Georgia Natural Wonder #11 - Pigeon Mountain. 1,437

[Top Row Dawg]

Note before visit : A Georgia hunting license, fishing license, or a Lands Pass is required to hike or be on the management area. Licenses are not available onsite; be sure to obtain your license before your hike. As of July 1, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources will allow you, with the purchase of basic hunting or fishing licenses, to access any wildlife management area or any public fishing area. While a hunting or fishing license normally costs $15, the $30 Lands Pass will serve that purpose as well as give Georgians access to WMAs. With the Lands Pass they won’t draw down any federal funds so they made that $30 a year to offset that loss of (federal) funds. I assume no liability for your getting a ticket.



Georgia Natural Wonder #11 - Pigeon Mountain is a summit in Walker County, Georgia. At its highest point, the mountain has an elevation of around 2,330 feet. Ellison's Cave and Petty John's Cave are located in the mountain. But Rocktown is at the top of the mountain and it alone is why I name this a natural wonder. Pigeon Mountain may have been named because the peak's outline resembles a pigeon, or because settlers saw a large flock of pigeons there. You can hang-glide like a pigeon from Hood Overlook. DO NOT CAMP HERE. LEARN FROM MY MISTAKE.



Pigeon Mountain is located to the west of LaFayette in the Cumberland Plateau. The mountain runs in a northwest-southwest direction for about 10 miles, joining with Lookout Mountain on the southwestern end to form a V-shape. Between Pigeon and Lookout Mountains is a valley called the McLemore Cove. The Tennessee Valley Divide crosses the western side of the mountain. Most of Pigeon Mountain is located inside the Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area, maintained by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.



At the top of Pigeon mountain is my favorite spot and why I primarily name this a natural wonder. Here lies Rocktown. Now most of us ain't going caving but you need to see Rocktown if you really want to see a Wonder of Georgia. From the town of Lafayette, Georgia. Take HWY 193 north and go 2.7 miles on HWY 193 to Chamberlain Road and turn Left onto Chamberlain (Fina station on Right) Go 3.3 miles on Chamberlain Rd to Crockford - Pigeon Wilderness Area sign on Right - turn Right onto gravel road. Take this road approximately. 1.8 miles (as the road steepens it gets rougher, and goes up the Mt. via a series of switchbacks) Lost Wall Parking is just past the fourth switchback on the Left.



Tangent on Lost Wall .... it doesn't get a lot of respect from climbers who've been spoiled by the bounties of Tennessee Wall and other great crags around nearby Chattanooga. It's true that Lost Wall doesn't have the length of cliff line, the height or even the rock quality to match the Tennessee Crags, but it's still a worthwhile destination. It has a number of good routes for top ropers and leaders trying to hone their skills, along with some routes like Booze and Broads which would be exceptional just about anywhere.



You get a little rain and this Lost Wall Falls becomes a torrent.



Continue past the Lost Wall pullout up the Mountain Plateau. The road improves again once it levels off near the top of the mountain. When the road splits, take the Right fork (Rocky Road ) 1.3 miles further. Turn Left onto Rocktown Road (sign) dirt road 1/3 mile to parking area. Trailhead is @ the right corner of the parking lot, next to the information kiosk. There is a one-mile hike from the trail head to get to the Rocktown area. Rocktown is a free face rock climbing area. It consists of an outcropping of sandstone boulders. It comprises several acres of large sandstone boulders; the average size is 30 to 40 feet high.



I've been here twenty times and still see something new every time. Every boulder has its own unique features, all with great foot and hand holds and very popular with climbers. The area presents challenges for all levels of climbers. Now I reached back and found some old photo's where I visited with my wife kids and nieces / nephews.



Most of these boulders have been untainted by pollution and graffiti because it is in a remote part of northwest Georgia. Because it is located in a wildlife management area, it is possible to encounter wild animals in this area, including both venomous and non-venomous snakes, bobcats, deer, wild turkeys, black bears and wild hogs. When climbing and exploring the boulders, caves and grottoes it is common to encounter wasps, yellow-jackets and spiders and even the occasional bat.



Those planning to participate in technical rock climbing should bring at least 50 meters of rope for safety, but climbers who are bouldering really do not need to bring anything except some mats to fall on if they slip. The reason for this is that there are now permanently placed bolts and pins to use for rigging. Likely owing to the remoteness of the area, the natural beauty of the location is mostly unspoiled. There are no bathrooms or comfort facilities and fresh potable water is not readily available on the wildlife management area, so it is advisable to bring plenty of drinking water, especially in the hot summer months.



