BIRCH CREEK

This is a short section of the Conasauga River Trail that you can follow 1.7 miles down from Betty Gap to the junction of Popular Springs Branch, Birch Creek, and the Conasauga River Trail. The point where these streams intersect is interesting but there are limited flat areas for camping here if you are a backpacker.

If you are day hiking, it is ~800 feet down to the junction of these streams and you will likely be hiking back out the way you came in. The alternative is to complete an ambitious 13 mile loop that follows the Conasuaga River to the Panther Creek Trail, then continues clockwise to skirt Cowpen and Betty Mountain before returning to Betty Gap.

The fire that burned here in 2016 is still evident on the Conasauga River Trail, but don’t underestimate the terrain in this area. It can be very challenging – at any time of the year.