Etowah County High Point Trip Report
Date: March 14, 2002
Author: Kevin Williamson
Etawah county now has only three areas due to the county line shift with Blount county. The southernmost
area is now the Blount county highpoint. The three northern areas located on Big Mountain are not too
difficult to locate, however you will need to pay close attention to the lay of the land, and your topo map.
It has been advertised that there is a trail running the entire length of lookout mountain which includes Big Mountain,
aka The JFK Trail or The Lookout Mountain Trail. This is no longer the case. The entire
mountain is privately owned, so permission needs to be obtained before starting up the mountain.
The owner stressed the point that no one will be allowed to visit during hunting season. Please respect the
owner's rights and do not trespass. I can provide you with the name of the owner. You can contact me at
my e-mail or by phone. The road route will be discussed at the time I provide the contact information.
The approach to the top of the mountain will be from the southwest using the road indicated on the topo map.
Area 1 is located to the right side of the road, about thirty feet into woods.
For area 2, return to the road from area 1 and continue northeast. In a short distance you will come to a
fork in the road, stay to the right. This will be the start of an ATV trail. The main road will head to the left.
Area 2 consists of two possibilities. First, the high ground was found about fifteen feet to the left of the
ATV trail. Second, a large boulder was located another 100 feet to the right of the trail along the edge of
the bluff.
For area 3, continue northeast along the ATV trail to a point where the main ATV track turns to the left.
You will see a less used ATV trail continuing straight ahead. Keep with the less used trail. Area 3 will be
on your left. It would be hard to explain in this report just exactly how to locate the high ground.
However, I did mark the trail to the highpoint with some small orange flagging tape,
along with a piece tied to a tree at the highpoint. I can not say for sure if these will be in place when
you arrive. The only sure way will be to continue northeast until you begin to loss elevation,
then backtrack to high ground or use your topo map and
compass to triangulate your location from one of the overlooks or your GPS.