THE PERCH
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
1755 Cleveland Highway
Gainesville, GA 30501
770 297-3000
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 The Perch is an in-and-out, backtrack hike that is ideal for day hiking, but it can also be done as an easy overnight backpacking trip. This hike starts along the Richard Russell Scenic Highway and ascends approximately 800′ feet to a scenic overlook along the trail. There are spectacular views to the east, south and west from two rock outcroppings on the route. Both have campsites (but no water) nearby.
Guidebook For This Area
Trail Map For This Area- click to see trail photos from this backpacking trip to The Perch: November 5, 2006 (password required), October 9, 2009, October 27, 2017
- click to see some other photos from a hike to Baggs Creek Gap: October 22, 2011
- click to view a trip report of this hike on the Appalachian Trail: November 5, 2006, October 9, 2009, October 27, 2017 (password required)
- click to view a trail map of this area around Cowrock Mountain (password required)
- click to view hiking and backpacking maps: The Perch Area Map, The Perch Detailed Map
- click for Wolf Laurel Top to Unicoi Gap Profile Map (password required), Wolf Laurel Top to Chattahoochee Gap Trail Map (password required)
- click for Georgia Appalachian Trail Overview Map (password required), Georgia Appalachian Trail Profile Map (password required)
- click to view more hikes from this area near Hogpen Gap
- click to read an article about The Perch in Backpacker Magazine – Fall 2022
- click for guidebook info on this hike on the Appalachian Trail near Neels Gap: section preview, to mile 0.4, to mile 4.4 (password required)
- click to view this hike near the Richard Russell Scenic Highway at yourhikes.com
- click for more information on the Appalachian Trail
- click for the Long Trail discussion forum
- click for the Southeastern Destinations discussion forum
- click for Appalachian Trail hiking and backpacking books
- click to access the guidebook Appalachian Trail: Georgia-North Carolina which has details on this destination
- click for other Georgia hiking and backpacking books
- click for other hikes on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia
- click here to add your hike, trip report, or feedback for this destination
From WhiteBlaze.net this week. Hang your food or better yet … take a bear canister if you camp overnight between Neels Gap and Tesnatee Gap on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia:
“Woke up at 7:00 am sharp when the lights came on. Someone announced pancakes were ready so everyone got up quickly. When I stepped outside into the “living area” I found two girls, Sandy and Maddie, stretched out on the flood in their bags. They said they had no where else to go. I remember meeting them the night previous at dinner. There was no more room in the hostel and all cabins were rented so they continued on in the evening an additional 3 miles up the trail and made camp. Unfortunately they slept with their food in the tent and were attacked by a bear. The area between Neel Gap and Tesnatee Gap is known for very aggressive bears. They grabbed all they could, their sleeping bags, and returned down the mountain to the hostel.”