Georgia · Hiking

Rice Camp

8.0 mi
round trip
1,702 ft
climb
1,811 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Feb–May, Sep–Nov
best months

Is Rice Camp open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Rice Camp is an 8-mile out-and-back hike in the Cohutta Wildlife Management Area, part of the Conasauga Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in north Georgia. The State Department of Natural Resources manages the land, and the trail is rated hard, with a total elevation gain of 1,702 feet over the round trip. The route starts at the Rice Camp Trailhead, which is open year-round. The climb is steep in places, with the steepest stretch at about 3.2 miles, where the grade reaches 29%. The high point is 1,811 feet, and the low point is 1,331 feet. Horses are allowed, but bikes are not, and the trail surface is natural. For timing, October is a comfortable month, with typical highs around 74°F and lows near 48°F, based on averages from a nearby weather station at Chatsworth. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. East Cowpen lies just 0.1 mile away, and Horseshoe Bend and Hickory Ridge are both within 2 miles. Cottonwood Patch Campground is about 2.8 miles off.

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

    Best time to visit Rice Camp

    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 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