Backpacking on the Pine Mountain Trail
The Pine Mountain Trail has 21 named designated backcountry/backpacking sites. Most of the sites are located about every 2-3 miles or so along the 23 miles of the main blue blazed Pine Mountain Trail. Mountain Creek Campsite is on the Mountain Creek Nature Trail, Rock-Mark and Grindstone Gap are located on the white blazed Sawtooth Trail and Little Bridges Campsite is located on the white blazed Chestnut Oak Trail. See Site Descriptions for where all the sites are, how many backpackers each will hold etc. If you have not been to our trail you may want to order/buy a map of the trails to review first of all. Our topo-style PMT trail map is available by US mail for $6.00 and can be ordered through the on-line store. The map is printed on Tyvek. Maps are mailed free to Scouts and groups (schools and churches) along with active military folks by mail from the PMTA only. Since we send groups/military maps FREE, we do have to limit those to two per group or one per individual please. NOTE: if you forget and leave your map at home and arrive at FDR State Park without it, you need to purchase/buy another. They are NOT free at the park office. Note: when we reply we got your request, we will email you some information to please read over before coming on the trail.
Study/read the below listed sections on this website. Using the map, you can judge how far you may want to walk in and out for a backpacking trip. For map orders see Maps of the Trail on this website.You can find much of the information needed for pre-planning on this sections then on the Permits, Directions to the Trail, Campsite Descriptions and FAQ is more important information. Read these sections first before calling or emailing us. The sections have lots of info about water locations, weather, rules etc. After you read the sections and get a map, you may want to call Jim Hall with the Pine Mountain Trail Association (706-569-0497) for information on planning a backpacking trip or clarifying directions.
Backcountry camping in FDR State Park on the Pine Mountain Trails is by permit at the designated named sites only. Even if you make required reservations (see Permits on this website) upon arrival at the park you must first obtain your actual printed permit to camp from the FDR park office before entering the woods. Also you must purchase or have either a Georgia Park Pass or buy a Daily Use Fee Pass to be displayed on the rear view mirror of each vehicle left parked overnight. The backcountry permit is a three part form. Part one staying with park office. You must also display the blue copy of the backcountry permit on your dash as well as hang the white original copy from your backpack. If you travel to FDR in two or more vehicles, ask the clerk at the park office for a duplicate copy of your backcountry permit for each additional vehicle (but for each vehicle you must purchase a daily pass). Once you get a permit for a particular site or sites, you CANNOT change those sites you have permit to stay at without first getting permission verbally (in a phone call) to the FDR Park Office during their business hours 8-5 pm daily (if a change is possible, meaning no one else has a permit for the site you want to change to). NOTE: When you obtain your permit at the park office, you will be asked to show your drivers license (and the clerk will photo copy it) and you will need to be able to provide tag numbers of vehicle or vehicles... You will also receive a trash bag and copy of a handout which contains the basic park rules for backpacking which the permit holder is responsible for reading and relating to others with you if in a small group.... and then following the rules and guidelines...... To see the handout click here.
NOTE: Use of the backcountry campsites is for backpackers (meaning carrying in on/in your backpack lightweight gear to camp at the primitive backcountry sites.) Hauling in large tents, coolers, Coleman stoves, blow up mattresses is not suggested. Also ANYTHING with wheels are NOT ALLOWED along the trails. Thus NO strollers, carts, wagons, coolers with wheels. If you are not prepared to carry in/on a backpack your gear, you need to seek a permit to stay in RV campground tent site areas or Pioneer Area.
Reservations for backcountry sites is highly suggested. There is more information on backcountry permits and reservations available here.
SHUTTLES for HIKERS AND BACKPACKERS
There is not any of the pay for fee services in the area. FDR State Park folks don't do shuttles. Currently we do not have anyone who lives near the park/trail available to do shuttles on a regular basis, HOWEVER: Some have posted shuttle request to our PMTA Facebook page and get response from folks willing to give shuttle. These are not to be considered free, so be prepared to pay for service. NOTE: Hikers and backpackers, if a bad weather situation comes up or you are injured on hike/backpacking trip, the park rangers may be able to pick you up at a trailhead to take you off the trail. Park Emergency numbers posted on the back of the trail map and on stickers posted all along the trails.
