Hikes Map Explore
Pine Mountain via Cooper's Furnace Cooper's Furnace Day Use Area, GA
miles
LENGTH 6 MILES
DIFFICULTY 9.8 Easy
Medium
DURATION 3-4 hours
ELEVATION GAIN
1480
feet
TRAIL TYPE
Double
Loop
Pine Mountain via Cooper's Furnace

Score views from the summit of Pine Mountain and overlooking Allatoona Dam on this 6-mile double loop connecting two parks near Cartersville, GA. Connect Cooper's Furnace Trail System to Pine Mountain's East Loop for one of the best Atlanta area hikes. This is also one of the least populated routes to the summit.

The navigation section below may look daunting, but it's really not too bad. Several intersections are just short side trails to alternate trailheads (see map). Most intersections are well marked with signs pointing the way so getting lost will be difficult. The navigation, elevation, and slope all are based on making a figure-8 double loop, going clockwise around the Cooper's Furnace loop and counter-clockwise around the Pine Mountain East Loop. But you can hike the trails any way you want.

Begin the hike at Cooper's Furnace Day Use Area. The trail begins behind the metal gate next to Cooper's Furnace. This loop will be made following the gravel road to the beaver pond. A side loop on the left can be added for an even lengthier hike. At the pond, the trail splits, with the green-blazed Cooper's Furnace Trail leaving the road going straight and the gravel road turning right heading to the Project Management Office.

The red-blazed Laurel Ridge Trail connects the two to form a loop. When the green and red connect at the north end of the park, walk just past this to find the purple-blazed connector trail to Pine Mountain. Before continuing the loop, where the gravel road and the red trail connect, head up the gravel road further to the Project Management Office. Follow signs to the right for the overlook. Take in a views of Allatoona Lake and Dam from the highpoint of the Cooper's Furnace Trail System before returning to the loop.

Once you connect to Pine Mountain, you can go either way around the East Loop. Yellow blazes on the way up to the right, white on the right side. Both yellow and white combine leading you along the spur trails to the summit at the top, joining with the red and blue blazes of the West Loop. At the summit overlook, take a break and enjoy views to the south of Lake Allatoona and to the west Cartersville and Plant Bowen. The overlook can get a bit crowded on nice weekends.

