Songbird Trail Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, GA
miles
LENGTH 1.7 MILES
DIFFICULTY 1.3 Easy
DURATION 1 hour
ELEVATION GAIN
180
feet
TRAIL TYPE
Lollipop
Loop
Songbird Trail

Enjoy a relaxing hike around a swamp created by beaver dams on this less than 2 mile loop trail near Lake Conasauga in northwest Georgia. This also serves as an alternative starting point for the Grassy Mountain Tower Trail.

Parking is on the left side of the road while the trailhead is just past the restrooms on the right side of the road. The trail begins as a wide, flat old road bed. Several information signs dot the trail. At a third of a mile, the trail splits and you can go either way to for the loop section of this hike. This page describes going right.

Just after the split, you'll reach another split. This is the access trail for the observation deck, so take the left. This will reconnect back to the main trail shortly. But first, head out onto the observation deck to view the swamp created by several beaver dams. The next two intersections you'll keep left to loop around the Songbird Trail. This section shares the path with the Tower Trail and has signs at both intersections.

On the way back around the loop there is one confusing intersection. A double blaze usually has one offset to indicate a turn but this one seems to indicate straight. If going around counter-clockwise like this description, there is no straight so turn left and you'll immediately see a blaze. If you're going clockwise, it's more confusing because you'll think to go straight and there isn't an obvious blaze where you should be turning right. Other than this, the trail is easy to follow as you make you're way back to the trailhead.

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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 %
0.6 mi
53 ft
250 - 500 ft/mi
~ 5 - 10 %
0.3 mi
85 ft
500 - 750 ft/mi
~ 10 - 15 %
437 ft
45 ft
750 - 1000 ft/mi
~ 15 - 20 %
67 ft
10 ft
1000+ ft/mi
~ 20+ %
0 ft
0 ft
Elevation Loss
Elevation Range
Grade Range
Length
Elevation Loss
0 - 250 ft/mi
~ 0 - 5 %
0.4 mi
57 ft
250 - 500 ft/mi
~ 5 - 10 %
0.3 mi
116 ft
500 - 750 ft/mi
~ 10 - 15 %
170 ft
19 ft
750 - 1000 ft/mi
~ 15 - 20 %
0 ft
0 ft
1000+ ft/mi
~ 20+ %
31 ft
6 ft
Terrain Map Click to control map
Navigation
Reverse Hike loop in reverse direction.
0.0 mi
0.0 mi - Trailhead Parking is on the left side of the road but the trailhead is on the right at the sign near the restrooms.
0.34 mi
0.34 mi - Loop Split, Stay Right
0.47 mi
0.47 mi - Left, Viewing Platform The trail splits again. Turn left to access the viewing platform. This trail reconnects to the main trail shortly afterward.
0.65 mi
0.65 mi - Turn Left Connect with the Tower Trail. Follow sign to left. Right heads to Lake Conasauga.
0.88 mi
0.88 mi - Turn Left Turn left to stay on the Songbird Trail at the sign. The Tower Trail continues to the right toward Grassy Mountain.
1.15 mi
1.15 mi - Turn Left, Confusing Intersection Blazes seem to indicate straight. Turn left and you should see another blaze immediately.
1.37 mi
1.37 mi - Return to Loop Split
1.72 mi
1.72 mi - Return to Trailhead
Details
length1.7 miles
difficulty1.3 Easy
duration1 hour
trail typeLollipop Loop
blazeGreen
elevation gain180 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 34.855914, -84.657676 (Degree Decimal, DegDec)
N 34°51.35, W 84°39.46 (Degree Minutes, MinDec)
N 34°51'21'', N 34°51'21'' (Degree Minutes Seconds, DMS)
Trailhead Directions
34.855914, -84.657676 (Degree Decimal, DegDec)
N 34°51.35, W 84°39.46 most GPS units use this one
N 34°51'21'', N 34°51'21'' (Degree Minutes Seconds, DMS)
Google Map It
Parking is on the left side of the road across from the trailhead. Once you pass the restrooms look for the sign pointing to the parking. See road conditions in notes below.
Parking Capacity
10-15 vehicles.
Notes
A higher ground clearance vehicle is suggested as you'll be driving 10 miles on rough gravel roads. I did see a couple sedans but image they had to navigate around many ruts and potholes.
Many forest service roads close during winter months. For current road closures, check fs.usda.gov/alerts/conf/alerts-notices or for a full google map, check fs.usda.gov/goto/road_status. Click on each road in the google map for closure information.
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Reviews / Comments
Average Review Rating
3 (1)
hikethesouth-4 years ago
Better If Combined With Grassy Mountain Tower
This is a fine trail on it's own tho I don't think worth the effort to get here. If you want a relaxed remote hike, this is a good option but if you combine with a trip around Lake Conasauga or up to Grassy Mountain fire tower you'll get a lot more bang for your buck.
Easy | Hiked Fall 2019
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