Rush Creek Trail
- 4.7 mi
- round trip
- 395 ft
- climb
- 544 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Feb–May, Oct–Dec
- best months
Is Rush Creek Trail open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. It doesn't name Rush Creek Trail, 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
Prescribed fire on Oconee Ranger District at Jasper County
Agency alert covering Oconee Ranger District · USFS · Oconee Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Rush Creek Trail is a 4.7-mile out-and-back hike in the Oconee Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in Georgia. The trail rises from about 531 feet to a high point of 544 feet, with a total elevation gain of 395 feet over the course of the trip. The climb is gentle, with the steepest stretch at about 0.48 miles in, and the trail is rated moderate. The trail is open year-round and takes about two hours to complete. It is a natural-surface route, and both horses and bikes are allowed. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Monticello, Georgia, show October highs around 78°F with lows near 48°F, and April highs around 77°F with lows near 45°F. Several other trails sit close by. Kinnard Creek Trail is about 0.1 mile away, and the Historic Seven Islands Path is about 0.7 mile away. Wise Creek Trail is about 1.4 miles off, and paddlers can find Big Sandy Creek about 7.6 miles away.
Best time to go · Feb–May, Oct–Dec
Best time to visit Rush Creek Trail
Best months: February–May and October–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
57° / 29°
8 wet
Feb
61° / 32°
7 wet
Mar
69° / 38°
7 wet
Apr
77° / 45°
6 wet
May
84° / 55°
6 wet
Jun
89° / 64°
8 wet
Jul
92° / 68°
8 wet
Aug
91° / 67°
7 wet
Sep
86° / 60°
6 wet
Oct
78° / 48°
5 wet
Nov
68° / 37°
6 wet
Dec
60° / 32°
7 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Monticello, GA, 7.3 mi away at 518 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, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Tributary 6 Trail
~9 min drive
1.42-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 227 ft elevation gain
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Ocmulgee River Upper Loop
~12 min drive
20.94-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 1,021 ft elevation gain.
Photo: ChattOconeeNF, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Beck Bottom Trail
~10 min drive
1.24-mile out-and-back hike in Georgia with 170 ft elevation gain.
Photo: ChattOconeeNF, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Coon Dog Trail
~12 min drive
1.14-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 55 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Kinard Creek Trail
Next door
1.96-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 255 ft gain/loss.
HIKE
Historic Seven Islands Path
~1 min drive
1.34-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 210 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Kinard Creek Trail
~2 min drive
1.22-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 203 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Wise Creek Trail
~2 min drive
3.52-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 510 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Kinard Creek Trail
~2 min drive
Kinard Creek Trail is a 0.36-mile out-and-back in Georgia with 4 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Historic Seven Islands Path
~3 min drive
0.7-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 93 ft elevation gain.