SOTA Guide - Coosa Bald, W4G/NG-006

Duration: 1:45 from Atlanta
Google Maps URL from Atlanta (33.917, -84.3378): http://goo.gl/maps/YvxLT
Seasonal/Limited Access:
- There were no gates on Duncan Ridge. Can be deep puddles after rain. I prefer 3 dry days before a trip.
Directions:
- GA-400 N from I-285 - go 46 miles
- Left on US-19 (GA-60 N) - go 5 miles.
- R on GA-9 N - go 8 miles.
- L on GA-60 - go 7.3.
- R on GA-180 (Wolf Pen Gap Rd) - go 7.7
- L on Duncan Ridge Rd - go 1.2. (a.k.a. Forest Service road FS 39.)
  - Watch for “Wolf Pen Gap” highway sign on the right.
  - On left: Dirt road with “Coopers Creek WMA” sign.
- Duncan Ridge Rd barely drivable in a Corolla in December 2013. Deep ruts. In 2018, very drivable Risk of stuck in muddy rut if road wet from recent rain.
- Note: If Duncan Ridge Rd impassible, trail meets GA-180 at Duncan Ridge Rd and runs to the trailhead 1.2 miles up Duncan Ridge Rd, adding 1 steep mile distance to the hike.
Food
- Last McDonalds: Dahlonega
- Penultimate McDonalds: GA-400 at GA-53 (38 miles north of I-285)

Duration: 0:30
Google Maps:
Seasonal/Limited Access:
Directions:
- Head NW (R exiting parking lot) on GA-348 and go 6.9
- L on GA-180 and go 0.9
- L on US-19 / US-129 and go 2.4
- R on GA-180 (another GA-180) and go 3.3
- R on Duncan Ridge Rd “Coopers Creek WMA” sign and go 1.2

Duration: 0:15
Google Maps: http://goo.gl/maps/YR6fQ
Seasonal/Limited Access:
Directions:
- R on SR-180 (Wolf Pen Gap Rd) and go 1.4
- R on Duncan Ridge Rd at “Coopers Creek WMA” sign and go 1.2

Duration: 0:30 up (0:40, if tired), 0:20 (0:25, if tired) down, and an 0.7 mile hike. Short and steep.
Navigation
- The trailhead has easy parking for two cars.
  - It is 1.25 miles from GA-180, and it is obvious.
  - Marked by a brown post with a green blaze.
- Once you’re parked, if you look back up the road, you’ll see where the trail from GA-180 comes in.
- On the trail, follow the blue blazes when the green blazes turn right (trail junction).
  - Duncan Ridge Trail goes straight, leading to Coosa Bald. Blue blazes.
  - Green blazed Coosa trail goes right (when hiking TO summit) and does NOT lead to Coosa Bald.
  - There is a double green blaze on a tree to the left of this junction.
  - On December 28, 2012, there was a clear trail sign.
Trailhead altitude: 3788’ @ short trailhead @ 34.77199, -83.95870
Summit altitude: 4300’
GPS tracks/waypoints:
- Parking for long trek = 34.764, -83.9524
- Trailhead for the long trek = 34.76409, -83.95297
- Trailhead for the short trek = 34.772,-83.9587
- Trail junction = 34.77750, -83.96065
- Summit = 34.77880, -83.96364
- Grid Square: EM84as

Hang antenna from tree: No problems.
Antenna notes:
- Trees around the opening at the summit. Mostly semi-dwarf. Room to guy a mast is limited at the summit; there’s space at the campsite on the right, just past the summit, within the activation zone.
Cell coverage:
- 2018 (ATT): 4 of 5 SMS succeeded; 5th SMS sent successfully but its confirmation failed.
- 2015: No cell coverage is available at the summit. I got 4 bars on the trail about 1/4 mile short of the summit. You could take a collaborator and send him back up the trail.
Unique features: There is a view in the winter.

Sherrif Knob, Blood Mountain (parking problem on weekends), Buckeye Knob, Akin Knob

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