Cooper's Furnace Trail System Cooper's Furnace Day Use Area, GA
miles
LENGTH 3.3 MILES
DIFFICULTY 3.9 Easy
DURATION 1-2 hours
ELEVATION GAIN
490
feet
TRAIL TYPE
Trail
System
Cooper's Furnace Trail System

Learn a bit of history, then check out views of Lake Allatoona and the Etowah River as you explore the Cooper's Furnace trail system. A great option for families with smaller children or those who enjoy reading the many info signs along the way.

I'm not going to give step by step navigation as this is a trail system so choose your own adventure. The elevation and slope data is based on beginning at Cooper's Furnace, taking the Cooper's Furnace Trail loop along the river then back to the main trail north to the Laurel Ridge Trail to loop back to the gravel road, visiting the dam overlook before returning to the trailhead.

The main trailhead is at Cooper's Furnace Day Use area. The larger gravel road behind the metal gate marks the main trail but a connector trail behind the furnace heads up to the furnace overlook. You can also park at the trailhead along GA-20 Spur or at the Management Office. There's another trailhead along the road to the office but you just have to park on the side of the road.

The green-blazed Cooper's Furnace Trail follows the gravel road before splitting to the left to make a loop along the Etowah River. Here side trails take you to the furnace overlook. Back at the gravel road, the trail splits at a beaver pond with the gravel road turning right. The green-blazed trail continues straight. At the north side of the park, the trail connects with the Laurel Ridge Trail and Pine Mountain connector trail before ending at the GA-20 Spur trailhead.

The red-blazed Laurel Ridge Trail is more rugged than the others. A couple of "overlooks" line the trail as well as a lengthy bridge before connecting back to the gravel road. Taking the road uphill, the gravel turns to asphalt as you pass the Management Office. Follow the signs for the overlook of Allatoona Dam. The yellow-blazed Chestnut Trail branches off from here, but just really connects to another parking lot lower down the hill. The gravel road connects back to the Cooper's Furnace Trail at the beaver pond. You can explore this whole system in a couple hours, longer if you enjoy reading the numerous info signs along the way.

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Elevation Map Length (miles) by Elevation (feet)
Slope Breakdown
Elevation Gain
Elevation Range
Grade Range
Length
Elevation Gain
0 - 250 ft/mi
~ 0 - 5 %
1 mi
70 ft
250 - 500 ft/mi
~ 5 - 10 %
0.6 mi
196 ft
500 - 750 ft/mi
~ 10 - 15 %
0.1 mi
84 ft
750 - 1000 ft/mi
~ 15 - 20 %
247 ft
37 ft
1000+ ft/mi
~ 20+ %
0.1 mi
141 ft
Elevation Loss
Elevation Range
Grade Range
Length
Elevation Loss
0 - 250 ft/mi
~ 0 - 5 %
0.6 mi
83 ft
250 - 500 ft/mi
~ 5 - 10 %
0.4 mi
127 ft
500 - 750 ft/mi
~ 10 - 15 %
0.3 mi
189 ft
750 - 1000 ft/mi
~ 15 - 20 %
493 ft
77 ft
1000+ ft/mi
~ 20+ %
261 ft
55 ft
Terrain Map Click to control map
Details
length3.3 miles
difficulty3.9 Easy
duration1 - 2 hours
trail typeTrail System
blazeGreen (Cooper's Furnace), Red (Laurel Ridge)
elevation gain490 ft.
state Georgia 
park/forestCooper's Furnace Day Use Area
Allatoona Lake
visitor infoVisitor Center / Office
1138 Georgia Highway Spur 20
Cartersville, GA 30121
678-721-6700
parking feeNone
trailhead coordinates 34.164783, -84.7333 (Degree Decimal, DegDec)
N 34°9.89, W 84°44 (Degree Minutes, MinDec)
N 34°9'53'', N 34°9'53'' (Degree Minutes Seconds, DMS)
Trailhead Directions
34.164783, -84.7333 (Degree Decimal, DegDec)
N 34°9.89, W 84°44 most GPS units use this one
N 34°9'53'', N 34°9'53'' (Degree Minutes Seconds, DMS)
Google Map It
Cooper's Furnace Day Use Area is closed December - February. Use one of the alternate trailheads on the map to access the trails. The park opens at 8am and closes between 6pm and 9pm depending on the time of year.
Parking Capacity
100+ parking spaces across several parking lots.
Notes
All trailheads have laminated maps to use but you can pick up a paper map from the Visitor Center / Project Management Office. However, the office is closed on weekends.
The Laurel Ridge Trail is a little more rocky and rooty than the rest of the trails.
Nearby Hikes
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Reviews / Comments
Average Review Rating
4 (1)
hikethesouth-5 years ago
Great Short Trail System
Good trail system for kids or those who want to enjoy some outdoor beauty without a grueling hike. Playgrounds and pavilions make this an excellent way to spend a weekend afternoon with the family.
Easy | Hiked Spring 2019
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