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Drift Woody 
Group: Members
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Joined: Feb. 2006
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Posted on: Feb. 25 2013, 11:04 pm |
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Looking to take a liesurely overnighter to the Jacks River Falls next month. Info says backcountry camping allowed Nov 1 - March 31 in designated campsites in the Beech bottom area. Willing to hike a bit farther for a good campsite but my hiking partner on this one is a little creaky in the joints, so nothing too strenuous.
Anyone familiar with the designated campsites in Beech Bottom, or something else nearby that doesn't stretch the rules too far?
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We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.
-- Native American proverb
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| Post Number: 2
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cgaphiker
Hen Wallow Falls
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Joined: Apr. 2006
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Posted on: Feb. 26 2013, 12:04 am |
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The last time that I was there camping wasn't allowed between the river crossings above and below the falls. That may have changed by now as it's been a couple of years. It's an easy hike. About 3 miles or so.
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gunslinger
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Posted on: Feb. 26 2013, 6:27 am |
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There are about 8 designated sites close to the falls if I remember correctly.
If you go a half a mile west of the falls there are a couple of really nice sites on the river.
That's a good moderate to easy hike and in the past I passed a couple of 80 year old men taking there time and working there way down to the falls.
It's a very popular trail, with lots of day hikers.
The forest is naked right now, about as bare as it gets... but we've had plenty of rain and the falls should be roaring.
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For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
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| Post Number: 4
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Drift Woody
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Posted on: Feb. 26 2013, 7:26 am |
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Thanks gunslinger, those sites on the river sound nice -- do you have to ford the Jacks to reach them?
Also, how's the road to the trailhead? My little car doesn't have much ground clearance.
Glad to hear the falls are roaring! My buddy has been out of the country a few years, and we'll be working our way up from Atlanta to Chattanooga, Knoxville, then Nashville, doing some hikes and checking out historical sites (war of northern aggression  ) along the way. Plan to hit Laurel-Snow for the first time and Virgin Falls for the 2nd, among others.
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We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.
-- Native American proverb
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| Post Number: 5
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HikerDude73
Group: Members
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Joined: Nov. 2012
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Posted on: Feb. 26 2013, 8:19 am |
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"Beech Bottom, really an old road blocked to vehicular traffic, is the most easily walked trail in the Cohutta Wilderness. it is also the only trail that leads
to the most scenic single feature in the wilderness-
the wildly churning Jacks River Falls-without forc-
ing hikers to ford the Jacks at least once. These two
facts predictably account for another: Beech Bottom
is the most heavily used trail in the Cohuttas."
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OutdoorCanvas Blog
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| Post Number: 6
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Drift Woody
Group: Members
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Posted on: Feb. 26 2013, 9:29 am |
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Yes, I read that exact paragraph during my research, and though I'd really like to explore the wilder areas of Cohutta on a multi-day trip it's not going to be in mid-March with a hiking partner who is even older & creakier than I am 
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We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.
-- Native American proverb
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| Post Number: 7
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| Post Number: 8
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Drift Woody
Group: Members
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Joined: Feb. 2006
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Posted on: Feb. 26 2013, 2:06 pm |
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Thanks, I knew the trail to the falls doesn't require fording the Jacks, but was asking whether fording was necessary to reach the campsites gunslinger mentioned that are a half mile west on the river.
We will most likely be doing this on a week day, though we're going to play this trip by ear (and weather). The objective is to have a good time and relax (which includes some backcountry camping without having to pound big trail miles).
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We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.
-- Native American proverb
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| Post Number: 9
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gunslinger
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Posted on: Feb. 26 2013, 9:52 pm |
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No, you won't have to ford the river, but there is a small creek down in the bottoms that's usually ankle deep.
My last trip was in December and the roads were passable but they were starting to get some pot holes.
Big Frog loop road is just that, a loop, off of pevine/sheed's creek road. The turn on to the southern part of the loop is the way you want to go....I couldn't make the turn pulling my horse trailer and took the route from the north and sections of the road from that direction were somewhat rough. I see some fairly low smaller cars in the area and don't think you'll have any problem provided you go slow and take your time.
I checked some old gps logs and the campsite I'm thinking about is at 16 S 721064 3872192. It has gentle slopeing sandy access to the river and a deep hole in case the polar bear urge hits you. This one is open to camping year round, as it's just out side the 1/2 mile rule.
That said, you'll walk past most of the Nov to March campsites before you get to the falls and all of them are really pretty nice.
PM me with an email address and I'll send you the gps logs from the Jacks as well as from the Beech Bottom trail.
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For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
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| Post Number: 10
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Drift Woody
Group: Members
Posts: 5302
Joined: Feb. 2006
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Posted on: Feb. 27 2013, 10:51 am |
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Thanks gunslinger, I'm sure I'll have no problem finding my way with the info at hand. My GPS unit crapped out and repair/replacement is doubtful for this trip.
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We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.
-- Native American proverb
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| Post Number: 11
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| Post Number: 12
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Drift Woody
Group: Members
Posts: 5302
Joined: Feb. 2006
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Posted on: Mar. 01 2013, 7:46 pm |
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18 days -- that's quite an expedition, thanks for the pics & narrative!
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We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.
-- Native American proverb
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| Post Number: 13
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Tipi Walter
Group: Members
Posts: 294
Joined: Jan. 2007
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Posted on: Mar. 02 2013, 8:08 am |
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I never did answer your question---about camping during the off season close to the Falls. There are 6 total "allowed" camping sites from Nov 1 to March 31 and so you're good to go if you leave this month. There are 4 campsites on the Jacks at the Beech Bottom jct and they are clustered on the north bank near the two "ridge" crossings---the one over to Hickory Ridge and the one up to Rough Ridge.
My one and only crossing of the trip happened at the Hickory Ridge jct and what is normally mid calf deep became crotch deep but easy. I camped on the other side next to a big fire ring I called Jacks Beach Camp.
There's also a great camping spot up on Beech Bottoms at the trail crossing over Beech Creek---it's got a fire ring too.
Sadly, there's a giant campsite next to the Falls where Beech Creek joins the river but it is apparently off limits although I'm sure many people use it and get cited by the rangers.
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http://trailjournals.com/TipiWalter11
http://tipiwalter.smugmug.com/
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| Post Number: 14
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gunslinger
Group: Members
Posts: 6029
Joined: Mar. 2007
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Posted on: Mar. 11 2013, 8:37 am |
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I made it over that way yesterday....rode the Iron Mountain Trail up to Doogans firetower, (which isn't there anymore) then down to the Conasauga River and back along the Conasauga River Trail.
Ladd Springs road is in pretty good shape, several large potholes near the Jack's River Trail head.
The water is high, probably 6 inches or so above normal....got my feet wet crossing the river on horse back.
Also, from Doogans firetower, I could see a large fire burning due south, possibly around Sumac Creek. It didn't appear to be in the wilderness area. There was another small fire burning south of the Jacks River Bridge, along the county line trail.
The forest is naked....about as bare as it can be with little sign of spring. The wind has been high. Be careful with fire....not sure if there's a fire ban, but from what I've seen this weekend, there probably should be.
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For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
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