The Great Cicada Wake-Up
In the heart of the North Georgia mountains, something extraordinary is about to unfold — an event 17 years in the making. Starting in the third week of April 2025, Brood XIV periodical cicadas will emerge across Jasper and Pickens County, transforming quiet forests into buzzing, humming hotspots of natural activity.
For both locals and visitors, this is a can’t-miss moment — not just because it’s rare, but because it offers a front-row seat to one of nature’s most fascinating life cycles. And Jasper? We’re right in the middle of the magic.
What Is Brood XIV?
Brood XIV is a group of periodical cicadas that lives underground for 17 years before surfacing in massive numbers to mate, sing, and start the cycle all over again. Unlike the green-winged cicadas we hear every summer, these are black-bodied with bright red eyes and distinctive orange-veined wings.
They last emerged in 2008. This spring, they’ll be back — billions of them — blanketing forests, fields, and tree trunks throughout Northern Georgia. For a few weeks, Jasper will become one of the best spots in the Southeast to witness this natural wonder.
When and Where to See Them in Jasper
Expect the first sightings in late April, once the soil warms to about 64°F, with activity peaking in early to mid-May. Local parks, wooded backyards, and mountain trails will all be buzzing with cicada life — quite literally.
Top spots to experience the cicada emergence in Jasper and the surrounding areas include:
The southern edges of the Chattahoochee National Forest
Local hiking trails like Burnt Mountain Preserve or Talking Rock Nature Trail
Scenic forested roads just outside of town
Just look (and listen) for trees filled with the chorus of cicada song and golden-brown shells clinging to trunks. And don’t worry — they don’t bite, sting, or harm people or pets. They’re harmless (just noisy!).
What Makes the Cicada Emergence So Special?
The life cycle of periodical cicadas is one of nature’s most remarkable phenomena. These insects live underground for nearly two decades, feeding on tree roots and waiting patiently for their one big moment. When they finally emerge, they shed their shells, mate, lay eggs, and die — all within 4–6 weeks. It’s the ultimate grand finale.
And the sound? Oh, the sound. Male cicadas create their iconic drone using vibrating membranes called tymbals. When thousands do it together, it can reach up to 100 decibels — as loud as a lawn mower. But it’s more fascinating than annoying. The sound rises and falls in waves, surrounding you in a natural, musical hum unlike anything else.
Family-Friendly and Totally Unique
This isn’t just a science lesson — it’s a fun, once-in-a-generation outdoor experience. Kids will love collecting empty shells, spotting cicadas up close, or listening to the “tree buzz.” Adults will enjoy the rarity of witnessing a natural event that won’t happen again here until 2042.
Whether you’re hiking in the morning, walking downtown, or enjoying a picnic in a park, the cicadas will make sure you remember spring 2025 in Jasper.
Tips for a Memorable Cicada Adventure