Permits
Even though you may have reservations day you start your backpacking trip, you must first go by the FDR State Park office to obtain your actual backcountry permit (before hitting the trail) and arrive at the park office before they close and at least two hours before sunset. If you do not have reservations, depending on reserved sites, you may or may not get a permit for a specific site. Be aware you must camp within 50' of the designated fire ring and NOT establish another fire ring nor add to existing one or move a metal one.
Most sites are on a flat wooded area. As noted elsewhere, when campfires are permitted use only downed, dead wood. Eighteen of the twenty one sites have good year round water supplies nearby. See site descriptions on this website for details. NOTE: So where ever you see the word "tent" in the below or other sections of this website, note that since hammocks take up about the same space so number of "tents" actually means TENTS and/or HAMMOCKS .
Sassafras Hill at times has little to no water nearby depending on season and may be noted as a dry camp and NO campfires there (stoves only during that time). Same goes for Whiskey Still Campsite and Grindstone Gap. NOTE: Unless you find or bring in about 5 gallons of water to drown the campfire, no fires at these marginal water available camps. Check with FDR Park Rangers and office clerks when you register at the park office for information on the current water situation and possible fire bans.
The FDR State Park office/visitors center is now open 8 am to 5 pm seven days a week. The 2023 and previous issue PMT maps shows the closing time incorrectly. Note: Thus, in the shorter daylight days/winter time, if dark is say 6 pm, you must make it to the park office no later than 4 pm. Backcountry permits are not issued within two hours of dark.
Backpacking
Once you get your backcountry permit, it is a good idea to call home and let someone know which site(s) you will be at and where you are parking, along with your tag number. Relatives etc. who can’t reach your cell phone can call the park rangers in an EMERGENCY ONLY by calling at 706-663-4256 (this is a 24 hour number) or 706-801-5006. You must camp in the site you have a permit for and need to park where you indicate on the backcountry permit. Should you decide to not stay at a site (due to sudden illness or weather conditions etc), call the park rangers or go by the park office and let a clerk know. See, if it is early enough in the day, that site you had a permit for may be permitted out to others who otherwise might have to be turned away. There is also a safety concern: should you leave the park without notifying the park office, the park rangers would have to take the time to try and contact you by phone or possibly institute a search for you not knowing why you didn't show up at a site. Please, be considerate of all involved.
The PMT gets a lot of Boy Scouts and other groups who use our hiking trail and backcountry sites. There is some additional information on this website under SCOUTS AND GROUPS. If you are a group/organizational or scout group and use the trail often,, we encourage you to join the Pine Mountain Trail Association. The BSA Backpacking merit badge requirements for staying 2 nights and covering 15 miles can be met by using our main trail along with connecting loops and backcountry sites. Simple work or service projects on the trail can be arranged by calling in advance Jim Hall at 706-569-0497.
Helpful Hints for Backpacking on the PMT
The most popular/busiest months are January-April and then September-November, with March and October being the two most used months overall. Reservations are HIGHLY recommended. See PERMITS on this website. If you don’t have reservations, call the park office to check availability or come early as you can on weekend days as permits for backcountry sites may be available for some non-reserved sites.
PHONES: Cell phones are advisable to carry on the trail, however, in some low areas some may not get out.
EMERGENCIES and reporting situations ON THE TRAIL: If you have an emergency (i.e. medical situation, lost or turned around) and need help or come upon a smoldering fire, or a concern...contact the FDR Park Rangers FIRST! The park is located in Harris and Meriwether counties and if you call 911 you may not get the proper 911 center. Let the FDR Park Ranger help you and get medical help if needed to you by calling 706-663-4256 (24 hours). In addition to the main 24 hour number, FDR State Park also has a Google Voice number. If you do NOT reach the rangers on the 706-663-4256 voice number, by dial the Google Voice FDR ranger urgent number 706-801-5006. You can leave a short message and return phone number and it transmits/sends the message as a TEXT message to the ranger on duty. Given the limited cell service in some areas of FDR, rangers can often get a text message when voice calls do not go through. Carry a map and know where you are when you seek help. If lost, try to relay where you started on the trail or try to relate your last known location/landmark.
PLEASE use the above numbers for urgent needs only. If you have an information or map question, call the FDR office at 706-663-4858 during business hours.
