Chattahoochee National Forest, Appalachian Trail

Chattahoochee National Forest was established in 1936 and spans over 750,000 acres in northern Georgia.  It was created to restore and protect land that had been severely degraded by logging, mining, and unsustainable agricultural practices in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  The forest is home to Brasstown Bald, Georgia’s highest peak at 4,784 ft (1,458m), and features over 850 miles (1,368km) of hiking trails, including sections of the AT.

Within its boundaries are 10 designated wilderness areas, featuring cascading waterfalls and dense hardwood forests.  The land was once inhabited by Cherokee communities before their relocation in the 1830s, and remnants of 19^th-century gold mins can still be found.  The Chattooga River, a designated Wild and Scenic River, draw whitewater rafters to its turbulent waters and anglers seeking a good catch.  Rangers Roscoe Nicholson and Arthur Woody were early advocates for the forest’s conversation, working to preserve the area and reintroducing species like deer and trout, which had vanished from the landscape.