respected and active member of the Mountain Grove community that existed within the Lake Russell WMA. He was known for his hard work farming the land of Browns Bottom and for operating a syrup mill and a legal (pre-prohibition) whiskey still down by the stream at his syrup mill site. He died at age 96 (1865 – 1962) and was married to Mary Farmer Brown (1868 – 1946). Many of the Farmer family are buried in the Mountain Grove Cemetery which is also located at the intersection of Forest Service Roads 92 and 92B within the Lake Russell WMA. WP and Mary raised 9 children at this homesite.

Quick history lesson on the Four Mile Purchase Treaty (I had to look it up) is below. Thanks to this article for the history.

Col. William Wofford and Jacob Hollingsworth moved from North Carolina to Franklin County, GA in 1972. They established a settlement which was known at Wofford’s Settlement. The property lines of this settlement were surveyed and it was determined that Wofford’s Settlement was considered to be within the territory of the Cherokee Indian nation.

Col. Wofford petitioned then Georgia Governor James Jackson to have the property lines re-drawn or provide some type of protection for Wofford and Hollingsworth and their possessions from Cherokee Indian raids. This ultimately resulted in an agreement where the United States agreed to pay the Cherokee Indian Nation $5,000 and $1,000 per year for the property rights to a tract of land that was 4 miles wide and 23 miles long. It extended from the Habersham – Banks County line on Baldwin Mountain to Line Baptist Church on old Hwy. 441, then from Currahee Mountain to the South Oconee River. This was known as the “Four Mile Purchase” of 1804.

WP Brown was the great-grandson of Robert Brown. Robert was mentioned in a letter that ultimately influenced then president Thomas Jefferson’s support of the Four Mile Purchase. It is thought that Robert and his wife Jane lived either at the WP Brown homesite or across the road (Forest Service Road 92B). It is also thought that Jane was possibly an Indian as Native Americans only had one name.

Both WP and his wife Many had great grandfathers that were veterans of the Revolutionary War. Robert Brown enlisted in 1776 and fought in the battle of Monmouth and the battle of Stony Point under George Washington. Mary’s grandfather Jacob Kytle also fought in the Monmouth and Stoney Point battles plus the battles of Guilford and Eutaw Springs. WP’s father Benjamin Pollard Brown was a Civil War veteran as well.

The US Forest Service has installed a place marker (you can see it in the photo at the top of the post to the left of my Jeep) that includes information about the homesite and WP’s family history (which is the source for this post). The photos below are of each page that is included in the place marker.

History / Places + Trails

Mountain Grove Cemetery Church & School

December 31, 2018

Mountain Grove Cemetery – December 29, 2018

Location / Coordinates
N 34.50077°
W 83.44158°

Mountain Grove Cemetery is located within the Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Cornelia/Toccoa (Stephens and Habersham counties). The cemetery is located within the WMA at the intersection of Forest Service Roads 92 and 92B.

Today only the cemetery remains, but this cemetery was part of the Mountain Grove community that existed within the WMA bounds in the early 1900s. At the site of the cemetery a church also existed which served as the local school after the original school building (“Ballew School”) burned down.

mountain-grove-cemetery-school-steps-lake-russell-wma-ga.jpg — These concrete and brick steps are the only part of the Mountain Grove church that still remain. These concrete and brick steps are the only part of the Mountain Grove church that still remain.

mountain-grove-cemetery-head-stones-lake-russell-wma-ga.jpg — If you look closely at the headstone to the right you can see ‘WC Farmer’ and ‘AUG 2 1845’ making him the oldest person that is buried in the cemetery. Also, if you look directly in the middle of the two headstones you will see one of the small granite headstones that do not any have markings.

According to the information at the cemetery site (see photos below) the Mountain Grove community had around 30 home sites. It also had 2 blacksmith shops, a packing house, multiple mills, a sawmill, the Currahee voting house and a syrup mill. There are also multiple cemeteries still located within the WMA as well.

The cemetery is privately owned. In fact it is the only piece of land within the Lake Russell WMA that is privately owned. No one has been buried in the cemetery since William Randol Brown was buried in 1958. As you look around the cemetery you will see headstones with dates all the way back to 1845 (William Crawford Farmer). There are also a number of graves with small granite headstones that do not have any markings (name, date of death, etc.) There are two relatives of those in the cemetery that will be buried here upon their death. According to the information at the site they also will be buried with plain headstones with no markings. It is said to be in honor of their ancestors who are buried in and around the Lake Russell WMA (see photos below for more details).

I thought this was a pretty neat piece of history to stumble upon while out riding around the Lake Russell forest service roads In fact, my wife and I are fairly certain that some of the ‘Farmer’ family buried in the cemetery are related to my wife’s grandmother whose maiden name is Farmer and has lived in Toccoa her entire life!

The US Forest Service has installed a place marker (you can see it in the panoramic photo at the top of the post) that includes information about the cemetery and the Mountain Grove community (which is the source for this post). The photos below are of each page that is included in the place marker. Read the text on pages 2 and 5 in particular for some interesting events that occurred in the cemetery at some point…