About
Just 5 miles west of downtown Ellijay, Georgia, in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, a popular hiking trail leads to the second tallest tree in the state. Known as the Gennett Poplar, the massive tulip poplar rises over 100 feet tall and spans 18 feet around at the base.
As legend has it, back in the 1950s, the Gennett Lumber Company, founded by two brothers in 1901, owned the land along the Chattooga River in Georgia and South Carolina. The pair understood the importance of old-growth forest preservation and asked that, in the clearing of this land, this particular poplar not be touched.
To get there, take the roughly 6-mile Bear Creek Trail—one of the state’s most popular mountain biking and hiking trails—along a verdant, moss-and-fern-filled creek valley filled with hemlock and rhododendron.
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Know Before You Go
The Gennett Poplar is located on Bear Creek Trail (just over a mile into the trail) and can be completed as an out-and-back hike if you don’t want to hike the full trail. It is a multi-use trail, suitable for both hikers and mountain bikers.
This trail crosses water multiple times, so bring appropriate footwear or a pair to change into after your hike.
The trail is pet friendly, but hikers are asked to keep animals leashed and clean up after their pets.
Over the years, visitors have carved names and messages in the Gennett Poplar’s trunk, but Georgia State Parks encourages guests to follow “Leave No Trace” guidelines to minimize their effect on the environment.
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Published
June 2, 2025
Sources
- https://www.atlantatrails.com/hiking-trails/bear-creek-trail/
- https://hikewithgravity.com/hikes/pt-2022/day-21-northern-terminus-to-gennett-poplar
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/chattahoochee-oconee/recreation/bear-creek-trail
- https://www.gilmerchamber.com/blog/explore-the-ellijays/best-hikes-in-ellijay-ga-bear-creek-trail/
