Brasstown Bald – North Georgia Mountains

We took a couple of days to tour a few of the North Georgia sites from our recent trip. Our first stop was Brasstown Bald located around a 15 minute drive south of Blairsville, GA or 60 minutes from our favorite campground in Cleveland, GA. This is the highest peak in Georgia at 4,784 feet. On this early December day, we still had a little snow along the trails, mild winds and low 30 ℉ in the middle of the day. We had super clear skies and the views were spectacular.

The Trail

From the parking area, there is paved trail that extends .6 miles to the top of the mountain. It’s a strenuous hike with a steep, but manageable rise along the trail. There are several stops along with way with seats and informative markers to catch your breath before you reach the summit. For those who have physical challenges, there is another option to visit the top. For a few dollars, a van is provided to take you to the Observation Deck and back.

If you are up for the hike, the walk along the trail is something to see. Although this was a winter day, the trail was boarded by an abundance of wild mountain laurel and rhododendron. With the elevations, these will flower in the late summer and should offer an amazing walk along the trail. Even without the blooms, the views were great with teases along way where you can see the rising mountain peaks surrounding the bald.

The Interpretative Center and Observation Deck

We made it to the top. Wow, this is something to see! We stopped first to see a short movie about the ecology of the mountain. Then off to the Interpretative Center to see displays and take in some of the history about the area and surrounding mountains. Then up the steps to the observation deck.

The views from the deck are amazing. One this clear day, we could see the mountains surrounding Georgia along with the southern peaks of Tennessee and North Carolina, and northwestern peaks of South Carolina. No clouds, little haze and you could see for miles. Looking south, you can see the mountain peaks that support the Appalachian Trail from Amicalola State Park, past Springer Mountain and on. If you follow the blog, you know what’s coming next….that right “it was some kinda pretty”!

As an extra viewing treat, the US Forest Service provides live web cams to view the area. I’ve listed two below:
Brasstown Bald South Web Cam
Brasstown Bald North Web Cam

Bottom of the Trail

The walk back down the trail is a breeze. Compared to the assent, it took minutes. Next to the parking lot is a small gift shop with basics for the hike, refreshments, and a few mementos to remember the hike. A friendly staff is available to address questions about the area and the trail.

Additional information:

Brasstown Bald

Campgrounds in the area:
Leisure Acres Campground
Trackrock Campground
Vogel State Park Campground

Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
 

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