Georgia · Hiking · Cohutta Wilderness

Conasauga River

23.9 mi
round trip
4,245 ft
climb
3,083 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–Nov
best months

Is Conasauga River open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. It doesn't name Conasauga River, 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.

The Conasauga River hike is a long, hard out-and-back in the Cohutta Wilderness of northern Georgia, crossing the Conasauga Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests and the Cohutta Wildlife Management Area. The State Department of Natural Resources manages the land, and the route rises from about 1,240 feet to a high point of 3,083 feet, with a total elevation gain of 4,245 feet over the course of the trip. The trail is natural-surfaced and not open to bikes. The steepest stretch comes at about 4.7 miles in, where the grade reaches 30 percent. The route is rated hard, and the estimated time is about 10 hours. 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 well below the trail, so temperatures on the high ground run cooler. Nearby, the Conasauga River Trail and Chestnut Lead both lie about 1.4 miles away, and Bear Creek is about 2.5 miles off. For an overnight base, Jacks River Fields Campground is about 3.5 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Mar–Nov

    Best time to visit Conasauga River

    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, 27.2 mi away at 1,465 ft. The station sits about 1,600 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