Jacks River Watershed
3.7 mi
Distance
+453 ft
Elevation Gain
out and back
Trail Type
—
Crossings
A quiet 4-mile connector trail that drops from the FS51/Rice Camp trailhead area into the Jacks River corridor, linking the East Cowpen side of the wilderness to one of the most beloved river sections in the Cohuttas.
Rice Camp Trail is one of the most useful connector trails in the northern Cohutta system. It is not the grand spectacle trail itself, but the kind of trail that makes the wilderness work—tying the FS51 trailhead cluster to the Jacks River Trail and opening up strong loop options with Beech Bottom, Hickory Ridge, East Cowpen, and Horseshoe Bend. From the Rice Camp / FS51 end, the trail trends down toward the Jacks River valley, eventually meeting the Jacks River Trail a short distance downstream from Jacks River Falls. That placement makes it especially valuable for hikers who want a loop instead of an out-and-back to the falls, or who want to build longer traverses through the lower Jacks corridor. The character is classic north-Cohutta connector terrain: forested, practical, and quietly beautiful. It feels like a passage trail, a way through, but that is part of its charm. It carries you from road access into the river world, where the sound of current starts to take over and the wilderness opens wider. Rice Camp is also a strategic trail. In a trail system where many routes are defined by repeated fordings, Rice Camp gives you a cleaner line in and out of the Jacks corridor and lets you stitch together some of the best day hikes in the area. If you know how to use it, it becomes one of the handiest trails in the whole northwestern Cohutta.
Trailhead
Rice Camp / FS51 Trailhead
Rice Camp Trail is typically accessed from the FS51 road end (same general trailhead cluster used for East Cowpen and Hickory Creek in your Cohutta notes). From the Cisco/Eton side, the standard approach is via Old GA 2 to Forest Service roads, then FS51 to the cul-de-sac trailhead area. Your existing trail pages already have the detailed step-by-step FS16/FS51 drive-in directions, which are the right ones to reuse here.
Road Access
Primary access is the FS51 cul-de-sac trailhead cluster, which also serves East Cowpen Trail and Hickory Creek Trail (north terminus area in your notes). The larger Cohutta trail network and official maps for this area are managed through the Conasauga/Cohutta district resources and maps.
Safety Notes
Rice Camp itself is a connector, but most hikers use it as part of a Jacks River loop. That means water safety matters: river crossings on the Jacks become dangerous after sustained rain, and conditions can change quickly. Trekking poles are strongly recommended if your route includes Jacks River fordings. Cell service is unreliable. Popular loop traffic and current condition chatter for this area often shows up on route apps/reviews, but always verify conditions locally before committing.
Dispersed camping may be available in the broader corridor, with established-use sites closer to the Jacks River in some areas. Use existing sites when possible and follow Leave No Trace. Check current wilderness and district guidance before your trip.
N/A (verify current regulations, closures, and seasonal restrictions with the Forest Service before hiking). Official district recreation pages and maps are the best source for current status.