Georgia Natural Wonder #165 - The Pocket Recreation Area. 977

[Top Row Dawg]

Georgia Natural Wonder #165 - The Pocket Recreation Area 

I had this cued up and ready to go months ago but I got sidetracked on Cobb County, Caves, and Bartow County. This place is kinda neat because of the CCC history. I had a few photos from a visit years ago.



Dogs must be leashed at all times. Alcohol is prohibited in the entire Pocket Recreation Area.

Remember – you need a Go Outdoors Georgia Hunting, Fishing or Lands Pass License to be on this property.

Not to be confused with The Pocket on Pigeon Mountain, this pocket got its name because it lies in a low pocket created by the steep ridges of Horn Mountain and Mill Mountain, which surrounds it on three sides. 



The Pocket refers to a geologic formation, and the most visible portion of the formation is actually at the turn to the recreation area. Covered, like most of Northwest Georgia by a vast sea, The Pocket was formed when weaker  water-soluble limestone underneath the ground was eroded and the ground dropped. This left the surrounding iron ore ridges with "pockets". Out West this type of formation is known as a "hole" and two of the most famous are Jackson Hole and Hole in the Wall. 

History

Cemeteries and headstones have existed in the Pocket since before the American Civil War.



A watermill, cotton gin and a sawmill also use to exist in the valley.



The nearby Villanow store is a neat stop for history and groceries, if it is still there and if someone bought it.



When advancing through the area during The Civil War, men under the command of General James Birdseye McPherson "discovered" the road, which was not on their maps. Because of this discovery, a great deal of concern was expressed in the Official Records about the accuracy of the maps. 


Old bridge across Snake Creek. 

There were two Civil War encounters at nearby Snake Creek Gap. On May 8, 1864. McPherson’s 15th & 16th Corps [US] seized the gap to force Johnston to evacuate Dalton. Sherman thus flanked the Confederates and Johnston withdrew to Resaca.



The second time was when Hood was marching through Snake Creek Gap on the way to Nashville in October 1864.



From 1938 through 1942, the Pocket Recreation Area was the former site of Civilian Conservation Corp Camp. The Pocket Camp, F-16, Company 3435 was founded in the Pocket in 1938.



By 1941, as the problem of unemployment diminished, funding for the CCC was discontinued and the Pocket Camp was closed in 1942. The camp's buildings were demolished following the closure; only the foundation of the springhouse and the floor of a large shower house still exist.



The foundations of the old structures are still visible.



A large, clear, ice-cold spring bubbles up in the middle of the picnic area and flows through the recreation area as a refreshing creek for wading. 

Pocket Recreation Area

The Pocket Recreation Area is open from April 1 - October 31. Families camping can enjoy the vibrant spring colors of mountain laurel, as well as the brilliant fall color mix provided by mixed hardwoods.The Pocket is located in the northeast portion of Floyd County, Georgia, about 21 miles  north-northeast of Rome. The nearest town, Dalton, GA, is approximately 25 miles east. Campers will find numerous restaurants, grocery stores and gas stations available in those two cities. Lafayette and Calhoun are nearby localities.



Anything but pocket-sized, The Pocket Recreational Area is surrounded by the rocky outcrops of both the Horn and Mill Mountains. Canvassed by the ever changing colors of hardwoods in Autumn months, this area’s know to paint quite an alluring portrait during the latter months of the year.



And, with it’s string of primitive campsites available solely on a first-come, first-served basis, you’ll want to make the trek out early to gawk at the verdure-brushed backdrops canvassed by The Pocket Recreational Area.



When In Rome

The Pocket was a perfect quick day trip for us. It was only a short drive out.



We parked in the parking lot for day visitors. Parking is $5 for a one-day parking pass.



It didn’t take long to realize that it was crazily crowded at the camping and swimming hole.


TRD images, not so crowded.

It looked as though a family reunion was being held there.



Kids were swimming, an intense game of corn hole was being played and groups of adults were standing around.



There were a lot of shaded areas, which was important because on the day we went the temperature was in the 90’s.



There were also a lot of picnic tables, a few bridges, and swimming holes.



By swimming holes, I mean there were different levels of shallow bodies water outlined by rocks.



Wildflowers

This area is best known for the Shirley Miller Wildflower Trail, a 0.9 mile down and back trail that features a boardwalk, waterfall and nearly 50 varieties of wildflowers.



This area is frequented in March and April, when wildflowers are in bloom.



Some of the wildflowers you’ll encounter include:

    Bloodroot
    Blue Cohosh
    Bluebells
    Dutchman’s Breeches
    False Solomon’s Seal
    Four-leaved Milkweed
    Great Indian Plantain
    Hooked Buttercup
    May Apple


Whew rest a bit.

