Fort Mountain State Park: Guide to the Perfect Day
Fort Mountain State Park is definitely high on my list of favorite state parks in Georgia. They have it all from hiking, camping, kayaking, swimming, fishing, bike trails and gorgeous mountain views! This guide will go over Fort Mountain State Park trails that you don’t want to miss and how to spend the rest of your day here! Keep reading for everything you need to know before visiting Fort Mountain State Park!
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Things to Know Before Visiting Fort Mountain State Park
Fort Mountain State Park is located in Chatsworth, Georgia. It’s about a 2 hour drive from Atlanta or 1 hour from Chattanooga. There is a $5 entrance fee per car. The booth at the entrance only takes cash, if you’re paying with a card just stop by the visitor center to get your car tag.
If you are looking for a weekend getaway to unplug from the city this is the perfect place. They have cabins you can rent, campsites and RV hookup locations. There is also limited cell service in most parts of the park making it a great opportunity to unplug.
Bears have been know to frequent this area and there are warning signs posted around. We didn’t see any when we visited but I do recommend packing your bear spray just in case. If you do see a bear, never approach it and slowly back away, never run. Black bears are a less aggressive species of bears but if it does start to approach you, be sure to stand your ground, make lots of noise, and raise your arms to make yourself bigger.
Fort Mountain State Park Trails
The park has over 25 miles of hiking trails! Giving you plenty to choose from. If you’re not looking for a long hike, you can still get an amazing view of the North GA mountains with just a short trail.
West Overlook
I recommend doing the West Overlook and CC Fire Tower trails. This trails is only 1 mile and starts at the parking lot at the very end of the road. You’ll also find bathrooms, grills and two pavilions in this area too. The loop starts off on the trail to the far right then returns down the center trail. The trail is pretty rocky, so be sure to watch your step and wear your hiking boots if you have some. You’ll come to an intersection where you can veer left or stay straight, take the left trail to continue to the overlook. The right trail will take you to another intersection heading to the fire tower. The trail starts off flat then begins a trek uphill to the stairs. Once you reach the stairs, you’ll take a flight up, then a few flights down to reach the large viewing platform. Take in the amazing views of the surrounding mountains and view of the towns below.
CC Fire Tower
To head to the fire tower, take the stairs back up to the platform you started at, then continue up the stairs on your left. At the top of the stairs you’ll reach an intersection, heading left will take you on the West Loop. If you choose this route you do have a chance to see the fire tower later, or continue the loop back to the parking lot. Going right will take the back to the trail head, and will be the quickest way to get there. To see the fire tower, head straight.
You can’t go inside the tower to reach the top. However, you can walk up the stairs located on the side to reach the middle level. When you’re ready to head back you have two options: take the trail directly in front of the fire tower or take the trail off to the right of the fire tower. The first one will lead you down some stairs back to the parking lot. The one to the right will take you to the West Loop then back to the parking lot.
These trails are lined with lots of wild flowers, so be sure to take a second to appreciate them!
Fort Mountain State Park – Cool Springs Overlook
Cool Spring Overlook is arguably the most beautiful overlooks in the park. To visit, park at the cool spring overlook parking lot and head to the trail on the left. It is just a short 0.1 mile walk to reach the lookout point. I was surprised at how empty this lookout was, we saw a few people stop by but they didn’t stay long. The parking lot for cool springs overlook is pretty small- it only fits 5-10 cars. If it’s full, keep driving past this parking lot and you’ll find more spaces at the end of the road. From here you can take a connecting trail to the Cool Springs Overlook, it will just be a little longer of a walk.
Spend the Rest of the Day at the Lake
Once you’ve finished hiking in this area, drive over to the lake area to relax and enjoy the rest of your day. You’ll find a beach area where you can swim, rent kayaks and paddle boats, grill or hammock. If you are up for another hike you can do the 1 mile loop around the lake. Personally, my favorite thing is to relax in my hammock and read a good book, or maybe even nap!
Overall, you can’t go wrong with spending a day in Fort Mountain State Park!
What to Bring to Fort Mountain State Park
If you’re planning on spending the day at Fort Mountain State Park, I definitely recommend bringing some sandwiches, chips or other picnic items. If you like to fish pack some fishing poles or you’re hammock so you can relax. Be sure bring your hiking backpack, complete with these hiking essentials.
