Forest Road 28 Coopers Creek to Mulky Gap

Forest Road 28 winds 16 miles through some of the prettiest hardwood forest left in North Georgia, following Coopers Creek upstream before climbing the divide toward Mulky Gap. The road starts easy enough at the Forest Service campground, but gets interesting around mile 6 where it crosses Coopers Creek on a low-water concrete ford that can run 2 feet deep after heavy rains. Past the crossing, the trail climbs steadily through sections of virgin hemlock and poplar that somehow escaped the loggers’ saws.

Any high-clearance vehicle handles this route in dry weather, but the creek crossing demands respect during spring melt and summer storms. The gravel surface gets washboarded but stays passable year-round except during ice storms. Plan a half day to explore the side spurs and fishing holes properly. Dispersed camping is allowed along the creek, and several unofficial sites offer flat ground near the water. Come for the trout fishing and fall colors—this is old-school Southern Appalachian country at its finest.