Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area

Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area (Dawson Forest WMA) is comprised of more than 25,000 acres of diverse terrain, ranging from foothills and mountain valleys to high country ridges and river gorges. Two rivers and several major streams meander through the WMA, adding another scenic element to a trail system rich with flora, fauna and unique topography. There are five sections (tracts) of the WMA including Wildcat Creek, Goethe, Burnt Mountain, Amicalola, and City of Atlanta. The DNR Wildlife Resources Division owns 15,000 acres of the Forest with the City of Atlanta owning the lower 10,000 acres. The vast majority of the area lies within Dawson County with a small section of the Burnt mountain tract being in Pickens County. Access includes several miles of improved road, marked improved trails, unnamed backcountry trails and old single-track roadbeds available for public use. Hikers, bikers and equestrian visitors use the system along with hunters, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts with minimal conflict. Equestrian riders and bikers are however restricted to the improved trail system on the City of Atlanta tract. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources regulates trail use and access through specific policies allowing for restricted horse or mountain bike travel during hunting season to insure public safety. The area as a whole has been and will continue to be primarily used for hunting and fishing. The WRD partners with other agencies like the Georgia Forestry Commission as well as private groups like the Mountain Stewards (www.mountainstewards.org), to open and to perform work in maintaining the trails for recreational use. The Forest also offers hunting, fishing and trail access opportunities for handicap users of the property on a year round basis.