Georgia did not shut down its parks, but the federal government is closing down more of its outdoor facilities in North Georgia.
The US Forest Service announced today it is temporarily shutting down all dispersed camping corridors, day-use areas, trailhead facilities and other recreation sites on the Blue Ridge Ranger District to protect public health and safety.
The move affects sites within the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests.
“We continually consult with local leaders in our communities, in order to be in alignment with local decisions that protect human health and safety,” said acting forest supervisor Edward Hunter. “The health and safety of our employees and the public remain our top priority.”
Effective immediately, the following recreation sites are temporarily shutdown:
- Aska Trail System
- Shady Falls Trailhead
- Long Branch Loop Trail
- Green Mtn. Connector Trail
- Deep Gap Trailhead
- Green 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
Previously announced shutdowns include:
- Appalachian Trail trailheads including Dicks Creek Gap, Hogpen Gap, Neels Gap, Springer Mountain, Tesnatee Gap, Unicoi Gap and Woody Gap.
- Trails and associated trailheads 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.
- All national forest developed campgrounds, group recreation sites, picnic pavilions and all restrooms.
Guidelines for health and safety, recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are available at: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/
The latest information about recreation sites is available at www.fs.usda.gov/conf, also on Facebook and Twitter at @ChattOconeeNF.
