Fort Mountain (Murray County, Georgia)
Fort Mountain is a mountain in northern Georgia, just east of Chatsworth. It is part of the Cohutta Mountains, a small mountain range at the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains. It also lies within the Chattahoochee National Forest.
| Fort Mountain GA | |
|---|---|
Fort Mountain, viewed from Chatsworth | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,850 ft (870 m) |
| Prominence | 321 ft (98 m) |
| Coordinates | 34°46′59″N 84°42′33″W |
| Geography | |
Fort Mountain GA Murray County, Georgia Fort Mountain GA Fort Mountain GA (the United States) | |
U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
U.S. National Historic Site | |
| Nearest city | Chatsworth, Georgia |
| Area | 211.2 acres (85.5 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 77001587 |
| Added to NRHP | November 23, 1977 |
A main feature of Fort Mountain is an ancient rock formation or ruin of unknown origin, from which the mountain takes its name. The site lies within Fort Mountain State Park and consists of a series of stone piles lying in a long uneven line that follows the contour of the mountainside. Estimates of its length vary. In a previously published archaeological report, Philip E. Smith (University Of Georgia) gives 928 feet (283 m) as its length, while the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (State Parks Division) estimates the length as 855 feet (261 m).
A stone fire tower, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and located in the park, marks the summit of the mountain. A hiking path around the park leads up to a scenic overlook of Cool Springs Valley. The park also has a mountain lake, cabins, camping, and public facilities.
Two main highways cross Fort Mountain connecting the counties of Murray and Gilmer, Georgia. A steep, curving scenic route, Georgia SR 52, runs east-west between Chatsworth and Ellijay, affording views of the Cohutta Mountains; there is at least one overlook with parking. Organizations located on that route include Fort Mountain State Park and Global Youth Ministry. Southeast of Chatsworth, SR 282 crosses the mountain, running concurrently with SR 2/US 76 from Ramhurst to East Ellijay.