Black Rock Mountain State Park Trail Map 3085 Black Rock Mountain Parkway • Mountain City, Georgia 30562 • Park: 706-746-2141 • Emergency: 706-746-2818 • Reservations: 1-800-864-7275 GeorgiaStateParks.org Lookoff Mountain From Black Rock Mountain: Site #2 Dillard 4 mi alley Park Boundary lf fork V Scaly Mtn., NC 10 mi Franklin, NC 20 mi Wo Lookoff Laurel Ridge Highlands, NC 18 mi Site #3 Mountain Elev. 3162 Cherokee, NC 50 mi Gatlinburg, TN 80 mi fork Road Taylor's C Marsen Wolf hap el R Knob oa d Elev. 3205 rk o F st e 441 Park Boundary W il ra T Edmonds James E. Edmonds Pa Backcountry Trail rk Boundar rk o Camping by Permit Only F t Black Rock s a E Lake Trail Taylor's il a Tr Chapel y Elev. 2241 ds Road on Eastern Edm Continental Divide 3048 Creek Ridge Scruggs Knob Site #4 e. Elev. 3048 Av k Lookoff r o F Mtn. Dr. t s N. Johnson e W Black Rock Mtn. Pkwy l i a r . Park Boundary T s Taylor Gap d Down on . Elev. 2607 dm Home Road E Lane leading Mountain to the N. Germany Mtn. Rd PARK GATE City park. k r (Opens 7 am-10 pm) o Elev. 2165 t F as E Cross St. ail Tr ds Private mon Ed Property Cross St 441 . Foxfire Museum Fern Cove & Heritage Center To Site #1 Germany Valley James E. Edmonds Foxfire Backcountry Trail Lane Camping by Permit Only Park Boundar Cowee Foxfire La Nantahala ne Trail Ada-hi Falls Overlook Trail y Forest y Eastern Cowee Mgmt. Rd. Continental Trading Post & Overlook Mellinger Center Divide Tennessee Rock Trail Springhouse/Ada-hi Hickory Cove Park Boundar Walk-In Tent Falls Trail Tennessee Camping Area Rock Hickory Cove Overlook Lane Blue Private Ridge Overlook Black Rock Mtn. Property Norma Campbell Elev. 3640 Black Rock Overlook Cove Trail Elev. 3446 . Park Bounda Black Rock Mtn. Pkwy ry Cottages 1 - 10 d. n R yto la C ld /O . t 441 S n Camp i a Tsatu-gi M . N From Black Rock Mountain: . Pioneer Rd Parky Boundar Clayton 3 mi Chattooga River 12 mi Tallulah Gorge 15 mi Hiawassee 31 mi Helen 37 mi Atlanta 105 mi LEGEND 0 1/4 mile 1/2 mile SCALE Hiking Trails Symbols Tennessee Rock Trail / 2.2-mile loop Paved Road Pioneer Camping Area Since trails may be closed for maintenance or Ada-hi Falls Trail / .25-mile one-way Gravel Road RV & Tent Camping inclement weather, check with the rangers at the Springhouse/Ada-hi Falls Trail / .6-mile one-way Park Visitor Center to ensure availability. Forest Management Road Visitor Center Connector Trail / .25-mile one-way Park Visitor Center James E. Edmonds Backcountry Trail / 7.2-mile loop Picnic Area Criminal trespass charges and search & rescue costs can Camping by Permit Only Picnic Shelter Overlook be charged to parties guilty of negligence or failure to get Black Rock Lake Trail / .85-mile loop Playground Cottages user permits. Norma Campbell Cove Trail / 0.1 mile 2011 James E. Edmonds Trail (Backcountry) Tennessee Rock Trail Black Rock Mountain (Summit Elevation: 3640 ft.) Lookoff Mountain 3500 3200 (Elevation: 3162 ft.) 3450 3000 Black Rock Mountain State Park, named for its sheer cliffs of 3400 dark-colored biotite gneiss, encompasses some of the most 2800 3350 outstanding country in Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Located 2600 astride the Eastern Continental Divide at an altitude of 3,640 3300 feet, Black Rock Mountain is the highest state park in Georgia. 2400 3250 Numberous scenic overlooks provide spectacular 80-mile vistas of 01 23 4567 01 2 the Southern Appalachians, and several hiking trails lead visitors past colorful wildflowers, sparkling streams, small waterfalls and 2.2-Mile Loop 7.2-Mile Loop Obstacles may include uneven surfaces, exposed lush forests. Grade Avg. Travel Time: One and a Half Hour Avg. Travel Time: 4 Hours rock and tree roots, fallen trees and/or limbs, steps, Foot Travel Only Foot Travel Only long steep grades, loose stones and leaf litter, TRAIL SAFETY & ETIQUETTE X-slope softness, mud, icing or other slick conditions when Compacted Natural Soil Surface • Tell someone your itinerary and expected return time. Compacted Natural Soil Surface Avg. Grade: 10% Max: 25%/200LF • Be prepared for unexpected weather changes by dressing Avg. Grade: 10% Max: 25%/250LF wet, poisonous plants, heat and cold in season, Min. Width: 18 inches in layers and carrying rain gear. Unexpected rain and wind Min. Width: 18 inches Width insects, snakes and wild animals including bears. Avg. X-slope: 10% Max: 25%/50LF can lead to hypothermia. Always carry quality rain gear and Avg. X-slope: 10% Max: 30%/200LF turn back in bad weather. If you become wet or cold, it is Backcountry Camping by Permit Only. The yellow-blazed 2.2-mile Tennessee Rock Trail, winding its way through some of the highest and lushest forests, is the park’s important to get dry and warm as quickly as possible. Camping allowed on four