Like all Georgia State Parks, there is a "quiet time" to be observed starting at 10:00 pm-8 a.m. . This applies to the FDR RV campground, Pioneer area, and at the PMT backcountry campsites. If some in a near by backcountry campsite is being loud/playing music. CALL the park emergency numbers listed above right then.... Don’t wait till you leave the next day.
WATER: Available at most sites and in several places noted on the map with a W. All water must be purified, filtered, or boiled before drinking.
FOOD SUPPLIES: In Pine Mountain, there is the Corner Food Store (next door is a KFC and Subway) at US 27 and GA 354 and a IGA supermarket downtown. 10 am till 3 om, we suggest the Whistling Pig Café for BBQ which is .2 of a mile North of the 354/US 27 intersection…..
CAMPFIRES: Small campfires are allowed only in the established fires rings most times in the 21 named campsites (Most times means ONLY when there is NOT a fire ban on). A couple campsites have little to no water nearby at times (Grindstone Gap, Sassafras Hill), so if no water nearby NO FIRE. NOTE: It is a LONG 777’ from Bumble Bee Ridge Campsite to nearest water. . DO NOT build new fire rings or move existing ones, especially don’t move metal ones. DO NOT MOVE ANY ROCKS into a campsite for any reason, especially DO NOT put rocks in or around a fire rings. Most now have a metal fire ring (so if a rock fire ring still, DO NOT ADD TO or MOVE ROCKS.) Keep fires small so as not to blaze up and impact overhanging limbs and leaves. Use only small dead, downed wood. Careful use of a small saw is permitted, but do not saw down or on standing dead trees or green ones. Per Georgia State Park rules: trees of any size are not to be cut on or down for any reason in FDR State Park. If you cannot find any dead wood, use your stove. Please do not bring charcoal, wax fire-starters, candles or fire-logs, as they will not burn up completely. Please put your fire out before bedtime (we often get some winds during the night). When leaving the campsite in the morning, make sure the fire is out by drowning it by pouring water on it till the steaming stops. Don’t think just because you let the fire die out at night there are no smoldering coals left in the morning. Drown it to make sure. PMTA volunteers and park managers have found a number of smoldering campfires. Having a campfire is a privilege not a right. If more smoldering fires are found, the park managers can put a total ban on campfires! So do your part so we can have safe campfires and follow the guidelines above. Find a fire smoldering, warm? Drown it and report it to the park office that day. Violators (those who leave a campfire smoldering) can be issued a citation
Study/read the below listed sections on this website. Using the map, you can judge how far you may want to walk in and out for a backpacking trip. For map orders see Maps of the Trail on this website.You can find much of the information needed for pre-planning on this sections then on the Permits, Directions to the Trail, Campsite Descriptions and FAQ is more important information. Read these sections first before calling or emailing us. The sections have lots of info about water locations, weather, rules etc. After you read the sections and get a map, you may want to call Jim Hall with the Pine Mountain Trail Association (706-569-0497) for information on planning a backpacking trip or clarifying directions.
Backcountry camping in FDR State Park on the Pine Mountain Trails is by permit at the designated named sites only. Even if you make required reservations (see Permits on this website) upon arrival at the park you must first obtain your actual printed permit to camp from the FDR park office before entering the woods. Also you must purchase or have either a Georgia Park Pass or buy a Daily Use Fee Pass to be displayed on the rear view mirror of each vehicle left parked overnight. The backcountry permit is a three part form. Part one staying with park office. You must also display the blue copy of the backcountry permit on your dash as well as hang the white original copy from your backpack. If you travel to FDR in two or more vehicles, ask the clerk at the park office for a duplicate copy of your backcountry permit for each additional vehicle (but for each vehicle you must purchase a daily pass). Once you get a permit for a particular site or sites, you CANNOT change those sites you have permit to stay at without first getting permission verbally (in a phone call) to the FDR Park Office during their business hours 8-5 pm daily (if a change is possible, meaning no one else has a permit for the site you want to change to). NOTE: When you obtain your permit at the park office, you will be asked to show your drivers license (and the clerk will photo copy it) and you will need to be able to provide tag numbers of vehicle or vehicles... You will also receive a trash bag and copy of a handout which contains the basic park rules for backpacking which the permit holder is responsible for reading and relating to others with you if in a small group.... and then following the rules and guidelines...... To see the handout click here.
