Pear Orchard
- 3.0 mi
- round trip
- 718 ft
- climb
- 1,165 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Feb–May, Sep–Dec
- best months
Is Pear Orchard open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. It doesn't name Pear Orchard, so check the source for the area it covers (4 listed).
Road Maintenance: West Cowpen Road (FSR 17)
Agency closure covering Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests · USFS · Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
Prescribed fire on Oconee Ranger District at Jasper County
Agency closure covering Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests · USFS · Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
Muskrat Road, FS 218, Temporarily Closed
Agency closure covering Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests · USFS · Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
Flash Flood Awareness
Agency closure covering Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests · USFS · Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
Lake Winfield Scott closed except fishing pier
Agency alert covering Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests · USFS · Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
As of · Source: USFS · Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Pear Orchard is an easy out-and-back hike of about 3 miles in the Chattooga River Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in north Georgia. The State Department of Natural Resources manages the land, and the trail also passes through the Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area. The climb starts at about 916 feet and rises to roughly 1,165 feet, with a total gain of 718 feet for the round trip. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.39 miles, with a grade of about 13 percent. The trail surface is natural, and the route allows horses and bikes, so it works for a range of outings. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from the nearby Toccoa weather station show October highs around 74°F with lows near 51°F, and April highs around 73°F, while July averages climb to about 89°F. Several other spots sit close by. Latham Cemetary is about 0.1 mile away, and the Frady Branch Loop and Leatherwood Creek Loop are both under a mile off. Climbers can find Above the Brick Wall, a climbing area, about a mile away.
Local outfitters
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Feb–May, Sep–Dec
Best time to visit Pear Orchard
Best months: February–May and September–December. 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.
Jan
53° / 33°
11 wet
Feb
56° / 36°
10 wet
Mar
64° / 41°
11 wet
Apr
73° / 49°
10 wet
May
80° / 58°
10 wet
Jun
86° / 66°
11 wet
Jul
89° / 69°
12 wet
Aug
88° / 68°
11 wet
Sep
83° / 63°
8 wet
Oct
74° / 51°
8 wet
Nov
64° / 41°
9 wet
Dec
55° / 36°
11 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Toccoa, GA, 5.1 mi away at 1,012 ft. 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
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: ChattOconeeNF, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)Broad River
~2 min drive
8.18-mile out-and-back trail on the Broad River in Georgia with 874 ft gain.
Stone Place Trail
~24 min drive
4.98-mile out-and-back hike in Georgia with 1,237 ft elevation gain
High Bluff Trail
~25 min drive
2.26-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 462 ft elevation gain.
Photo: twslivxe26, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Mount Yonah
~35 min drive
2.46-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 1,921 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Latham Cemetary
Next door
4.46-mile loop at Latham Cemetary in Georgia
Stone Place Trail
~25 min drive
1.08-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 304 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Leatherwood Creek
~2 min drive
Creek-side out-and-back hike through Georgia forest with moderate difficulty.
HIKE
FRADY BRANCH LOOP
Next door
13.56-mile out-and-back out-and-back in Georgia with 2,101 ft elevation gain
Photo: KW Baker, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Angel Falls
~28 min drive
2.20-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 576 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
OAKEY MOUNTAIN ORV TRAIL
~28 min drive
12.82-mile out-and-back ORV trail in Georgia with 3,425 ft elevation gain/loss