designated campsites. See map for locations. Ada-hi Falls Trail • Dress in layers and avoid cotton. Luckily, today’s hikers Advance reservations required. Call 1-800-864-7275. most popular hiking trail. Rated by experienced hikers as “easy to can choose from numerous fabrics that wick moisture, dry .25-Mile Loop moderate,” the trail offers most visitors a perfect opportunity to quickly or conserve heat. Many experienced hikers wear a The 7.2-mile James E. Edmonds Backcountry Trail, named in Avg. Travel Time: Half Hour get better acquainted with the area’s rich woodlands and vistas, lightweight shirt that wicks moisture, while carrying a fleece honor of one of the park’s first rangers, offers both day hiking that on clear days span over 80 miles into the neighboring states pullover and rain jacket. Foot Travel Only and backcountry camping. This trail is quite steep in a number of both North and South Carolina, as well as Tennessee. • Take a map, water, snacks, first aid kit, flashlight and whistle. Compacted Natural Soil Surface Three short blasts on a whistle are known as a call for help. of places and is rated as “moderate to strenuous.” In laurel-filled Avg. Grade: 25% Max: 58%/30LF The effects from an EF-2 tornado are clearly visible on the trail’s • Do not stray from trails. If you become lost, stay in one coves, the trail follows cascading streams with small waterfalls. Min. Width: 36 inches western edge, as hikers begin the climb to Black Rock Mountain’s location and wait for help. This will make it easier for In the northernmost section of the park, the trail climbs to Avg. X-slope: 10% Max: 10%/300LF summit. While the damage to the forest is saddening to an extent, rescuers to find you. Don’t count on cell phones to work in downed trees have enhanced vistas at several points along the the summit of Lookoff Mountain and offers a stunning vista of The Ada-hi Falls Trail provides a delightful but challenging walk the wilderness, but if they do, be able to give details about trail and opened the thick woods for new growth. your location. Wolffork Valley and surrounding mountain ranges. into an outstanding example of a moist, north-slope Appalachian • Invest in good hiking socks such as those found at sporting cove. The trail features mature hardwoods, lichen-covered goods stores. Avoid blisters by carrying “moleskin” and rocks, a variety of ferns and wildflowers, and a dense thicket of applying it as soon as you feel a hot spot on your feet. rhododendron. At the trail’s end is the observation platform for Tennessee Rock Trail Interpretive Information Available in the foot care section of drug stores, moleskin is noisy Ada-hi Falls, a small cascade typical of those found at the Hikers wanting to learn more about the special forest like felt that sticks to your skin. Black Rock Lake Trail higher elevations throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains. • Pack out all trash. ecology of the Southern Appalachians may wish to purchase • Keep pets on a leash. NOTE: During dry weather, water flow is often reduced to a a copy of “An Interpretive Guide to the Tennessee Rock Tail,” • Do not pick flowers or disturb wildlife. .85-Mile Loop trickle. available for a small fee at the visitor center and campground • Protect the landscape by staying on trails. Do not short-cut Avg. Travel Time: Half Hour trading post. The text in this 32-page illustrated booklet switchbacks. This practice is dangerous and can create major Foot Travel Only corresponds to 25 numbered posts located along the trail. In erosion problems. Norma Campbell Cove Trail addition to information about the park’s natural history, the • Stay together. Don’t allow hikers, especially children, to run Compacted Natural Soil Surface / Gravel / Bark trail guide features interesting facts about early pioneer and ahead or lag behind. Avg. Grade: 5% Max: 10% .10-Mile North American life, as well as facinating information about Min. Width: 60 inches Avg. Travel Time: Half Hour | Foot Travel Only Appalachian geology, geography and climate. The guide serves as an excellent introduction to Black Rock Mountain CLIMATE DATA FOR BLACK ROCK MOUNTAIN Compacted Natural Soil Surface The loop around scenic Black Rock Lake, completed in 2007, is State Park and the surrounding mountain region. Avg. Avg. Avg. Moderate rating of difficulty. Month High Low Mean Precip. Record High Record Low a wonderful addition to the park’s trail system. The 17-acre lake Hikers using the guide will quickly learn that there’s a lot Jan 44ºF 30ºF 37ºF 6.41 in 68ºF (2002) -20ºF (1985) is unspoiled by development and is rimmed by forests of white This is the park’s newest trail which is named after the late Norma more to be found along the trail than just trees.