HIGHLIGHTS: The Chattahoochee National Forest is one of two National Forests in the State of Georgia, and it takes its name from the Chattahoochee River whose headwaters begin in the North Georgia mountains. The River and the area were given the name by the English settlers who heard it from the Indians that once lived here. The Chattahoochee National Forest was created when the Forest Service purchased 31,000 acres in Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin and Union Counties from the Gennett family in 1911 for $7.00 per acre. In the beginning, the Chattahoochee was part of the Nantahala and Cherokee National Forests in North Carolina and Tennessee, but eventually the Forest Service made additional land purchases and expanded the Chattahoochee to its current size of nearly 750,000 acres.
The walk to Bags Creek Gap is an in-and-out, backtrack hike that can be done as either a day hike or an overnight backpacking trip. This hike starts along the Richard Russell Scenic Highway and ascends approximately 800′ feet to a scenic overlook along the trail where there are spectacular views to the east, south and west from two rock outcroppings on the route. From here, the trail descends another 0.5 miles to the gap where there is a nice campsite and seasonal water source across the trail.