The hike starts from the Rocktown Trailhead. A short distance into the hike, the trail crosses a small wooden bridge crossing over a narrow stream. After the bridge crossing, there is very little elevation gain, making this a very easy hike as the trail follows the top of the ridge on Pigeon Mountain. Oak, maple, and pine trees surround the trail as it winds through the forest.



At a half mile, large boulders begin to flank the right side of the trail.



The trail veers towards the southeast before reaching the main section of the rock field. A massive, 30-foot tall boulder with a deep over-hang immediately gives the impression of just how unique this landscape is.



Once this section of the trail is reached, the trail becomes less obvious, but can be done as a ‘lollipop’ or loop trail to explore most of Rocktown. Boulders ranging from 6 feet to 50 feet dot the landscape, providing a diverse array of routes for people to test their climbing skills.



One of the great things about this hike is that you don’t need to be a climber to enjoy the incredible rock formations that Rocktown has to offer.



From a geology standpoint, the boulders are very interesting, as they were formed when the ocean covered this landscape over 200 million years ago. As the water receded, the more porous limestone eroded, exposing more resilient sandstone formations with a variety of patterns and textures.



Some of the boulders are smooth and flat, while others more closely resemble the skin of a reptile.



Turtle Boulders.



The scattered boulders also provide a great opportunity to have a picnic or just wander around and explore the narrow passages between the steep sandstone walls.



Super tricky rock climbing gals.



These youngsters better watch out. Not a spot for playing.



Although rock climbing is the most popular activity in Rocktown, other activities include hunting, hiking, bird watching and picnicking. Camping is prohibited at Rocktown but is permitted in designated areas on certain portions of the wildlife management area. The Rocktown trail and area is closed annually during firearms deer hunts.



Several caves are located on Pigeon Mountain, but the two biggies are Ellison's Cave and Petty John's Cave. These caves contribute to the reputation of the area where Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia meet (known to the caving community as the "TAG" region) as one of the world's most exciting regions for caving. I have only explored the Petty John’s Cave.


By God I was in that cave, found this picture from the archives.

Petty John's Cave is a karst cave on the east side Pigeon Mountain in the Appalachian Plateau of Northwest Georgia. It has a surveyed length of 31,490 ft (6 Fucking Miles)and reaches a depth of 235 ft. The cave is accessible via a path from a gravel parking area on the side of Rocky Lane. Out of the 242 listed, it is 119th longest cave in the United States as declared by the Georgia Speleological Survey.



Petty John's Cave is a very popular cave for local students and spelunkers. It is a horizontal cave, but a 50 ft handline is the recommended kit when visiting the cave. Petty John's cave is a wild cave, not a commercial cave, and one should only enter with the proper equipment and training, e.g. three sources of light, water, a helmet, boots, and appropriate clothing. Many would-be explorers are injured here each year. Those interested in exploring this cave and others should contact a local caving club, or grotto. Some of the best grottoes in the country are located very near Petty John's Cave. Grotto members are involved in conservation, cave rescue, and exploration.



It starts with an easy climb down into a large breakdown passage. A handline is recommended for the climb down to the stream level. One of the most popular and most challenging of passages in the cave is the Worm Tube. The Worm Tube is a long 150 ft crawl. It is a very tight passageway and unavoidable if venturing to the Echo Room and beyond. Other intriguing passageways include the Mason-Dixon Passage and the Pancake squeeze. When going to the waterfall or Raccoon Room, the stream canyon passages and the Z bends can be an alternate route to the Pancake Squeeze.



The Bridge Room is a good place to take a rest. You can hang your legs over the edge and listen to the stream that is 80 ft below. The Worm Tube leads to the Echo Room, which is the biggest room of the cave.



The Volcano Room is shaped like a large funnel and it leads to the stream passage and the sump. The Over-Under Room and the Signature room are also other popular destinations of the cave.



Formations in Petty John's Cave include: Stalagmites that are a type of speleothem that rises from the floor of a limestone cave due to the dripping of mineralized solutions and the deposition of calcium carbonate. Stalactites are also found in the cave. These formations hang from the ceiling or wall of the cave. There are also pillars, soda straws, cave pearls, flowstones, and cave popcorn are other formations in the cave. In addition, waterfalls can be found in the stream passage section.



This cave hosts tri-colored bats during their winter hibernation because temperatures are low but remain above freezing. Their food consists entirely of insects such as small beetles, moths, and gnats. Do not use or trust any ropes or lines left in the cave. Please also help this much abused cave by not damaging formations and packing out trash.


