Georgia Natural Wonder #123 - Rich Mountain Wilderness & WMA. 1,087

[Top Row Dawg]

Georgia Natural Wonder #123 - Rich Mountain Wilderness - WMA - Rich Mountain - Big Bald Mountain

My post on Woody Gap GNW #121 was suppose to be a tangent on Long Creek Falls GNW #109, until I separated it.  This is another tangent on an earlier post on Noontootla Falls GNW #113 that I thought was over here, but it turned out to be closer to Springer Mountain.


Rich Mountain.

The Rich Mountain Wilderness is a wilderness area within the Chattahoochee National Forest in Gilmer County, Georgia, in the United States. It was designated in 1986 and currently consists of 9,476 acres of the 13,276 acres that makes up the Rich Mountains. The Wilderness is managed by the United States Forest Service and is part of the National Wilderness Preservation System.



The land that forms the Wilderness is characterized by the same sort of deep, black porter's loam found in the Cohutta Mountains. The Wilderness is home to several threatened or endangered species.



Rich Mountain, elevation 4,040 feet, is the highest point in the Rich Mountain Wilderness of the Chattahoochee National Forest in Gilmer County, Georgia. It is the second-highest peak in Gilmer County; only Big Bald Mountain is taller, with its summit at 4,081 feet.


Both Peaks together.

Rich Mountain is the namesake peak of the Rich Mountains, a circular-shaped range of mountains located in northeastern Gilmer County. Rich Mountain is located at the center of this range, with ridges and valleys radiating outward from the mountain. The vegetation in the area consists of second-growth hardwood forests.



The mountain is located about 4 miles southwest of Cherry Log and 9 miles northeast of Ellijay. Big Bald Mountain, the highest point in Gilmer County, is located about 1.4 miles northeast of Rich Mountain. U.S. Route 76 runs to the west of the mountain. Rich Mountain's summit is located inside the Rich Mountain Wilderness, as well as the Rich Mountain Wildlife Management Area.



Rich Mountain is the 21st tallest mountain in the state of Georgia, if using a 160 feet prominence rule.



The Civilian Conservation Corps built a fire tower on Rich Mountain's summit during the Great Depression; only a stone chimney and fireplace remain standing on the summit.



No trails pass over Rich Mountain's summit. However, hikers can climb to the summit by hiking off-trail from Rich Mountain Road, a former logging road running through the Rich Mountains.



Description - Rich Mountain anchors an area that includes several threatened and endangered plants and numerous species considered rare in Georgia. About 30 miles of trout streams and waterfalls embellish the rocky outcroppings in this rugged, mountainous terrain. A second-growth hardwood forest provides habitat for deer, squirrels, raccoons, wild turkeys, and grouse, with black bears, quail, and woodcocks making unexpected appearances. The wild hog population has been on the increase. Small and big-game hunters are the predominant human users of this Wilderness (which lies within Rich Mountain Wildlife Area). A few hikers and horseback riders occasionally end up here, despite the lack of established trails. They follow what remains of old logging roads. Private land nearly surrounds the Wilderness.

Area Management

The Rich Mountain Wilderness is part of the 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. This System of lands provides clean air, water, and habitat critical for rare and endangered plants and animals. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities like hiking, backpacking, climbing, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, horse packing, bird watching, stargazing, and extraordinary opportunities for solitude.



Rich Mountain Trail is a 13.4 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Cherry Log, Georgia that features a great forest setting. The trail is rated as moderate and offers a number of activity options.



Trip Report for Rich, Tickanetley and Big Bald. Pre-hiked part of this trip, from the gate just off Rock Creek Rd and Rich Mountain Road. Rich Mtn Road is a single lane jeep trail and I wanted to make sure I could find a place to pull off the road further up. I've been told the gate closed in the Winter. It was open yesterday and today. I drove 2.6 miles up the mountain and parked. I believe most any car could have gone as far as I did or further.



I did this a little different than the other reports I've read. I hiked the jeep trail around and to the north of Big Bald (by passing it). Where the ridgeline off Rich met the trail I left the trail and hiked Rich (found the chimney and the base of the old lookout tower).



Then I hiked north toward Tickanetly (bushwhacked until I met the old unmaintained road and used that road to the summit of Tickanetley.



This old road narrows down to a herd path but is visible and can be followed fairly easy.


