Chestnut Lead Trail

Chestnut Lead Trail is located in the Cohutta Wilderness area of North Georgia near Chatsworth and Ellijay. The Cohutta Wilderness is a wilderness area located in the state of Georgia and spans over 35,000 acres of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Wilderness areas are set aside for their unique natural features, such as their ecosystems, scenic beauty, and opportunities for solitude and recreation. This also means getting to a wilderness area trail can be a challenge without the right vehicle to traverse forest service roads.

The trailhead for Chestnut Lead Trail is located off FS 68, and the trail ends at an intersection with Cosanauga River Trail. The trail has several creek crossings, so wear appropriate hiking boots to not get wet. The trail can be overgrown in portions, so wearing pants is also recommended especially in the summer months.

This trail is not as popular as other trails nearby, so you can expect some solitude. With lots of shade and most of the trail being near the Chestnut creek, it makes for a picturesque hike. The blazes have mostly faded, so in the fall when the leaves are on the ground the trail can be hard to follow.

The trail is rated moderate in difficulty, with the hike in rated as easy since the trail loses altitude on the way in, but the return trip is rated moderate to hard since it’s uphill back to the parking area.

Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.