Backpack Trail Guide

Trails

Top Backpacking Trails in Georgia

14 routes. Each page shows when we last checked it. Updated October 2026.

Most of the backpacking on this site is in the North Georgia mountains, where the trips include the roughly 78-mile Georgia stretch of the Appalachian Trail (in three sections from Amicalola Falls to Bly Gap), the Benton MacKaye Trail, the river trails of the Cohutta Wilderness, and backcountry loops in Vogel, Black Rock Mountain, and Fort Mountain state parks. Northwest Georgia adds the rocky Pinhoti ridges and the short Cloudland Canyon loop, west Georgia has the 23-mile Pine Mountain Trail, and on the coast, Cumberland Island has wilderness campsites reached by ferry.

Camping rules depend on who manages the land. On Chattahoochee National Forest trips such as the AT, Jacks River, and the Pinhoti, no permit requirement was found and dispersed camping is generally allowed. The state park trails use designated sites by permit or reservation, and Cumberland Island needs both a campsite reservation and a separate ferry booking.

Water and rivers shape many trips. The Jacks River and Conasauga River trails cross their rivers dozens of times, and those fords can be dangerous in high water, while ridge routes like the Pinhoti can run dry for miles. Black bears live in the north Georgia mountains, and hard-sided canisters are required between Jarrard Gap and Neel Gap from March 1 to June 1.

Spring brings thru-hiker crowds to the AT. Fall brings hunting seasons on national forest land and managed hunts that close Cumberland Island’s wilderness, so check dates before you go.

Quick picks

Georgia Coast

North Georgia Mountains

Northwest Georgia

West Georgia

Backpacking in Georgia: common questions

Do you need a permit to backpack in Georgia?

It depends on who manages the land. The state park backcountry trails on this site, including Black Rock Mountain, Cloudland Canyon, Fort Mountain, Vogel, and the Pine Mountain Trail at F.D. Roosevelt State Park, require a permit or reservation, and Cumberland Island needs a campsite reservation on Recreation.gov plus a separate ferry booking. For Chattahoochee National Forest trips like the Appalachian Trail, the Cohutta Wilderness, and the Pinhoti, no permit requirement was found, and the Forest Service says dispersed camping is allowed in most places with a 14-day stay limit. Confirm with the managing agency before you go.

Do you need a bear canister in Georgia?

On one stretch, yes. A Forest Service order requires hard-sided bear-resistant containers for overnight camping on the Appalachian Trail from Jarrard Gap to Neel Gap between March 1 and June 1, and the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club says anyone spending the night within 1,000 feet of the AT must securely store food and other attractants. Georgia DNR says black bears live in the north Georgia mountains, central Georgia along the Ocmulgee River, and the Okefenokee area, and advises never storing food, trash, or toiletries in your tent. Elsewhere, food storage rules vary by managing agency.

When is the best time to backpack in Georgia?

Spring and fall are the seasons the site's sources mention most. The Georgia Appalachian Trail Club says AT shelters are busiest in early spring with thru-hikers, one guide puts peak fall color on the Pine Mountain Trail from mid-October to early November, and Explore Georgia calls spring and late fall the peak seasons on Cumberland Island. In winter, Cohutta Wilderness trailheads such as Betty Gap are closed until early March, and Black Rock Mountain State Park may close temporarily in icy weather.

Is it safe to backpack in Georgia during hunting season?

Hunting is allowed on the Chattahoochee and Oconee national forests with a license, and a WTOC report citing Georgia DNR says the 2026 firearms deer season opened October 17 and runs to January 10 for most hunters. On Cumberland Island, the National Park Service closes the entire wilderness area and its campsites to non-hunters during managed hunts, which its 2026-2027 schedule lists in November, December, and January. Check season dates with Georgia DNR and hunt dates with the park before you book.

Where do you find water, and are there river crossings?

Mountain trips usually have springs and creeks, but some routes are dry for long stretches, such as the Pinhoti ridges near Dalton and the Sassafras Hill site on the Pine Mountain Trail. The Jacks River and Conasauga River trails in the Cohutta Wilderness ford their rivers about 40 and 38 times, and sources warn the crossings can be dangerous after heavy rain. Treat all water, including at Cumberland Island's wilderness sites, where the park says water must be treated.

Can you bring a dog backpacking in Georgia?

Rules vary by managing agency. Georgia State Parks allows dogs on a leash no longer than six feet, though not in some buildings, group camps, or on some trails at Panola Mountain and Tallulah Gorge. On Cumberland Island, the National Park Service allows only service animals in campgrounds, and AllTrails says leashed dogs are allowed on the Georgia AT. Check with the park or ranger district for your trip.

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