Name: Johns Mountain Loop
Rating: 4

Hikes Map Explore

Johns Mountain Loop Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, GA

LENGTH 3.2 MILES

DIFFICULTY 5 Easy
Medium

DURATION 1-2 hours

ELEVATION GAIN

620

feet

TRAIL TYPE

Loop

Johns Mountain Loop

With instant payoff from the view at the trailhead, hike along the Johns Mountain Loop to explore Keown Falls and a couple more expansive views of northwest Georgia. Solitude seekers will enjoy this hike as it's not nearly as travelled as the lower Keown Falls Loop.

From the parking lot of Johns Mountain, take in the excellent views of the ridges and valleys to the west from the overlook. To begin, take either the trail leading directly away from the parking entrance or the trail opposite the overlook platform. This trail quickly turns right whereas left just leads down the road about 100 feet. This is the lone unmarked intersection and a wrong turn is just a minor inconvenience. However this page describes taking the trail on the opposite side from the entrance road closer to the observation deck.

Hiking along the ridge, you'll immediately pass a communication tower that currently has quite a bit of graffiti. Continue on through several small boulder fields with much larger boulders lining the path. For 1.3 miles, the trail stays along the ridge, flat and easy, before turning east to begin it's descent to Keown Falls.

At 2.2 miles in you'll come to the signed intersection with the connector trail to the Keown Falls Loop. Take this trail to view this thin falls from above at the observation deck. If it hasn't rained much, there may not be any waterfall at all. Behind the observation deck looking back and to the right, a narrow side trail leads up the small hill to an expansive view to the southeast.

Before heading back to the Johns Mountain Loop, head down the stone steps to connect with the Keown Falls Loop to quickly check out the waterfall from below. The trail passes behind the falls within an alcove in the rock face. Watch for wet rocks here. You could continue on this loop to make a lengthier double loop.

Afterward, return back up the steps and back to the Johns Mountain Loop. Continue around the loop, taking a short side trip to another view on the way up on the right. When you get near the parking lot, turn left to finish the loop. As stated above, if you stay straight at this unsigned intersection, you'll just end up down the road about 100 feet, so no big deal.

Johns Mountain Loop.
Johns Mountain overlook and trailhead parking. Watch out for the slight mud pit in the center.

Johns Mountain Loop.
View from Johns Mountain overlook.

Johns Mountain Loop.
If you go counter-clockwise, start here. Otherwise look for the trail on the opposite side from the overlook.

Johns Mountain Loop.
Pass a communication tower just after beginning. Unfortunately it's covered in graffiti right now.

Johns Mountain Loop.
Pass through several small boulder fields.

Johns Mountain Loop.
Large boulders on the way down.

Johns Mountain Loop.
Take the connector trail to the Keown Falls overlook.

Johns Mountain Loop.
At the Keown Falls overlook, look for the small side trail going uphill behind the observation deck. You'll get a much better view from up here.

Johns Mountain Loop.
Head down the stone steps to Keown Falls before continuing back on the Johns Mountain Trail.

Johns Mountain Loop.
View from below Keown Falls. This is technically on the Keown Falls Trail, but it's a quick detour from the Johns Mountain Trail before returning to the trailhead.

Johns Mountain Loop.
Heading back up the Johns Mountain Trail.

Johns Mountain Loop.
A side trail leads to another good view on the way back up.

Elevation Map Length (miles) by Elevation (feet)

Slope Breakdown

Elevation Gain

Elevation Range

Grade Range

Length

Elevation Gain

0 - 250 ft/mi

~ 0 - 5 %

0.8 mi

76 ft

250 - 500 ft/mi

~ 5 - 10 %

0.4 mi

139 ft

500 - 750 ft/mi

~ 10 - 15 %

0.2 mi

138 ft

750 - 1000 ft/mi

~ 15 - 20 %

0.2 mi

188 ft

1000+ ft/mi

~ 20+ %

375 ft

115 ft

Elevation Loss

Elevation Range

Grade Range

Length

Elevation Loss

0 - 250 ft/mi

~ 0 - 5 %

0.5 mi

77 ft

250 - 500 ft/mi

~ 5 - 10 %

0.5 mi

176 ft

500 - 750 ft/mi

~ 10 - 15 %

0.2 mi

134 ft

750 - 1000 ft/mi

~ 15 - 20 %

0.1 mi

115 ft

1000+ ft/mi

~ 20+ %

0.1 mi

152 ft

Terrain Map Click to control map

Details

length3.2 miles

difficulty5 Easy-Medium

duration1 - 2 hours

features Dog Friendly Summit Views Waterfall

trail typeLoop

blazeGreen

elevation gain620 ft.

state Georgia

park/forestChattahoochee-Oconee National Forest

ranger districtConasauga Ranger District
3941 Highway 76
Chatsworth, GA 30705
706-695-6736

parking feeNone

trailhead coordinates 34.623152, -85.098343 (Degree Decimal, DegDec)
N 34°37.39, W 85°5.9 (Degree Minutes, MinDec)
N 34°37'23'', N 34°37'23'' (Degree Minutes Seconds, DMS)

Trailhead Directions

N 34°37.39, W 85°5.9

Google Map It

Take Forest Service Road 208 (FS 208) from Pocket Road, although some maps (including Google) do not show it going all the way to the top of the ridge. The road is gravel and quite bumpy but still fine for low ground clearance vehicles.

Parking Capacity

10-15 vehicles.

Notes

Take caution along the wet rocks at the base of the falls.

Nearby Hikes

Keown Falls And Johns Mountain Double Loop

Keown Falls & Johns Mountain Double Loop

James Floyd Upper Lake Loop

1.2 mi

1.1

Similar Hikes

Keown Falls & Johns Mountain Double Loop

Foster Falls Climber's Loop

2.5 mi

4.3

Fall Creek Falls via Gorge Overlook Trail

2.7 mi

6.6

Reviews / Comments

Average Review Rating

4 (2)

New Review New Comment

hikethesouth-5 years ago

Updated Review: More Views

Not only do you have a great view right from the trailhead, there is now a side trail to an amazing view behind the Keown Falls observation platform. Great loop with some challenging elevation gains, but nothing very difficult. You'll definitely find solitude more so than on this loop than the Keown Falls loop.

Easy-Medium | Hiked Fall 2019

hikethesouth-7 years ago

Easy Loop to Keown Falls

This hike is better when combined with the Keown Falls loop, but if you want a great view from the parking lot and a shorter loop to the falls, this is a good hike. I feel this is better in winter, not because the views are better, but you get a better sense that you are along the ridge of the mountain with it dropping off on both sides.

Easy | Hiked Winter 2013

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Disclaimer: Hiking can be dangerous. The information on this site is meant as a guide and represents trail conditions at a given time. Always let someone know where you are going. A basic knowledge of first aid, backcountry navigation, and some common sense are highly encouraged. The difficulty and duration ratings are subjective and will not be representative of everyone's experience.

Disclaimer Disclaimer: Falling off a cliff, drowning in a river, or being eaten by a bear is still a better way to go than dying of a heart attack while sitting in traffic on the way to the office.