Pigeon Mountain (Georgia) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pigeon Mountain
Pigeon Mountain, viewed from Georgia State Route 193
Highest point
Elevation	2,330 ft (710 m)
Geography
Pigeon Mountain Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location	Walker County, Georgia, U.S.
Parent range	Cumberland Plateau
Topo map	USGS LaFayette
Climbing
Easiest route	Hike

Pigeon Mountain is a summit in Walker County, Georgia. At its highest point, the mountain has an elevation of around 2,330 feet (710 m). Ellison's Cave and Petty John's Cave are located on the mountain. Most of the mountain is located inside the Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area.

Name origin

Pigeon Mountain may have been named because the peak's outline resembles a pigeon, or because settlers saw a large flock of pigeons there.

Geography

Pigeon Mountain is located to the west of LaFayette in the Cumberland Plateau. At its highest point, the mountain has an elevation of around 2,330 feet (710 m). The mountain runs in a northwest-southwest direction for about 10 miles, joining with Lookout Mountain on the southwestern end to form a V-shape. Between Pigeon and Lookout Mountains is a valley called the McLemore Cove. The Tennessee Valley Divide crosses the western side of the mountain. Most of Pigeon Mountain is located inside the Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area, maintained by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Several caves are located on Pigeon Mountain, including Ellison's Cave and Petty John's Cave.

History

Part of the Battle of Davis's Cross Roads took place at Pigeon Mountain, fought on September 10 and 11 in 1863. During the battle, Union forces under James S. Negley intended to cross Pigeon Mountain to capture LaFayette. However, upon learning about how Confederate soldiers were concentrating at Dug Gap, Negley decided to withdraw his troops back to Davis’ Cross Roads.

During the 1920s and 1930s, Pigeon Mountain was home to about 30 families. Those families abandoned the mountain in the 1930s when the water table was lowered. In 1969, the mountain was leased by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The area eventually became the Crockford–Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area. The WMA was named after Jack Crockford, the director of the Georgia Game and Fish Division in the 1970s who helped implement Georgia's white-tailed deer restoration program.