Floyd County High Point Trip Report
Johns Mtn (1,860+ ft)
Date: March 21, 2004
Author: Ken Oeser
We did this after Gordon county, so directions start from the intersection of
Rock Creek Road and Everett Springs Road NE. Drive west on Everett Springs Road
3.9 miles to a stop sign. Turn right, still on Everett Springs Road, and drive
another 6.5 miles (total 10.4 miles). At this point look for a small parking
area on the left with an old, eroded dirt road heading up the mountain.
This is 0.2 mile south of the 90-degree right-hand turn on Everett Springs Road,
and coordinates are approximately (34° 34' 38", 85° 5' 55").
From this spot the GPS said we were 0.85 mile from the highpoint, which matched
my topo, and seems shorter than the other trip report. From the parking spot,
hike up the road, which turns left and goes uphill steeply about 200 yards, then
splits at a ravine. Take the right fork, which continues to climb uphill, away
from the ravine, and back over the parking area. This road ends after a couple
hundred yards at some fallen trees, and where the large, steep valley that hits
the road at the curve can be seen just to the north. This is the point I was
really after because on the topo it is shown as a gentle ridge that climbs up
toward the summit of Johns Mountain. We started the bushwhack through nice,
open forest for 400 feet of elevation to the summit of the ridge,
an obvious landmark shown on the topo.
From here there is about 200 feet of elevation to gain through some thick pine forest,
a real bushwhack, weaving around fallen trees and brush. Once through
the pines, the last distance to the top of the ridge is open, and we went
straight up, staying between two small ravines. The topo and GPS indicated that
the summit of Johns Mtn was only 0.2 mile to the right (north-northeast)
from here. This was a nice ridge hike, and ended at the top with some boulders
to rest on and take a break/snack.
We hiked down the same route and, except for the thick pine section, this was a
great hike.
Total distance is probably 1 mile each way, with an elevation gain of 1,010 feet.