Located about halfway between chattanooga and atlanta about 15 minutes off of highway 411 and towering over Chatsworth, GA and the surrounding lowlands, fort mountain state park offers some of the most incredible views and challenging trails in north Georgia. 

I initially intended to review just the Gahuti Loop located within the state park, hwever i was forced to abort due to ice on trail and persisting freezing conditions. acordingly, i spent the next few hours exploring the park. I found that both the Northestern and westward overlooks provide a panoramic view extending upwards of 30 miles in any direction. 

The western Lookout was about a 25-30 minute hike from the parking area near the summit and passed the CCC fire tower that, when it's open, provides a 360 degree panorama of the surrounding landscape. the Western overlook extends to a cliff face and offers a view of the lowlands between the Cohuttas and the Dug Mountain range that will converge to form the southern Appalachian mountains. A heavy wind can be expected as this is the most exposed point in the park at an elevation of about 2,800 feet with no nearby peaks to shield it.

The Northeastern overlook offers a clear view of the Cohutta wilderness to the east. Views to the northeast are framed by the rest of the mountain and limited by the ridgelines of the Cohutta systems. 

Trails in and around the state park are alarmingly challenging and primitive for georgia state parks and I feel that truly enhances the quality of the state park. I absolutely recommend Forth Mountain state park for a family day trip or a brief backpacking outing.