Georgia · Hiking · Cohutta Wilderness

Hickory Ridge

7.0 mi
round trip
3,516 ft
climb
3,190 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
best months

Is Hickory Ridge open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Hickory Ridge is a 7-mile out-and-back hike in the Cohutta Wilderness, part of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in north Georgia. The trail crosses into the Cohutta Wildlife Management Area and the Conasauga Ranger District, and the land is managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. The route rises from about 1,500 feet to a high point of 3,190 feet, with a total elevation gain of 3,516 feet over the course of the trip. The steepest stretch comes at about 1.5 miles in, where the grade reaches 23%. The trail is rated hard, and the climb is steep. Horses are allowed, but bikes are not. The route is natural-surface, so plan on a rougher ride than a paved path. For timing, fall is the most comfortable season. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show October highs around 72°F with lows near 43°F, and the station sits well below the ridge, so temperatures up high run cooler. The trail is open year-round, and the trip takes about four hours. Several other hikes lie within a couple of miles, including Rough Ridge, East Cowpen and Panther Creek. Cottonwood Patch Campground is about 4.6 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov

    Best time to visit Hickory Ridge

    Best months: March–June and September–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

      50° / 25°

      12 wet · 1 snow

    2. Feb

      54° / 28°

      11 wet · 1 snow

    3. Mar

      62° / 34°

      12 wet

    4. Apr

      71° / 41°

      11 wet

    5. May

      78° / 51°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      83° / 59°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      87° / 63°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      86° / 62°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      81° / 56°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      72° / 43°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      61° / 33°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      53° / 28°

      12 wet · 1 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Murphy 4ese, NC, 36.1 mi away at 1,600 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