NOTE: Use of the backcountry campsites is for backpackers (meaning carrying in on/in your backpack lightweight gear to camp at the primitive backcountry sites.) Hauling in large tents, coolers, Coleman stoves, blow up mattresses is not suggested. Also ANYTHING with wheels are NOT ALLOWED along the trails. Thus NO strollers, carts, wagons, coolers with wheels. If you are not prepared to carry in/on a backpack your gear, you need to seek a permit to stay in RV campground tent site areas or Pioneer Area.
Reservations for backcountry sites is highly suggested. There is more information on backcountry permits and reservations available here.
SHUTTLES for HIKERS AND BACKPACKERS
There is not any of the pay for fee services in the area. FDR State Park folks don't do shuttles. Currently we do not have anyone who lives near the park/trail available to do shuttles on a regular basis, HOWEVER: Some have posted shuttle request to our PMTA Facebook page and get response from folks willing to give shuttle. These are not to be considered free, so be prepared to pay for service. NOTE: Hikers and backpackers, if a bad weather situation comes up or you are injured on hike/backpacking trip, the park rangers may be able to pick you up at a trailhead to take you off the trail. Park Emergency numbers posted on the back of the trail map and on stickers posted all along the trails.
Permits
Even though you may have reservations day you start your backpacking trip, you must first go by the FDR State Park office to obtain your actual backcountry permit (before hitting the trail) and arrive at the park office before they close and at least two hours before sunset. If you do not have reservations, depending on reserved sites, you may or may not get a permit for a specific site. Be aware you must camp within 50' of the designated fire ring and NOT establish another fire ring nor add to existing one or move a metal one.
Most sites are on a flat wooded area. As noted elsewhere, when campfires are permitted use only downed, dead wood. Eighteen of the twenty one sites have good year round water supplies nearby. See site descriptions on this website for details. NOTE: So where ever you see the word "tent" in the below or other sections of this website, note that since hammocks take up about the same space so number of "tents" actually means TENTS and/or HAMMOCKS .
Sassafras Hill at times has little to no water nearby depending on season and may be noted as a dry camp and NO campfires there (stoves only during that time). Same goes for Whiskey Still Campsite and Grindstone Gap. NOTE: Unless you find or bring in about 5 gallons of water to drown the campfire, no fires at these marginal water available camps. Check with FDR Park Rangers and office clerks when you register at the park office for information on the current water situation and possible fire bans.
The FDR State Park office/visitors center is now open 8 am to 5 pm seven days a week. The 2023 and previous issue PMT maps shows the closing time incorrectly. Note: Thus, in the shorter daylight days/winter time, if dark is say 6 pm, you must make it to the park office no later than 4 pm. Backcountry permits are not issued within two hours of dark.
Backpacking
Once you get your backcountry permit, it is a good idea to call home and let someone know which site(s) you will be at and where you are parking, along with your tag number. Relatives etc. who can’t reach your cell phone can call the park rangers in an EMERGENCY ONLY by calling at 706-663-4256 (this is a 24 hour number) or 706-801-5006. You must camp in the site you have a permit for and need to park where you indicate on the backcountry permit. Should you decide to not stay at a site (due to sudden illness or weather conditions etc), call the park rangers or go by the park office and let a clerk know. See, if it is early enough in the day, that site you had a permit for may be permitted out to others who otherwise might have to be turned away. There is also a safety concern: should you leave the park without notifying the park office, the park rangers would have to take the time to try and contact you by phone or possibly institute a search for you not knowing why you didn't show up at a site. Please, be considerate of all involved.
The PMT gets a lot of Boy Scouts and other groups who use our hiking trail and backcountry sites. There is some additional information on this website under SCOUTS AND GROUPS. If you are a group/organizational or scout group and use the trail often,, we encourage you to join the Pine Mountain Trail Association. The BSA Backpacking merit badge requirements for staying 2 nights and covering 15 miles can be met by using our main trail along with connecting loops and backcountry sites. Simple work or service projects on the trail can be arranged by calling in advance Jim Hall at 706-569-0497.
Helpful Hints for Backpacking on the PMT
The most popular/busiest months are January-April and then September-November, with March and October being the two most used months overall. Reservations are HIGHLY recommended. See PERMITS on this website. If you don’t have reservations, call the park office to check availability or come early as you can on weekend days as permits for backcountry sites may be available for some non-reserved sites.
