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WAYPOINTS

1. N34º 56.013' W84º 31.139'

2. N34º 56.423' W84º 31.542'

3. N34º 58.277' W84º 31.232'

4. N34º 59.287' W84º 31.102'

4 COHUTTA WILDERNESS: Penitentiary Branch Trail

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Distance 11.8 miles, out-and-back

Hiking Time 5 hours

Difficulty Easy to moderate

Elevation +2,270'/–2,280'

Trail Use Backpacking and horseback riding

Best Times Year-round (good views in winter)

Agency Chattahoochee National Forest, Conasauga Ranger District

Recommended Map National Geographic Trails Illustrated Springer and Cohutta Mountains Chattahoochee National Forest

HIGHLIGHTS Isolated in the wilderness for days on end, the men who logged the Cohutta in the 1900s felt as if they were stuck doing time. And this is how the trail known as Penitentiary Branch received its name. But for modern-day travelers, this trail on the east side of the Cohutta Wilderness can be liberating as it provides fairly easy access to the banks of the beautiful Jacks River. Though the trail drops about 1,400 feet to the bank of the river, the descent stretches more than 5.9 miles, so the going isn’t too tough. When the days stretch long in the warmer months, you could soak in the rushing waters or try to reel in a trout, and still have time for the walk back to the car. And if you’re seeking a night out in the forest, a wide campsite with room for several people lies beneath hemlocks along the riverbank.