Georgia Natural Wonder #129 - Alcovy Mountain - Walton County (Part 1). 1,315

[Top Row Dawg]

Georgia Natural Wonder #129 - Alcovy Mountain - Walton County

OK I am throwing a curve ball in this Classic South to Mountain series of Georgia's Natural Wonders. I present a Mountain in the Classic South Region of the state.



Alcovy Mountain is a monadnock in the U.S. state of Georgia similar to Kennesaw Mountain in the city of Marietta. It is located in Walton County four miles south of the city of Monroe. With a summit elevation of 1,128 feet, the mountain is the highest point in Walton County, and is the southeastern most mountain of significance in the Appalachians.



The terrain around the mountain averages roughly 750 feet AMSL. Alcovy (pronunciation: al-CO-vee) Mountain rises steeply from the banks of the Alcovy River, which arises farther north, in Gwinnett County.

History

The name of Alcovy Mountain comes from the river that flows north to south directly west of the mountain. The native Muskogean Indians named the river "Ulcofauchatchie", meaning "a river among the bog potato", otherwise known as the pawpaw tree.  As different accented tongues of European immigrants settled in this area, "Alcovy" latter became the name.


Although this river flows for over 50 miles until its confluence as a tributary of the Ocmulgee River, these lowland "bog potato" swamps only occur for less than a dozen miles around the mountain. We explored this swamp with GNW #116 - Alcovy Conservation Center.



Today, like several other low mountains in the area, Alcovy is privately owned and access is prohibited. However, twenty miles West in southeast Atlanta are three other monadnocks that are protected. These mountains have large rock outcrops that have merited their conservation. They are Arabia Mountain, Panola Mountain, and the world-famous Stone Mountain.


And that is it as far as Wikipedia goes.

I go to some other sites and there are descriptions of hikes to the top of this mountain.

A moderately steep, unpaved road climb ..... 1.5 miles, 40 minutes Round Trip.



We approached from I-20 exit 98 east of Covington. We traveled north on hwy #11 for 7.77 miles to a left turn on Whitney Road, 1.5 miles stayed straight (west) as Whitney turns to Alcovy Mountain Road and in 1.1 miles arrived at its dead-end at a turnaround. We parked here this was my Trailhead.The road starts out by passing by a private house before reaching a gate at 200 yards with no fencing, sign reads Quality Deer Management Area". I made my way around the fence to get to the mountain. (Now keep in mind this is another fellow going around this fence, TRD just followed precedent).


Rocks start forming toward the top.

A narrow paved road continues west then bends-left/winds/climbs moderately steep .75 miles to the summit, capped with a fenced-in Communication Tower.


There were deer near the tower from a distance.


There was a view to the North from the dirt road and some power lines running up to the tower.



There are rocks all along the last 100 yards up to the tower.



There is a rock outcrop 20 yards south of the Tower, GPS 33.73240,-83.74516.



Embedded in a rock at a lower elevation is a BM, "NATIONAL GEODETIC SURVEY, JERSEY, 1975."





A beautiful all pine forest with partial views through the trees.



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The second trip report starts off saying Ben's Trip Report is spot on as usual down to the best spot to park. I will only add a few relevant observations. First, the area is fenced in and some sort of deer preserve. There was some info on the gate that I photographed and read later. It is called the Quality Deer Management Area. The gate was not locked and did not have no trespassing info all of it so I ran on up the tall hill in about 15 minutes. Interestingly I did see deer. Lots of deer and they were not so afraid of a hiker. When examining my photo of the gate later, I read the fine print and it said no hunting or trespassing without permission. Hmmmmm. Oooops missed that part but it was very subtle in small print and unlike most places with a tower was not posted with obvious signs to prohibit to entering.


I am surprised the hikers did not make more of this rock field at the top.

Second observation - it was a very nice solitude hike. Pretty land with open view canopy and nice woods. The roadway up to the tower as narrow and heavily wooded-shaded so it gave the feel of a nice hiking trail. The true summit is as Ben says just behind the tower. I ran down and back to the car and was gone no longer than say 25 minutes. Some additional gain in the small saddle between the car parked and the tower road.


The Boulders get bigger near the south side of the mountain.

Final note....Alcovy is a common name in the area. Many roads named after it and I crossed creeks named after it. I am curious to look up the history of the Alcovy name as everything in the area bears it's name.



Third trip report states that instead of parking beside the access road's posted gate, I parked back at the loop drive just a short distance before the gate. From here my GPS read .57 air miles to the summit. I hiked the road all the way to the communication tower and was surprised to find higher ground behind the tower to the south.



There is a rocky area and a great summit rock there.



The hiking distance was .9 miles and I did it in 19 minutes. My descent took me 15 minutes, but that included a 5 minute stop in an open shed when there was a sudden heavy rain shower. I felt lucky to have that convenient protection just at the right time and, fortunately, the shower was brief.



"Drove from Mt. Vernon Rd. to Alcovy Mountain Rd. where I parked the car. From there I've walked an access road to the top of the mountain where another radio tower was located. For the first time I was able to locate geological markers (3 of them 1 dark and 2 metal green ones) near the summit. Took basically same way back down."


Looking down from rocky ridge.



OK those trips reports and the Wikipedia is woefully inadequate to capture how spectacular this was for freaking Monroe Georgia. I told the guy at the visitor center that this was the most spectacular spot in Walton County and he had never been up there. Another fellow in the visitor center said he went up there as a Boy Scout back in the early 2000's.



The rocks start 100 yards before the tower and continue on the spine summit another 100 yards to a spectacular overlook with 100 foot cliffs.



Someone had built a small wooden house atop the rocks with an old wood deck looking south.


I nervously threaded on the deck.


Warped panoramic.

I hiked all over these boulders and cliffs.



They were amazing.



Alcovy Mountain I kept reminding myself.



Down to the base of the cliffs.



Rock formations everywhere.




Panoramic.



A forbidden Natural Wonder of Georgia. I hope one day the citizens of Walton County can enjoy at least a city park up here. You will only see images of Alcovy Mountain here on the HOTD as TRD is scouring the state for hidden jewels.



Today's GNW Gals illustrate Boulders.