As pandemic restrictions ease, we’ve been exploring places closer to home and thankfully, the Georgia State Parks system provides plenty of outdoor activities. This week, we hiked at F.D. Roosevelt (FDR) State Park in Pine Mountain, GA.
Ths 9,000-acre park lies 90 miles southeast of Atlanta. And since it’s near Callaway Gardens (one of my favorite spots), you’d think I’d know this park inside and out. I don’t. Up until this trip, I’d only taken the scenic drive starting across Highway 27 from the Callaway Gardens Country Store.
The drive follows along the ridge of Pine Mountain, offering several small scenic overlooks of Callaway Gardens on the left and Pine Mountain Valley on the right. But the drive only scratches the surface of Georgia’s largest state park.
The Trails
Known for backcountry camping and the 23-mile Pine Mountain Trail (PMT), Roosevelt delights serious hikers.
I am not a serious hiker. And since you won’t find me camping in a tent either, I thought there was nothing for me at this park. Fortunately, I recently learned the park offers many smaller day trails off the PMT that my family might enjoy.
The shorter hikes include the 3.2-mile Mountain Creek Loop and the new 3.4-mile Overlook Loop. Longer hikes encompass the 6.9- mile Longleaf Loop and the 7.9-mile Big Poplar Loop. We looked at the 6.7-mile Wolfden Loop but I felt it would be too long.
Cascade Falls Trail
We decided on the almost 4-mile Cascade Falls Trail. Although not officially listed on the park’s website, I read about it at Atlanta Trails. The trail basically follows the PMT along the Wolfden Loop Trail to Cascade Falls. Instead of completing the loop, you just turn back and retrace your steps back to the parking lot. To reach this part of the PMT (mile marker 23), we parked at the WJSP Radio Tower lot in Warm Springs on the eastern side of the park.
The trail started out relatively flat through an evergreen forest. Through the trees, we could hear rushing water near us. Twice we forded streams across rocks.
After about a mile, we came to the first of four waterfalls, Csonka Falls. Although only five feet tall, the falls create a peaceful setting. Big Rock Falls appeared next with water flowing in three sections.
Continuing a bit further, we came to Slippery Rock Falls before the trail departed the forest. Climbing in elevation, we missed the shade of the dense forest. When we came to a boulder-filled plateau area where a group of hikers rested, a sign indicated Cascade Falls was just 0.5 miles ahead to the right. Another trail to the left led to the Bumble Bee Ridge Campsite.
Fortunately the trail to Cascade Falls descended back into the woods under the pleasant, shade-producing canopy of trees. As the path made several bends, we crossed Cascade Branch several times over wooden bridges. We started seeing more people on their return hike with wet dogs and big grins. Soon, we heard children laughing in the distance.
Cascade Falls came into view where a few kids splashed in the water and played along the boulders. The water truly tumbles and “cascades” over several small tiers of rocks. Following the trail up the cliff to get a better view, we saw Wolfden Cave.
While not a man-size cave, children can easily fit under the large rock overhang to see a wolf den. Despite the name, we didn’t see any wolves!
Return Trek
We retraced our steps to complete our hike and could appreciate many of the things we had previously passed. One was Slippery Rock Falls. On our mission to get to Cascade Falls, we blew right past this pleasant area. On the way back, we stopped and sat down on the boulders enjoying the solitude and quietness. While my husband dipped his hands in the refreshing water and drizzled it over his head, I enjoyed looking at the smooth water-worn rocks and the crystal-clear water.
The rest of the path took us along Wolfden Branch past the other small waterfalls. We carefully crossed the many wooden planks laid in low-lying areas. For this reason, I don’t recommend hiking after heavy rains as the path can get muddy.
I also suggest wearing hiking boots as the trail is rocky and filled with lots of tree stumps at times. The Pine Mountain Trail Association (PMTA) maintains the trails and offers maps and info here.
Parking, Fees and Facilities
The daily fee for any Georgia State Park is $5. Visitors can use the pay stations or go online to purchase the pass. They also offer a one-year Georgia State Park pass for $50. We parked at the WJSP Radio Tower parking lot (this is an official F.D. Roosevelt State Park parking lot) in Warm Springs. When we arrived around 10:15 AM on a Sunday morning, the lot was filling up. No water fountains or bathroom facilities are located here.
FDR and History of the Park
As most people know, US President Franklin Roosevelt suffered polio as an adult. He found the waters at Warm Springs helpful for his therapy and soon bought land in the area. While President, his cottage in Warm Springs served as “The Little White House” and it is where he died in April 1945.
FDR owned most of the land in the park and often picnicked at Dowdles Knob. Today, visitors can still picnic at this spot located on Hwy 190 closer to PMT mile marker 15. It is also the highest in the park at 1,300 feet elevation, offering sweeping views of the valley below.
According to Georgia Public Broadcasting, it was FDR’s Civilian Conservation Corps (specifically CCC Camp Kimbrough in Pine Mountain) that constructed most of the trails, lakes and cabins in the park before opening in 1938. For more information, visit the park’s website.
If time allows take a tour of Roosevelt’s Little White House just a few miles away in Warm Springs, which includes his house and a museum.