    Purple Phacelia
    Solomon’s Seal
    Star Chickweed
    Toadshade
    Wild Stonecrop
    Wood Poppy
    Yellow Mandarin



To learn more about wildflowers in this area, Jay Clark conducted extensive research for his book “Wildflowers of Pigeon Mountain.”



You can still order copies of this work on Amazon and view pictures of many of the wildflowers features on his website.



The Shirley Miller Wildflower Trail.





Wet and Mild

Bodies of water inside the Pocket include Pocket Creek and Lake Marvin. The basin is located in the Conasauga District of the Chattahoochee National Forest. The facilities at The Pocket include a campground, picnic area, and hiking trails. The cool water creek and the trout fishing attract visitors from all around.


Worldly travelers?

Pocket Creek was so named from a bend, or "pocket", in the river valley. The stream was formed from springs inside this valley.


Hendrix in Pocket Creek, he traveled Georgia.

Lake Marvin is named for Marvin Muze, the original landowner. The reservoir was created by the completion of Lake Marvin Dam on Pocket Creek. The lake has an area of 90 acres and a surface elevation of 902 feet. The Northwest Georgia Girl Scout Council owns the reservoir.



The lake is home to red ear sunfish, bluegill, and large mouth bass.

Camping

Located back in the woods and along a spring-fed creek, this area offers camping, picnicking and hiking. Most of the 27 campsites are along the creek and offer tent pads, picnic tables and grills. Campsites are for one family or 5 adults. Site must be occupied for the first night of stay. Maximum two vehicles per campsite. 14-day limit.

Facilities: Restrooms (handicapped facilities), drinking water. No Showers.
 
Activities / Recreation: Camping, fishing, picnicking, hiking. 

Sites 26 RV Sites, 26 Tent Sites, 26 No Hookup

Daily Rates: $10.00 some sites say $15.00.

Policies All Ages, No Reservations, Pets Welcome (On leash), No Alcohol

Restrictions Max RV Length 63 ft, Max RV Width 10 ft

Not a bad place to camp for a paid site. Water and bathroom available.



Fire rings, table and a place to hang a lantern along with a gravel box for placing a tent. Lots are spaced decently apart with no real noise issues. Bring your own firewood as there's not a whole lot to find. If you're looking to purchase firewood nearby note that you will have to drive a bit as the only places nearby do not stock firewood anymore. Gates close at 10pm and open at 7am. Campers must be out by 2pm if staying one day.



The Pocket Trail 

A well-maintained and clearly marked hiking trail makes an easy 2.5-mile loop from the picnic area along low-lying streambeds and back to the campgrounds. When spring arrives, azaleas, dogwood, sourwood, and mountain laurel enliven the area with color. In the fall it is brilliant with the leaves of hickory, maple, oak, beech, and yellow poplar. The soil's subsurface in this area, made up of white limestone, erodes more easily than the harder rocks which make up the higher elevations in northwest Georgia. This erosion has resulted in the area's unusual topography. 


A sign introduces the trail, with a map and brief description of the area. 

This loop trail begins at the Pocket Picnic Area parking and ends in the Pocket Camping Area. Walking the path counterclockwise, the Pocket Nature trail shares the treadway with the Pocket Trail for the first half-mile or so. While interpretive signs are placed throughout the trail, they are mostly during this portion.This is a relatively wide path, with few attractions other than it is a nice, easy walk. 



There are two roadways into The Pocket. The northern road goes to the camping area. The southern road goes to the day use area. To hike this trail you should use the southern road. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, The Pocket, Keown Falls Trail and Johns Mountain Trail were constructed by Camp 3435, F-16, (listed as LaFayette, Georgia) over a four year period (1938 until early 1942). From the far end of the parking lot walk down to the trailhead near a gated road. Both the Pocket Trail and the recently added Pocket Interpretive Trail begin as a single-file, narrow path to the left. 

 

Initially, this green-blazed trail climbs gradually through a oak/beech/maple forest with occasional hickory trees. Watch near the start as the trail rises in a hilly area, and a sinkhole forms to the right and is quickly 30 feet below the pathway. The geological feature bears close scrutiny. The softer structure under the sinkhole has collapsed and water from a tributary of Johns Creek fills the hole. A unique ecosystem thrives in the area near the hole. 



