Hidden in the mountains of North Georgia near the city of Chatsworth, GA is a state park known as Fort Mountain. Fort Mountain State Park is home to the most beautiful sceneries North Georgia has to offer. I first went to the park with my girlfriend. I loved it so much that I brought my family the following week. The park contains a fire tower that was once run by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
The drive to get to the park from Dahlonega is definitely a beauty. On the trip, you will pass a beautiful overlook where you can view what can almost be described as heaven itself. The roads are not that bad, but may resemble the Dragon's Tail and are very curvy. Once you get into the park itself the visitor center should be your first stop as there are many things within the park that you have to see. After getting your map of the park, proceed to drive north towards the CCC Tower. Park in the designated parking places and hike your way towards the Stone Wall using the main trail to get there.
After a small hike, you will find yourself emersed in a location where there is a small wall. The stone wall itself is a mystery and no one clearly understands how the wall got there. There is a legend about a Native American tribe that was blinded by the light in the day and even during a full moon. The legend states that the Moon-Eyed tribe set up the wall to protect themselves in the day against predators. The wall is 855 feet long and surrounds the base of the path. After viewing the wall, head north towards the CCC Tower.
When you get to the end of the trail you will find a huge stone tower. This tower was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps who created the park in 1938. Within the park, the CCC is accredited to creating the lake, trails and park buildings. In fact, most of the state parks can be traced to CCC involvement. The fire tower helped rangers report fires that were over 40 miles away. The tower itself is four stories and on Saturdays, you can actually climb up to the top of the tower. The tower was recently restored after a horrible fire burned the tower. After looking at the tower, head to the West Overlook where you will experience a sight never experienced before.
The West Overlook looks out over land towards the city of Chatsworth. Here you can look around and see numerous mountain ranges and see small civilizations. You will feel like a god looking over the great land. The view is breathtaking and definitely will make you fall in love with the park.
Now head over to the Cool Springs overlook. You can either head back to your car to drive over or experience the beauty that the trails have to offer. At the Cool Springs Overlook, you will see nothing but mountains and beauty. Here you can relax and take a moment to enjoy the beautiful North Georgia mountains.
This park is a must if you enjoy camping, hiking, history or even experiencing great beauty in nature.
