Scenic Trip To The Pocket and John’s Mountain

Saturday mornings are always a good time to go on an adventure. It was just a day or two before my father-in-law suggested that we go to The Pocket, so when we set out to find the next adventure, we knew where we wanted to go. The Pocket and John’s Mountain are located just north of Rome and are part of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. The drive to The Pocket and John’s Mountain is beautiful and scenic. The Pocket gets its name because it is a pocket of low-lying land surrounded by steep mountains.

The Pocket was a perfect quick day trip for us. It was only a short drive out, and we parked in the parking lot for day visitors. Parking is $5 for a one-day parking pass. It didn’t take long to realize that it was crowded at the camping and swimming hole. It looked as though a family reunion was being held there. Kids were swimming, an intense game of corn hole was being played, and groups of adults were standing around. There were a lot of shaded areas, which was important because, on the day we went, the temperature was in the 90s. There were also a lot of picnic tables, a few bridges, and swimming holes. By swimming holes, I mean there were different levels of shallow bodies of water outlined by rocks.

A pavilion is located in the picnic area that is available for rent. A sign was posted that the pavilion is also available if it is not reserved. When we visited, it looked like a family was using the pavilion for a reunion.

The campground is on the other side of the picnic area, through a separate entrance. The Pocket looks like it is an excellent place to camp. It has private lots that are well-shaded. The campsites do not require a reservation and are just first come, first serve. Camping season is from April until October. The campsites are primitive, with no water or electricity. There are restrooms with running water.

When we left the picnic area and campground, we found road signs that directed us to trails. We turned into the gravel drive leading to the walking trails’ parking area. It was about a two-mile drive, but we were going very slowly. It had signs posted to let you know that the road was rough. We were driving a Mustang, and we didn’t have any trouble. Our driveway is way more uneven. We took a quick pit stop and looked around when we got to the top. We were not prepared for a hike, but we read the signs posted. The hiking trails were marked, and the signs had lots of information for hikers. The trails lead to a waterfall.

When we left the parking area for the walking trails, the following road we turned down took us to the top of John’s Mountian. The road is very similar to the other one. It was gravel and required caution but was not overly rough. At the end of the road was a parking area with a wooden platform. It overlooked the rural area down below. A walking trail map was posted, showing that it was the top of the same trail we had just left, so it made a big loop. As we got out of the car, someone warned us of bear poo on the ground. I had to take his word that it was from a bear because I am not an expert on droppings.

Riding to The Pocket and exploring different areas was a great day trip. Although we stayed in Floyd County, it kept saying on Google that Dalton, Georgia was the closest town. I was confused, but once we got to The Pocket and I looked at the map, we were closer to Dalton than I had imagined.

Have you ever been to The Pocket? Let us know about your experience. You can find more information on The Pocket HERE.

Update November 2019: John’s Mountain overlook road and observation tower are closed due to extreme vandalism. It infuriates me and breaks my heart to know someone has destroyed something so lovely. I hope they can open it up again so people can enjoy it.

For more places to camp: The best places to camp in Rome, Georgia, and the Northwest Georgia Mountains.