Rich Mountain Wilderness

Rich Mountain Wilderness is a protected forest covering more than 9,000 acres of hardwood forests nestled within Chattahoochee National Forest, reaching elevations near 4,000 feet. The terrain features old logging roads as main routes, with rolling hills densely covered in trees and vegetation throughout.

The area received federal protection in 1986 when it was designated under the Georgia Wilderness Act as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. This protection came after centuries of timber harvesting and human use, preserving the landscape for the future.

Hunting traditions run deep here, with both small and big game hunters regularly coming to pursue their activities. This long-standing practice shapes how locals and visitors view the wilderness as a place for active engagement with nature.

Bring paper maps and a compass as the area has few marked trails and GPS can be unreliable under dense tree cover. The terrain is most accessible during warmer months when paths stay drier and weather is more predictable.

The forest contains dozens of mountain streams and waterfalls scattered throughout, creating small pockets of water flow across the terrain. These cold flowing waters support trout populations and rare plant species that thrive in these specific conditions found nowhere else nearby.

Location: Georgia

Inception: 1986

GPS coordinates: 34.73030,-84.34060

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:03