PHONES: Cell phones are advisable to carry on the trail, however, in some low areas some may not get out.
EMERGENCIES and reporting situations ON THE TRAIL: If you have an emergency (i.e. medical situation, lost or turned around) and need help or come upon a smoldering fire, or a concern...contact the FDR Park Rangers FIRST! The park is located in Harris and Meriwether counties and if you call 911 you may not get the proper 911 center. Let the FDR Park Ranger help you and get medical help if needed to you by calling 706-663-4256 (24 hours). In addition to the main 24 hour number, FDR State Park also has a Google Voice number. If you do NOT reach the rangers on the 706-663-4256 voice number, by dial the Google Voice FDR ranger urgent number 706-801-5006. You can leave a short message and return phone number and it transmits/sends the message as a TEXT message to the ranger on duty. Given the limited cell service in some areas of FDR, rangers can often get a text message when voice calls do not go through. Carry a map and know where you are when you seek help. If lost, try to relay where you started on the trail or try to relate your last known location/landmark.
PLEASE use the above numbers for urgent needs only. If you have an information or map question, call the FDR office at 706-663-4858 during business hours.
Like all Georgia State Parks, there is a "quiet time" to be observed starting at 10:00 pm-8 a.m. . This applies to the FDR RV campground, Pioneer area, and at the PMT backcountry campsites. If some in a near by backcountry campsite is being loud/playing music. CALL the park emergency numbers listed above right then.... Don’t wait till you leave the next day.
WATER: Available at most sites and in several places noted on the map with a W. All water must be purified, filtered, or boiled before drinking.
FOOD SUPPLIES: In Pine Mountain, there is the Corner Food Store (next door is a KFC and Subway) at US 27 and GA 354 and a IGA supermarket downtown. 10 am till 3 om, we suggest the Whistling Pig Café for BBQ which is .2 of a mile North of the 354/US 27 intersection…..
CAMPFIRES: Small campfires are allowed only in the established fires rings most times in the 21 named campsites (Most times means ONLY when there is NOT a fire ban on). A couple campsites have little to no water nearby at times (Grindstone Gap, Sassafras Hill), so if no water nearby NO FIRE. NOTE: It is a LONG 777’ from Bumble Bee Ridge Campsite to nearest water. . DO NOT build new fire rings or move existing ones, especially don’t move metal ones. DO NOT MOVE ANY ROCKS into a campsite for any reason, especially DO NOT put rocks in or around a fire rings. Most now have a metal fire ring (so if a rock fire ring still, DO NOT ADD TO or MOVE ROCKS.) Keep fires small so as not to blaze up and impact overhanging limbs and leaves. Use only small dead, downed wood. Careful use of a small saw is permitted, but do not saw down or on standing dead trees or green ones. Per Georgia State Park rules: trees of any size are not to be cut on or down for any reason in FDR State Park. If you cannot find any dead wood, use your stove. Please do not bring charcoal, wax fire-starters, candles or fire-logs, as they will not burn up completely. Please put your fire out before bedtime (we often get some winds during the night). When leaving the campsite in the morning, make sure the fire is out by drowning it by pouring water on it till the steaming stops. Don’t think just because you let the fire die out at night there are no smoldering coals left in the morning. Drown it to make sure. PMTA volunteers and park managers have found a number of smoldering campfires. Having a campfire is a privilege not a right. If more smoldering fires are found, the park managers can put a total ban on campfires! So do your part so we can have safe campfires and follow the guidelines above. Find a fire smoldering, warm? Drown it and report it to the park office that day. Violators (those who leave a campfire smoldering) can be issued a citation
Step 1: drown campfires with several gallons of water.
|
Step 2: stir the coals.
|
Step 3: pour on more water until the steaming stops.
|
If you have any firewood left, stack it neatly for the next campers. Please do not try to burn glass containers, cans, plastic items or aluminum foil. If other campers did, please put them in your trash bag to carry out. Leave the campsite looking better than you found it.
