Georgia · Hiking · Cohutta Wilderness

Tear Britches

Tear BritchesPhoto: ChattOconeeNF, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
6.4 mi
round trip
4,275 ft
climb
3,995 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Tear Britches open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Tear Britches is a hard hike in the Cohutta Wilderness, part of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in north Georgia. The route is an out-and-back that starts at about 3,639 feet and climbs to a high point of 3,995 feet, with a total elevation gain of 4,275 feet over the course of the trip. The steepest stretch comes at about 1.6 miles in, where the grade reaches 28 percent. The trail lies within the Cohutta Wilderness and the Conasauga Ranger District, and the land is managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. It also falls within the Cohutta Wildlife Management Area. The route is natural-surfaced and does not allow bikes. The hike is open year-round, and the estimated time is about 4.5 hours. Emery Creek Trail starts just 0.1 mile away, and Lake Conasauga and Songbird are both within about a mile and a half. For an overnight stay, Jacks River Fields Campground is about 6.5 miles off.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Emery Creek TrailPhoto: ChattOconeeNF, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Emery Creek Trail

Next door

6.01-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 468 ft gain and 3,069 ft loss.

Lake ConasaugaPhoto: ChattOconeeNF, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lake Conasauga

~2 min drive

0.99-mile loop trail around Lake Conasauga in Georgia.

Grassy Mtn TowerPhoto: ChattOconeeNF, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Grassy Mtn Tower

~3 min drive

3.90-mile out-and-back trail to Grassy Mtn Tower in Georgia, 283 ft gain.

HIKE

Conasauga River Trail

~3 min drive

5.13-mile out-and-back hike along the Conasauga River in Georgia.

SongbirdPhoto: ChattOconeeNF, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Songbird

~2 min drive

2.74-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 389 ft gain

GahutiPhoto: TranceMist, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Gahuti

~14 min drive

7.87-mile loop in Georgia with 1,614 ft gain

HIKE

Hickory Creek

~5 min drive

Hickory Creek is a 17.18-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 1,824 feet of elevation gain.

Cohutta OverlookPhoto: Thomson20192, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

Cohutta Overlook

~9 min drive

0.09-mile lollipop trail with 49 ft gain at Cohutta Overlook in Georgia

HIKE

Chestnut Lead

~4 min drive

3.60-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 1,074 ft gain.

HIKE

Conasauga River

~5 min drive

23.86-mile out-and-back trail along Conasauga River in Georgia, 1,191 ft gain.

Route details

Distance
6.4 mi round trip
Climbing
About 4,275 ft
Summit
4,004 ft
Difficulty
Hard
Time
About 2.5 hours

Season

Season: Year-round.

Questions about this route

How long is the Tear Britches on Bald Mountain?

About 6.4 mi round trip.

How much elevation gain is on the Tear Britches?

About 4,275 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Tear Britches?

It is rated hard.

How long does the Tear Britches take?

About 2.5 hours round trip.

When is the best time for the Tear Britches?

Year-round.

Conditions and forecast on Bald Mountain

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.