GAINESVILLE, Ga. (October 28, 2020) – The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests is closing several low-lying recreation sites in the predicted path of Hurricane Zeta beginning today, Wednesday, October 28. The sites will remain closed until the storm passes and sites are safe for visitors. A Hazardous Weather Outlook has been issued for areas of the national forest.
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| National Weather Service wind forecast ahead of Hurricane Zeta. Trees falling or large limbs breaking off are common occurrences during storm events. |
Our highest priorities are visitor and employee safety. The Forest Service is advising visitors to avoid the forest during hazardous weather for personal safety and to prevent further stress on emergency responders who may not be able to quickly respond to emergencies because of conditions that limit access or create safety hazards.
Low-lying areas are especially vulnerable to rapidly rising and swift water. These areas should be avoided during and after major storm events. Excessive rain and high winds have the potential to create high water, flash floods, falling trees, mudslides, and severe damage to roads.
Our national forests are heavily wooded, remote and mountainous, making the potential for hazardous conditions significant. Trees falling or large limbs breaking off are common occurrences during storm events. The Forest Service is advising hikers to stay off trails for personal safety and to avoid further stress on local emergency responders who very likely will not be able to respond to trail emergencies because of unsafe and inaccessible conditions due to the forecasted weather. This includes hikers on the Appalachian Trail, where forecasts predict high winds on the mountain ridges and flash flooding at water crossings.
Temporarily Closed Sites (subject to change):
- Houston Valley OHV Trails (Whitfield County)
- Bear Creek Trail and Campground (Gilmer County)
- Cottonwood Patch Campground (Murray County)
- Boggs Creek Recreation Area (Lumpkin County)
- DeSoto Falls Recreation Area (Lumpkin County)
- Dockery Lake Recreation Area (Lumpkin County)
- Cooper Creek Recreation Area (Union County)
- Mulky Campground (Union County)
- Toccoa River Sandy Bottoms Recreation Area (Fannin County)
- Deep Hole Recreation Area (Fannin County)
- Frank Gross Recreation Area (Fannin County)
- Andrews Cove Campground (White County)
- Low Gap Campground (White County)
- Sandy Bottoms Campground (Rabun County)
- Sarah’s Creek Campground (Rabun County)
- Tallulah River Campground (Rabun County)
- Tate Branch Campground (Rabun County)
- West Fork Campground (Rabun County)
- Willis Knob Horse Campground (Rabun County)
- Warwoman Dell Day-Use Area (Rabun County)
- Wildcat Creek Campground #1 Lower (Rabun County)
- Wildcat Creek Campground #2 Upper
- Oakey Mountain and Moates Knob OHV Trails (Rabun County)
Forest System Roads: (Rabun, White, Habersham, and White Counties)
- Wildcat Creek (FSR #26-1)
- White Oak Gap Road (FSR #244)
- Red Root Road (FSR# 92)
- Post Oak Corner (FSR# 193)
- Guard Camp Road (FSR# 87)
- Currahee Mountain Road (FSR #62)
- Brown’s Bottom Road (FSR #92B)
- Frady Branch Road (FSR #389)
- Georgia Mtn Orchard Road (FSR # 191)
- Abe Gap Road (FSR #32C)
- No closures at this time
Please visit the Recreation Condition Report to learn the current status for developed recreation sites: www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/conf/recreation.
Remember, your safety is your responsibility. As always, please keep yourself, others and our responding personnel safe by making thoughtful decisions, staying aware of weather conditions, and heeding the advice of your local and state authorities.
Stay connected with us to view alerts related to possible hazards and additional closures on the Chattahoochee and Oconee National Forests on Facebook and twitter @ChattOconeeNF and on our website at www.fs.usda.gov/conf.
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