Get Ready to Hike!
Trails are open dawn to dusk, 365 days a year.
You will be able to hear the chimps while you hike and you just might be able to catch a glimpse from the Overlook when the chimpanzees are in the Peachtree Habitat.
Visit Project Harvest to see what is growing to feed the chimps. Or stroll through the Remembrance Garden to pay respects to the chimps who have passed.
Purchase souvenirs, water, snacks or discuss getting involved with our organization at the Gift Shop.
Stay on trails. The fence line around the Chimp Area is electrified. You must be escorted through a gate by a team member on a pre-arranged tour to enter this area.
Trail Info
Directions:
- From SR 515 / US 78, head north on Loving Road for 2 miles and turn left on Old Loving Road at “My Mountain Cabin Realty”.
- Continue straight when Old Loving becomes Lowery Road for about 1 mile when you will pass the Jones Family Cemetery.
- The main trail parking is just past the green mailbox #2031 on the right, from there you can take the Blue Trail (.3 miles; moderate) to the trailhead.
- The trailhead is at a secondary parking down the driveway of #2031; the parking area is accessible to those who wish to skip the Blue Trail but may be blocked off during sanctuary special events or private rentals of the event space.
Access:
- The trails are open dawn to dusk.
- Please follow posted hiking trail rules.
- Leashed dogs are allowed.
- Portos are available at the main trailhead.
- A suggested contribution of $2 per hiker to support the chimps can be donated when you arrive at the parking lot fee station.
- There are four different trails so guests of all ages and physical capabilities can enjoy the trails. Click on the images below for more details on each trail.
Will I see chimps?
- If you head up to the overlook with a pair of binoculars, you might be able to see the chimps in the Peachtree Habitat.
- You will certainly hear the chimps while you hike!
- To get an up close view of the chimps, please check out our visitation and event options here.
Click each trail image to learn more about that trail's distance, difficulty level, and elevation change.
The Blue Trail is an out and back trail. Access from the upper parking lot.
Distance: 0.3 miles
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Elevation Change: 138 ft
Time to Complete: 10 mins
Blue Trail
The Blue Trail will lead you from the upper parking area to the lower and back. This quick access trail has beautiful rhododendrons growing next to a babbling creek. From the upper parking area, you can see the peak of Paris Mountain where both the Yellow and White trails will take you - if you dare!
The Nature Trail is a S-loop. Access from the Trail Head at the lower parking lot.
Complete with 34 interpretive signs about flora and fauna.
Distance: 1.2 miles
Difficulty Level: Easy
Elevation Change: 121 feet
Time to Complete: 35 minutes
Nature Trail
The Nature Trail is easy to stroll with little elevation change and sturdy bridges and steps. Perfect for all hiking levels! Visit the koi pond and learn about native flora and fauna along the path with 34 interpretive educational signs. Visit several times of year to see the seasonal changes in our plant life and check off different migrating bird species.
The Yellow Trail is a loop. Access from the Trail Head at the lower parking lot.
Distance: 2.5 miles
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Elevation Change: 561 feet
Time to Complete: 1.5 hours
Yellow Trail
If you want a good workout, take your time and explore the Yellow Trail. Several switchbacks help mitigate the incline as you hike to the top of Paris Mountain. When the trees are not in full bloom, you can see directly into the Peachtree Habitat and our future Phase II Construction Zone.
The White Trail is a loop. Access from the Trail Head at the lower parking lot.
Distance: 2.5 miles
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Elevation Change: 469 feet
Time to Complete: 1.5 hours
White Trail
While the White Trail travels the same path as the Yellow in some areas, it's unique sections are not for the faint of heart! You will need to hike single file along narrow edges in places; hiking staffs are strongly recommended in wet weather. When the trees are not in full bloom, you can see directly into the Peachtree Habitat and our future Phase II Construction Zone.
Honorary & Memorial Gifts
The Chimp Trails provide opportunities to support the chimpanzees while also honoring a loved one. If you would like to honor a living person’s love for wildlife or the memory of someone special, please consider a donation in honor or in memory of that person. You will have the satisfaction of knowing that your gift is used to provide daily care for the chimpanzees with a lasting legacy marked along the trails for all to see. Learn more here.
Our trails are also listed on these apps:
Read and leave reviews here:
Can you find our PokeStop?
This project would not be possible without our many generous individual supporters and volunteers. We rely on donations to fulfill our mission, including caring for our existing residents and expanding the sanctuary to accommodate those chimpanzees still waiting in the lab.
Won’t you help us bring the remaining chimps to sanctuary by supporting Project Chimps today? Please donate today because...