Pine Mountain Via Coopers Furnace Trail (near Cartersville GA)
Details
We will start our hike at Cooper's Furnace Day Use Area, right by the Etowah River, where there's lots of nice shaded parking, and it's free. The iron furnace is pretty much all that is left of the historic town of Etowah, which was mostly destroyed during the Civil War.
We will hike the Cooper's Furnace Trail and then head up to Pine Mountain. It's not quite a loop and part of it is a figure 8. We can also go up to the dam, which affords a nice view of the surrounding area.
Here's the link to the route on AllTrails:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/georgia/pine-mountain-via-coopers-furnace-trail?u=i
Hike Distance: Approx. 10 miles
Elevation Gain: Approx. 2,000'
Weather Forecast: Low 50's (enjoy these cooler temps while they last)
NOT A BEGINNERS HIKE, but It's not a long hike and it's not a difficult one. There are some fun, fairly steep (but pretty short) climbs, nice scenery, and the overlook was pretty decent last time I visited.
We try to maintain a 2.5 mph average pace on this hike. Some will go a little faster and some a little slower. We usually have a good size group and this works out fine. Try not to get too far ahead, or too far behind. I just ask everyone to look out for each other. We don’t want anyone getting lost, left behind, or injured.
Bring electrolyte water and/or power drinks to stay hydrated, and some snacks or a light lunch. We will take a short break, probably at the summit. No big concerns about getting lost on this one, but it's still a good idea to have a navigation app on your phone - AllTrails is free - I recommend it. I also recommend hiking poles, unless you've tried them and decided you don't want to use them.
CARPOOL INFORMATION:
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I will run a carpool from Arby's at 1505 McFarland Parkway in Alpharetta, leaving at 9:00 a.m. Plan to arrive there a few minutes before then.
Please let me know by 8 p.m. Friday if you want to join my carpool.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
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Hike Georgia assumes no liability for meetup events.
Dogs are welcome on this hike, but should be kept on leash.