TRASH: Plan on carrying out and home all your trash, including cans, foil, glass or plastic. These items will not burn. When you get a backpacking/backcountry permit, the park office clerk has a free for asking a trash bag. Trailhead trash cans are located only at Dowdell Knob Trailhead and the WJSP-TV tower parking lot. If you find trash at a campsite, please be better than the previous backpacker and take their trash out too. NOTE: if come to a camp that has a lot of trash around or in a fire ring or find a smoldering fire, report it right away to the FDR rangers.
When you have to "go" or "go poop": On the back of our map it states "Bury human waste at least 100' from the trail and 200' from campsites". When you need to "go poop", with the heal of your boot/shoe, scrape back some leaves/straw and some dirt then "go". Then cover the waste and the toilet paper only** with the leaves/dirt. Girls/females who use toilet paper even to just urinate, "go" then cover the paper as requested above.
** If girls/females have non-paper items (ie: tampons/and cardboard or plastic covers and pads/liners and plastic bags), be prepared and bring a Ziploc bag and treat those like trash and put the Ziploc bag in your personal trash bag and take out off the trail and dispose of in a trash container (if there is one at a trailhead) or at your home. ONLY toilet paper and human waste is acceptable to be left covered in the woods to decompose.
PETS: Dogs are welcome to walk with you on the trail, but must be on a 6' max length leash (no extendable leashes unless locked down to 6’.) No pack animals of any kind. Your pet dog may carry a doggie pack but that is it animal wise. Be sure that when your pets have to go, they do it off the trail. NOTE: GA State Park rules also state service dogs must be on a leash in all state parks anytime they are out of your vehicle (or rental cabin/or RV or travel trailer if staying in the RV campground)
ALCOHOL: Consumption of alcohol (beer, wine, or liquor) of any type is against Georgia State Park rules. You cannot drink anywhere in FDR State Park except inside of a rental cabin. Thus, no drinking on the trail or at backcountry campsites anytime or at picnic areas.
WEATHER: Weather conditions at FDR State Park can be found on the Weather Channel website and using zip code 31822 or by calling the local NOAH Weather number. Note the night time low showing will about 5 degrees cooler up on the mountain. In warmer weather, sudden wind and rain storms come across the Pine Mountain ridge. Be prepared.
TRASH: Plan on carrying out and home all your trash, including cans, foil, glass or plastic. These items will not burn. When you get a backpacking/backcountry permit, the park office clerk has a free for asking a trash bag. Trailhead trash cans are located only at Dowdell Knob Trailhead and the WJSP-TV tower parking lot. If you find trash at a campsite, please be better than the previous backpacker and take their trash out too. NOTE: if come to a camp that has a lot of trash around or in a fire ring or find a smoldering fire, report it right away to the FDR rangers.
When you have to "go" or "go poop": On the back of our map it states "Bury human waste at least 100' from the trail and 200' from campsites". When you need to "go poop", with the heal of your boot/shoe, scrape back some leaves/straw and some dirt then "go". Then cover the waste and the toilet paper only** with the leaves/dirt. Girls/females who use toilet paper even to just urinate, "go" then cover the paper as requested above.
** If girls/females have non-paper items (ie: tampons/and cardboard or plastic covers and pads/liners and plastic bags), be prepared and bring a Ziploc bag and treat those like trash and put the Ziploc bag in your personal trash bag and take out off the trail and dispose of in a trash container (if there is one at a trailhead) or at your home. ONLY toilet paper and human waste is acceptable to be left covered in the woods to decompose.
PETS: Dogs are welcome to walk with you on the trail, but must be on a 6' max length leash (no extendable leashes unless locked down to 6’.) No pack animals of any kind. Your pet dog may carry a doggie pack but that is it animal wise. Be sure that when your pets have to go, they do it off the trail. NOTE: GA State Park rules also state service dogs must be on a leash in all state parks anytime they are out of your vehicle (or rental cabin/or RV or travel trailer if staying in the RV campground)
ALCOHOL: Consumption of alcohol (beer, wine, or liquor) of any type is against Georgia State Park rules. You cannot drink anywhere in FDR State Park except inside of a rental cabin. Thus, no drinking on the trail or at backcountry campsites anytime or at picnic areas.
WEATHER: Weather conditions at FDR State Park can be found on the Weather Channel website and using zip code 31822 or by calling the local NOAH Weather number. Note the night time low showing will about 5 degrees cooler up on the mountain. In warmer weather, sudden wind and rain storms come across the Pine Mountain ridge. Be prepared.