Jackrabbit Trail

Jackrabbit Trail is just over the North Carolina border near Hiawassee, Georgia.  It’s a trail within the Nantahala National Forest and it right on Chatuge Lake.  It offers an extensive trail system with many different routes.  We took a route that was about 4 miles long and stopped along the way to hammock and eat a picnic lunch.

The trail is part of a National Forest and all around there are plaques showing what all the native plants are with information about them.  There were a number of very pretty plants and trees!

This trail is well marked and is very popular with mountain bike riders.  The parking lot even contains a bike repair area with tools and a bike pump and bathrooms (no sinks).  The weekend before there must have been a bike race because we saw signage hanging on a tree as we entered the woods.

This hike is very easy and good for kids and dogs.   The trail is heavily wooded and views of the lake are often obstructed during the spring and summer months.  We could hear boats if you don’t mind walking through wood there were several great views of the lake and distant mountains.  Overall it makes a great workout but wasn’t one of my favorite hikes because you couldn’t see much of the lake through all the trees and it was relatively flat with a few rolling hills.