Read More

Pine Mountain via Cooper's Furnace. Cooper's Furnace at the trailhead. Pine Mountain via Cooper's Furnace. Hiking up the gravel road from the trailhead. Pine Mountain via Cooper's Furnace. Beaver Pond after getting off the gravel road. Pine Mountain via Cooper's Furnace. Following the aqua/green blazed Cooper's Furnace trail. Pine Mountain via Cooper's Furnace. Connector trail from Cooper's Furnace trail system to the Pine Mountain trail system. Pine Mountain via Cooper's Furnace. Purple-blazed connector trail from Cooper's Furnace trail system to the Pine Mountain trail system. Pine Mountain via Cooper's Furnace. Take either direction around the Pine Mountain East Loop. Pine Mountain via Cooper's Furnace. View from the Pine Mountain summit overlook. Pine Mountain via Cooper's Furnace. One of a couple Pine Mountain via Cooper's Furnace. Bridge along the Laurel Ridge trail. Pine Mountain via Cooper's Furnace. Hiking up to the overlook near the Management Office. Pine Mountain via Cooper's Furnace. View of Allatoona Dam from the overlook near the Management Office.
Elevation Map Length (miles) by Elevation (feet)
Slope Breakdown
Elevation Gain
Elevation Range
Grade Range
Length
Elevation Gain
0 - 250 ft/mi
~ 0 - 5 %
0.9 mi
88 ft
250 - 500 ft/mi
~ 5 - 10 %
1 mi
358 ft
500 - 750 ft/mi
~ 10 - 15 %
0.8 mi
477 ft
750 - 1000 ft/mi
~ 15 - 20 %
0.3 mi
247 ft
1000+ ft/mi
~ 20+ %
0.2 mi
333 ft
Elevation Loss
Elevation Range
Grade Range
Length
Elevation Loss
0 - 250 ft/mi
~ 0 - 5 %
0.5 mi
88 ft
250 - 500 ft/mi
~ 5 - 10 %
1 mi
355 ft
500 - 750 ft/mi
~ 10 - 15 %
0.7 mi
460 ft
750 - 1000 ft/mi
~ 15 - 20 %
0.3 mi
257 ft
1000+ ft/mi
~ 20+ %
0.3 mi
316 ft
Terrain Map Click to control map
Navigation
0.0 mi
0.0 mi - Trailhead and Cooper's Furnace Although there are multiple trailheads, this route begins at the Cooper's Furnace Day Use Area. Next to Cooper's Furnace, the trail begins along the gravel road behind the gate.
0.1 mi
0.1 mi - Stay Straight Pass a side trail on the left crossing a small creek.
0.25 mi
0.25 mi - Stay Straight The gravel road turns right. Continue straight along the beaver pond following the green blazes.
0.5 mi
0.5 mi - Sharp Turn Right
0.6 mi
0.6 mi - Left on the Pine Mountain Connector Trail Pass the Laurel Ridge Trail on the right. Just afterward, turn left at the sign for the Pine Mountain Connector Trail blazed purple.
1.3 mi
1.3 mi - Pine Mountain East Loop Pass the short side trail to the parking lot on the right then hit the split for the Pine Mountain East Loop. Stay right, following the yellow blaze up to the summit.
2.7 mi
2.7 mi - Right on East Pass Connector Stay right, continuing uphill along the now white and yellow blazed trail.
2.8 mi
2.8 mi - Left on Summit Overlook Trail Continue following the white and yellow, now accompanied by red and blue, toward the summit.
2.9 mi
2.9 mi - Pine Mountain Summit Overlook
3.1 mi
3.1 mi - Right on East Pass Connector Head back the way you came, turning right to follow the white and yellow blazes back to the East Loop.
3.2 mi
3.2 mi - Right on East Loop Continue around the East Loop, now following the white blazes back down the mountain.
4.0 mi
4.0 mi - Stay Straight then Right Finished the East Loop staying straight at the intersection, then turn right to return down the Pine Mountain Cooper's Furnace Connector Trail.
4.6 mi
4.6 mi - Right then Left on Laurel Ridge Trail Turn right once back on the Cooper's Furnace Trail, then take the red-blazed Laurel Ridge Trail to the left.
4.9 mi
4.9 mi - Stay Straight Stay straight, heading below the second overlook along the Laurel Ridge Trail. Up at the overlook is a short side trail to another trailhead.
5.1 mi
5.1 mi - Left on Gravel Road Turn left to head to the Project Management Office.
5.3 mi
5.3 mi - Allatoona Dam Overlook At the Project Management Office, turn right, following the signs up to the Allatoona Dam Overlook.
5.5 mi
5.5 mi - Pass Laurel Ridge Trail Continue back down the gravel road, passing the Laurel Ridge Trail on the right.
5.7 mi
5.7 mi - Turn Left Stay on the gravel road, turning left at the beaver pond.
5.9 mi
5.9 mi - Stay Straight Pass the side trail at the beginning again
6.0 mi
6.0 mi - Cooper's Furnace Finish out the hike back at the Cooper's Furnace trailhead.
Details
length6 miles
difficulty9.8 Easy-Medium
duration3 - 4 hours
features Dog Friendly  History  Lake  Summit  Views 
trail typeDouble Loop
blazeGreen (Cooper's Furnace), Purple (Connector), Yellow/White (Pine Mtn East Loop), Red (Laurel Ridge)
elevation gain1480 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.
Mountain biking is allowed on the Pine Mountain East Loop on Wednesday and Saturday.
Nearby Hikes
Cooper's Furnace Trail System
Cooper's Furnace Trail System
Length3.3 mi Difficulty3.9 Georgia
Vineyard Mountain Double Loop
Vineyard Mountain Double Loop
Length1.6 mi Difficulty7.1 Georgia
Pine Mountain East Loop
Pine Mountain East Loop
Length2.8 mi Difficulty5.2 Georgia
Pine Mountain Double Loop
Pine Mountain Double Loop
Length4.7 mi Difficulty9.3 Georgia
Pine Mountain West Loop
Pine Mountain West Loop
Length2.2 mi Difficulty4.7 Georgia
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Reviews / Comments
Average Review Rating
5 (1)
New Review New Comment
elalir26-3 years ago
Started at the Pine Mtn East Loop and then do Cooper's Furnance. I definitely underestimated the East Loop difficulty; it felt pretty difficult today; I ascended with the yellow blazes and just by the looks of both the yellow and white it definitely seems more difficult. Anyway, it was a good hike. Took about 48 minutes for my dog and I to reach the summit.
hikethesouth-5 years ago
Excellent Atlanta Area Hike
This is a great hike in the north Atlanta area if you don't want to head too far away from the city. At 6 miles, it's a nice longer hike with some challenge, but not overly difficult. Views from Pine Mountain and overlooking Allatoona Dam as well as small creeks, Cooper's Furnace, and lots of info signs make this an interesting hike from start to finish.
Easy-Medium | Hiked Spring 2019
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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.

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