Hog Pen Campsite

Fort Mountain State Park is a 3,712-acre state park located between Chatsworth and Ellijay on Fort Mountain in North Georgia. The state park was founded in 1938 and is named for an ancient 885-foot-long rock wall located on the peak. It is “more of a marker than a fortification, separating the north peak from the southern end.”

This short hike to the Hog Pen campsite follows the Gahuti Backpacking Trail for 1.5 miles on the East Loop. The trail is routed through a hardwood forest and hugs the hillside just below a mountain biking trail and the main park road. There isn’t a lot to see once you leave the trailhead at the Cool Springs overlook – unless you are hiking in the winter time. A backpacking permit is needed if you plan to stay at Hog Pen campsite, but is not needed if you plan to day hike in the park.