Georgia · Hiking

Bear Creek

6.7 mi
loop
908 ft
climb
2,455 ft
high point
Loop
route
Mar–Nov
best months

Caution today

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is marginal · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 7 h ago

Is Bear Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. It doesn't name Bear Creek, so check the source for the area it covers (4 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Bear Creek is a 6.7-mile loop hike in the Conasauga Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in north Georgia, within the Cohutta Wildlife Management Area. The trail is managed by the State Department of Natural Resources and sits at an elevation of about 1,870 feet, with the high point on the route reaching 2,455 feet. The climb is moderate, with a total elevation gain of 908 feet, and the steepest stretch comes early, around 0.64 miles in, where the grade reaches 28%. The trail is natural-surface and allows bikes, but horses are not permitted. The Bear Creek Trailhead is the starting point, and the route is open year-round. For comfortable weather, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Jasper run to highs around 75°F in May and 79°F in September, and the station sits roughly 1,000 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the ridge run cooler. Nearby, the Bear Creek Spur lies about 1.2 miles away, and the Conasauga River and Mountaintown Creek are both within about 3 miles. For an overnight stay, Jacks River Fields Campground is about 4 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Mar–Nov

    Best time to visit Bear Creek

    Best months: March–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      48° / 31°

      10 wet · 1 snow

    2. Feb

      52° / 34°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      60° / 40°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      68° / 47°

      9 wet

    5. May

      75° / 55°

      9 wet

    6. Jun

      82° / 63°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      85° / 67°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      84° / 66°

      9 wet

    9. Sep

      79° / 61°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      69° / 50°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      59° / 40°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      51° / 35°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Jasper 1 Nnw, GA, 24.7 mi away at 1,465 ft. The station sits about 1,000 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

    Closures we've recorded since August 2026

    • Spring 2026 Forest-wide Fire Restrictions

      Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests · Order dated April 23, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026 → lifted Oct 13, 2026 · Forest Service