After crossing three small bridges the trail opens up at a crossroads at 1.0 miles. The interpretive loop turns left and follows a wide, overgrown gravel road downhill to the trail head. To hike the full 2.5 mile loop continue straight ahead. For the first mile and a half the path stays on the inside ridge of the surrounding hills. After crossing the third bridge the path rises quickly, but a unnatural wall has been constructed, obviously sometime in the past. From the placing of the wall it would appear as though construction of a mill sluice was begun. After the wall the path curves and takes on a brand new character. 



Now on the north side of the ridges the path is noticeably damper than earlier.


Damper means swampy?

Moss grows from the rocks and along the path. The path descends and then becomes almost flat for the rest of the journey. At the end of the marked path take the camping service road to the left and follow it around to the picnic area. Cross both bridges and return to the picnic parking area. 



The campground at The Pocket is very nice, with the sites well spaced and heavily forested. The picnic area is exceptional, but can be crowded on summer weekends. The entire park is closed at night. A note for hikers: The access road to Lake Marvin comes out of Sugar Valley and runs to Pocket Road. This windy, sometimes narrow road cuts a significant number of miles off the trip from Calhoun, however, it is dangerous. Use caution when driving.

Sherpa Guide

The hike described here is along a longer loop, although unfortunately, part of it is not very attractive due to logging operations north of FS 208.


Scenic spots too.

To hike the longer loop, begin walking down FS 208 as it drops off Johns Mountain. In the winter, this road is gated, but during other times of the year, you may encounter a few vehicles. The Pinhoti Trail joins the road from the left at 4.0 miles. The road reaches the bottom of the valley at 4.9 miles, where it crosses the head of Johns Creek. A short uphill brings the road to a low ridge at 5.05 miles. Here, the Pinhoti Trail turns left onto an old logging road, leaving FS 208. Follow the Pinhoti Trail along the old road through a pine forest that will likely be harvested at some point in the future. There are some nice views of the much taller Johns Mountain to the left throughout this section.



At 5.6 miles, the Pinhoti Trail descends off the ridge and into a low-lying area that was recently logged extensively at the time of my hike and looked very ugly. Keep following the blazes along various old logging roads - trying to walk through the ugly logged area as fast as possible - to a logging road junction at 6.35 miles near Pocket Road. The main logging road bears left and shortly reaches Pocket Road, while the Pinhoti Trail bears right on a narrower path and finally leaves the logged area. At 6.65 miles, the trail crosses Pocket Road. On the other side, the trail parallels the road at first - making an odd double curve at 6.8 miles - before gradually curving away. The Pinhoti Trail briefly follows another forest road at 6.7 miles before curving eastward into the Furnace Creek area. All of this part of the trail is in the valley, and thus, it remains relatively flat with only small hills. At 7.45 miles, the Pinhoti Trail crosses marshy-looking Furnace Creek, which should be a hop at average water levels. There are campsites on both sides of the crossing. 


Pilchers Pond.

As the trail slowly climbs toward the foot of Horn Mountain, it passes an interesting rock wall. I suspect that the rock wall is from an old homestead, but I can't find any historical info about it. At 7.9 miles, the Pinhoti Trail reaches a signed junction. Here, the main route of the Pinhoti Trail turns left and ascends Horn Mountain before eventually reaching Highway 136 at Snake Creek Gap.



Meanwhile, the connector trail to Pilchers Pond and FS 702 turns right. Thus, turn right onto the connector trail, which is also known as the hikers route of the Pinhoti Trail (via Keown Falls). The trail reaches Pilchers Pond at 8.4 miles. It is named after a Civil War soldier called Samuel Pilcher who is buried nearby.



The trail crosses the dam of the small pond and then follows a forest road back toward Pocket Road. Pilchers Pond describes pretty much this same hike as a bike trail. 



Passing a couple of wildlife clearings, the Pinhoti Trail reaches Pocket Road at 9.25 miles. The rest of the hike is a fairly short road walk. First, turn left onto Pocket Road and follow it for about 300 feet to the beginning of FS 702 on the right. Then, walk along FS 702 (which you drove in on) for 0.6 miles, initially climbing a small ridge. You will reach the Keown Falls Parking Area at 9.9 miles, concluding the hike.


Above and below a dry Keown Falls. GNW #127

Directions:

Exit I-75 onto GA 136 north of Calhoun; go approximately 14 miles west toward Villanow; .5 mile east of Villanow, turn left (south) on Pocket Road (County Road 230) and go approximately 7 miles past Keown Falls.

We already featured Floyd County in an earlier post as a tangent. So we wrap up this post with what else, The Pocket Girls.


Korean Girls Group, big hit was BBang?

OK, to satisfy your prurient interest, the you tube .....


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