Tiny entrance to big cave.

Ellison's Cave is a pit cave. It is the 12th deepest cave in the United States and features the deepest, unobstructed underground pit in the continental US named Fantastic Pit. The cave is over 12 miles long and extends 1063 feet vertically.


Jesus! Is this really in Georgia? First time I ever really looked at pictures of this cave.

Ellison's features a number of underground vertical pitches including the two deepest pits in the continental United States: Fantastic (586 feet) and Incredible (440 feet). These two pits lie on opposite sides of the cave. Nearby and parallel to Fantastic are Smokey I (500 feet), Smokey II (262 feet), and other extremely deep pitches. There are over 7 routes to reach the bottom level of the cave from the Fantastic side. Fantastic and Smokey I both extend to TAG Hall, a passage at the bottom of the cave. To reach Fantastic, or the large pits on the Fantastic side, cavers must also descend the Warm Up pit (125 feet).


Alas, most of us will never see this, even the Warm Up pit is deadly.

Ellison's is a solution cave in the Ridge and Valley geologic region of northwest Georgia and lies within a bedrock fault in Pigeon Mountain. During the Ordovician Period, tectonic subduction responsible for forming the Appalachians left a number of seismically active fault lines stretching from northern Alabama to eastern Tennessee. Continued orogeny created a large fault zone in the bedrock throughout the southern Appalachians and northern Georgia. This fracturing along with the proliferation of gypsum and limestone contributes to the exceptional depth of Ellison's.


Pit One.

The cave and surrounding area are managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and are open year-round. Due to the technical and dangerous nature of Ellison's Cave, it is generally explored by only the most experienced and capable cavers. Beginning cavers and spelunkers are severely discouraged from entering and negotiating the cave. The vertical sections of the cave require extensive knowledge and practice of single rope technique climbing, including practice on heavy ropes and in wet environments. The horizontal portions of the cave also feature technical and somewhat dangerous free climbing and bouldering environments. Careful preparation, including bringing the proper gear and clothing, is essential.



• March 10, 1999 - A caver climbing the Incredible pit became tangled in multiple ropes and was stranded 140 feet off the cave floor underneath water falling into the pit. The incident resulted in fatality due to hypothermia.

• February 12, 2011 - Two University of Florida students died of hypothermia after becoming stuck on rope near a waterfall close to the bottom of 125 ft Warm-up pit. It was reported that the students were underexperienced and underprepared for the cave.

• May 26, 2013 - A caver was rescued and hospitalized after falling 40 feet in the cave. It took 21 hours to evacuate the caver, including hauling up Fantastic Pit.

• March 26, 2016 - A 22-year-old man suffering from exhaustion and cold was rescued from the bottom of Fantastic Pit after emerging from the lower part of the cave. After being hauled up both Fantastic and the Warm Up Pit, he was able to walk down the mountain on his own.

• August 14, 2018 - If any of you son's of bitches ever die in this cave, don't get associated with the University of Georgia in your internet recount of your spelunking mishap.

Anderson Spring Cave is yet another cavern in this Pigeon Mountain Natural Wonder.



I took my son and his football buddies on a group outing and we ended up on the edge of the plateau on the Pocket Trail. The fractured sandstone has been weathered and eroded over thousands of years into spires and teetering boulders that are most dramatic, particularly when perched—as many of them are—on the edge of the mountain.



Other features on Pigeon Mountain include Dug Gap, Rape Gap and The Pocket. Visit in wet weather for Pocket Falls.



Part of the Battle of Davis's Cross Roads took place at Pigeon Mountain, fought on September 10 and 11 in 1863. During the battle, Union forces under James S. Negley intended to cross Pigeon Mountain to capture LaFayette. However, upon learning about how Confederate soldiers were concentrating at Dug Gap, Negley decided to withdraw his troops back to Davis’ Cross Roads.


TRD's troops ready for action.

During the 1920s and 1930s, Pigeon Mountain was home to about 30 families. Those families abandoned the mountain in the 1930s when the water table was lowered. In 1969, the mountain was leased by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The area eventually became the Crockford–Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area. The WMA was named after Jack Crockford, the director of the Georgia Game and Fish Division in the 1970s who helped implement Georgia's white-tailed deer restoration program


Love finding cute GNW gals at our sites.

Next up, three straight mountain wonders take us to 14 Natural Wonders of Georgia.