As Gov. Kemp continues to defend his decision to leave Georgia’s state parks open, the US Forest Service continues to shutdown it’s public recreation sites in the state.
The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests temporarily closed several more sites in North Georgia to protect public health and safety.
The decision aligns with state and local measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“We continually consult leaders in our communities,” says Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests’ acting forest supervisor Edward Hunter. “We aim to implement the highest standard of public health and safety.”
Effective immediately, the following recreation sites are temporarily shut down:
Union County
- Davenport OHV Area
- Beasley Knob OHV Area
Lumpkin County
- Whissenhunt OHV Area
- Dicks Creek Day-Use Area
Towns County
- Lake Chatuge Recreation Area and Boat Ramp
Rabun County
- Angel Falls Trail
Click image for map of temporarily shut-down recreation sites, areas and trails on the Chattahoochee National Forest(Conasauga, Blue Ridge and Chattooga River Ranger Districts). Find a list of temporarily shutdown recreation sites at: www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/
Click image for map of temporarily shut-down recreation sites, areas and trails on the Oconee National Forest. Find a list of temporarily shutdown recreation sites at: www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/
Previously announced shutdowns include:
- All national forest developed campgrounds, group recreation sites, picnic pavilions and all restrooms.
- Appalachian Trail trailheads including Dicks Creek Gap, Hogpen Gap, Neels Gap, Springer Mountain, Tesnatee Gap, Unicoi Gap, and Woody Gap.
- Trails and associated trailheads providing access to the Appalachian Trail including Andrews Cove Trail, segments of the Benton MacKaye Trail (from Fall Branch Falls to Springer Mountain), Byron Herbert Reece Memorial Trail, Dukes Creek Falls Trails, Duncan Ridge Trail, Dockery Lake Trail, Freeman Trail, Jacks Knob Trail, Jarrard Gap Trail, Logan Turnpike Trail, Long Creek Falls Trail, Panther Creek Falls Trail, Slaughter Creek Trail, Springer Mountain Trail, Raven Cliffs Falls Trail and Yonah Mountain Trail.
- Aska Trail System
- Shady Falls Trailhead
- Long Branch Loop Trail
- Green Mtn. Connector Trail
- Deep Gap TrailheadGreen Mtn. Trail
- Stanley Gap Trailhead
- Stanley Gap Trail
- Fruitkoff Trail Access
- Deep Hole Day Use Area
- Sandy Bottoms Day Use Area
- Old Dial Rd. and Padena Dispersed Camping
- Rock Creek Rd. Dispersed Camping
- Noontootla Dispersed Camping (FS 58)
- Sea Creek Falls Trail
- Helton Creek Falls Trail
- Dicks Creek Dispersed Camping Corridor
- Forest Service Road 42 Dispersed Camping Corridor (runs through Gilmer, Fannin, Lumpkin)
- Nimblewill Dispersed Camping Corridor
- Jake and Bull Dispersed Campsites (trail use allowed)
- High Shoals Falls Trail
- Indian Grave Gap Road (Forest Service Road #283)
- Hemlock Falls Trail and Trailhead, Parking Area
- Minnehaha Falls Trail and Trailhead
- White Oak Gap Road (Forest Service Road #244)
County commission chairs from all of the counties affected by these changes and five others sent a letter to Gov. Kemp asking him to close Georgia’s state parks. On April 8 the governor extended his statewide shelter in place order through April 30 but kept state parks open to give people a place to enjoy open-air recreation and exercise.
Gov. Kemp insists state officials are closely monitoring state parks and beaches and says “if something gets out of control and Georgians are not following the rules in social distancing” he may shut down areas where that happens. But he adds, “right now people are behaving.”
For more information visit www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/conf/
