Mark Trail Wilderness
The logging roads that once ran along the streams, waterfalls, rocky outcroppings, and high peaks that distinguish the Chattahoochee Wildlife Management Area are rapidly returning to their natural state. The mountains (Horsetrough is the highest at 4,045 feet) are covered in second-growth upland and cove hardwoods in excess of 60 years of age. Trout fishing is top-notch, with 65 miles of streams chock-full of rainbow, brook, and brown trout. Some of the headwaters of the Chattahoochee River flow through here. Deer, squirrels, raccoons, grouse, and wild turkeys dominate among the landlubbing residents, with smaller populations of black bears, woodcocks, and doves.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Georgia |
| Size | 16,618 acres |
| Designated | 1991, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.77° N, 83.82° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 11) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 9 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
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Trails
2 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 81 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Trail ↗ | 76.6 | |
| Jacks Knob ↗ | 4.4 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx - Rymer Camp
42 mi from the center point · 381 acres
- PrescribedRx - Buck Branch
45 mi from the center point · 652 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 3.9 miWalasi-Yi Inn ↗Blairsville, GA
- 5 miBlood Mountain Trail Shelter ↗Blairsville, GA
- 6.6 miOld White County Courthouse ↗Cleveland, GA
- 6.7 miWhite County Jail ↗Cleveland, GA
- 7.1 miTowns County Jail ↗Hiawassee, GA
- 8.2 miStovall, John, House ↗Cleveland, GA
- 8.7 miOld Union County Courthouse ↗Blairsville, GA
- 8.7 miUnion County Jail ↗Blairsville, GA
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Georgia
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Mark Trail Wilderness?
16,618 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Mark Trail Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Mark Trail Wilderness in?
Georgia.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Mark Trail Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1991.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Mark Trail Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Mark Trail Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.770° N, 83.825° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Mark Trail Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Rx - Rymer Camp at 42 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Mark Trail Wilderness?
The National Register has 23 listings within 15 miles, including Walasi-Yi Inn and Blood Mountain Trail Shelter.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.