White County officials are posting notices and barricading the area of Chambers Road at the Yonah Mountain trailhead in an effort to keep locals and tourists off the trail.
The US Forest Service, which manages Yonah Mountain, closed it and several other trailheads in the region due to local, state and federal social distancing guidelines and emergency declarations. County officials in Northeast Georgia have had a particularly challenging time trying to curb tourism in the mountains in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic as people venture out of their homes to enjoy the outdoors.
White County stepped up its efforts after a weekend rush of out of town visitors. People complained about hikers parking on the county right-of-way on Chambers Road which leads to the trailhead.
For the last two days, county public works crews, working in conjunction with White County’s Emergency Management Agency, have barricaded the Yonah Mountain trailhead and placed barrels and cones along the public right of way.
The White County Sheriff’s Office and US Forest Service Law Enforcement are also stepping up their patrols in the area to make sure people comply with the parking and hiking restrictions.
In a press release Tuesday the county said these measures “will hopefully discourage the use of this area.” Enhanced patrols also will be in place for other trailheads in the county.
White County officials encourage citizens to report illegal parking and dangerous road conditions by calling 9-1-1.
As a reminder, the USFS has closed the following locations in White County: Yonah Mountain Trailhead, Raven Cliff Falls, Duke Creek Falls, Anna Ruby Falls, along with campsites at Anna Ruby Falls, Low Gap, Andrews Cove, and the Upper Chattahoochee.
Georgia state parks remain open but the Department of Natural Resources closed visitor centers and playground areas at its state campgrounds.
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