The Eyes on Wildlife Trail, which is a Fannin County Hiking Trail near the town of Blue Ridge Georgia, is an easy drive from Murphy, North Carolina in Cherokee County.

Eyes on Wildlife Trail

Fannin County, Georgia

Length: 1.3 miles (2.02K)
Rating: Easy
Use: Moderate

Hiking Time: About one hour for the designated loop.

Restrictions: No motorized vehicles allowed. Mountain bicycles use is permitted on the temporary logging road, which forms the ridge side of the loop trail. Trail designed for day hikers, not recommended for horses.

This trail is located on general forestlands near Cooper Creek Campground. It traverses a variety of wildlife habitats, which have evolved through a combination of both human (timber management) and natural (fire) actions on the land. Near the trailhead, Tom Jones Branch is an attractive mountain stream; the surrounding ridges are heavily forested and variety of plant and animal species exist within the area.

The trailhead is located one-half mile south of Cooper Creek Campground on Forest Service Road 236. The trail begins on the east side of the Scenic area parking lot just past the Cooper Creek Bridge. A wooden bridge crosses Tom Jones leading directly to a beautifully engraved marble monument marking the trailhead.

The trail begins to the left of the marble monument and continues south as a gradual climb to a temporary forest-looking road near the ridge top. Turn right and continue on road. Within 0.1 mile is a return trail of desired to go back to trailhead. Continuing on road the trail passes through a variety of habitats and at cleared wildlife opening trail again turns right descending on well-graded trail returning to monument.

Directions from Blue Ridge, Georgia:

From the intersection of GA highway 515 and GA highway 5 in Blue Ridge, follow GA highway 515 east (toward Blairsville) approximately 4.5 miles to traffic light and junction with GA highway 60. Turn right on GA highway 60. Go south on GA highway 60 17.7 miles to Forest Service Road #4 (Cooper Creek turnoff) on left. Travel on Forest Service Road #4, 4.9 miles to the Cooper Creek Campground turnoff (Forest Service Road 236). Continue less than one-half mile to parking area across bridge over Cooper Creek.