Georgia · Hiking

Horseshoe Bend

5.2 mi
round trip
1,087 ft
climb
1,833 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Feb–May, Sep–Nov
best months

Is Horseshoe Bend open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Horseshoe Bend is a 5.2-mile out-and-back hike in the Conasauga Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in north Georgia, within the Cohutta Wildlife Management Area. The State Department of Natural Resources manages the land, and the trail is rated moderate with a total elevation gain of 1,087 feet. The route starts at about 1,600 feet and reaches a high point of 1,833 feet, with the steepest stretch at about 2.3 miles in, where the grade reaches 16%. The trail surface is natural, and horses are allowed. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Chatsworth show October highs around 74°F with lows near 48°F, and April is similar at about 72°F by day. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the higher ground run cooler. Cottonwood Patch Campground and the Jacks River hike are both about 1.3 miles away, and Rice Camp is about 1.5 miles off. For an overnight stay, Jacks River Fields Campground is about 9 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Feb–May, Sep–Nov

    Best time to visit Horseshoe Bend

    Best months: February–May 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

      51° / 30°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      55° / 33°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      63° / 40°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      72° / 47°

      10 wet

    5. May

      79° / 56°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      86° / 64°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      89° / 68°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      89° / 67°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      84° / 60°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      74° / 48°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      62° / 38°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      53° / 33°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Chatsworth 2, GA, 16.5 mi away at 710 ft. The station sits about 1,100 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. 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