Goat path Rich Mountain.

I reversed path and headed back to Rich. At the point where I had originally got on this old road I continued using it rather than hiking back over Rich. This old road leads around Rich to the West and eventually rejoins the one lane jeep trail (maintain FS road I presume). When I reached Little Bald Mountain I left the road again and headed up the more gradual southwest ridge to Big Bald. Unlike ALL the other mtns called "bald" (which are anything but bald) this one is clearly bald.



There is a huge open spot at about 4000 feet and this was apparently and Indian encampment. Signs are posted in a couple different spots asking visitors to respect this area and any antiquities you may encounter.



I continued up Big Bald and came down the ridge that leads to Horsepen Gap and hiked the jeep trail back to my truck. Total distance was 10.56 miles, time was 4:45:32, elevation gain was 2,668 (Apple Watch). Only the briers on the eastern side of Big Bald (near the summit) posed a problem and I ranged slight north of them to cleared terrian. Do this hike BEFORE the gate closes or add 5.2 miles to my total.



At 4,075 feet, Big Bald Mountain, is the highest peak in Gilmer County, Georgia. It is also located within the boundaries of the Chattahoochee National Forest.



The mountain is located about 4.5 miles southwest of Cherry Log, 10 miles northeast of Ellijay and about 8 miles south of Blue Ridge. Rich Mountain is located about 1.4 miles southwest of Big Bald Mountain, while U.S. Route 76 runs to the west of the mountain. Big Bald Mountain's summit is located inside the Rich Mountain Wildlife Management Area.



Big Bald Mountain is the 19th tallest mountain in the state of Georgia, if using a 160 feet prominence rule.

Hiking

No trails pass over Big Bald Mountain's summit. However, hikers can climb to the summit by hiking off-trail from Rich Mountain Road, a former logging road running through the Rich Mountains.



From the Sherpa Guide

The Rich Mountains

The 13,276-acre Rich Mountains are primarily wilderness (9,649 acres) and primitive backcountry (3,627 acres) that is not heavily used. The Rich Mountains are remarkable because many of the peaks and ridges are covered with a deep, black porter's loam, a characteristic these mountains share with the Cohuttas. In the Eastern Blue Ridge, such soils are confined to coves.



On the Rich Mountains, this soil covering results in spectacular wildflower displays. On ridges and slopes alike, one finds lush summer herb growth and forests of basswood, ash, and black cherry—trees that occur in the Eastern Blue Ridge mostly in high rich coves.



Gaps—at least in the Turniptown area—have populations of the rare columbo, a most unusual plant. There is old growth timber south of Turniptown Mountain. North-facing coves have boulderfields and rare northern wildflowers at the southern limit of their range. There is a large bear population, and one can find "licks" where deer have eaten clay-rich soil.



About 60 inches of rain fall here each year, May usually being the wettest month and April and July the driest.



Sites of old Indian camps can be found along the high ridgelines. Remnants of white settlements dating from about 1910 are just north of this range's namesake peak, Rich Mountain. The largest gold nugget ever found in Georgia came from a creek draining this area. Marble, which is mined at the famous quarries near Tate and Marble Hill, can also be found exposed in the bottom of the Murphy Syncline.



Elevation varies from approximately 2,000 feet near Little Rock Creek GNW #105 to 4,081 feet on Big Bald Mountain.



High peaks and lookouts from the Old Road offer panoramic vistas after leaves fall. Rugged mountain terrain with rock outcrops and streams with many small waterfalls create a beautiful scenery.



US 76 between Ellijay and Blue Ridge, Georgia, generally follows the Murphy Syncline, which divides the highly metamorphosed rocks of the Blue Ridge proper from the moderately metamorphosed rocks of the Cohuttas.



This remarkable geologic trough is clearly visible in satellite photographs. It is likely, though, that the uninformed visitor driving up US 76 in the deep gash of the Murphy Syncline would pass the Rich Mountains area by, since the higher peaks and ridges are barely visible from the road. Hikers exploring the Rich Mountains area should be experienced and carry topographical maps, compass, and other survival gear.



Beware of the large bear population . Always let someone know your hiking plans and expected time of return.


Recent fires and regrowth.



Small springs become big creeks.



Rich Mountain Wilderness and WMA.



Today's GNW gals are what else?


Rich!