Highpoint #10: Georgia

Cross-Country Highpointing Trip, Stop #3

Entrance to Brasstown Bald

After a quick summit of the South Carolina highpoint, I was off to Georgia for my third highpoint of the day at Brasstown Bald.  I normally wouldn’t think to visit so many highpoints in the same day, but they are all (NC, SC, and GA) in relatively close proximity to one another, so it is a rather feasible objective.  The Appalachians are beautiful to regard this time of the year, so I wasn’t minding the extended sojourn. 

Pay to Play!

Brasstown Bald is located in the Chattahoochee National Forest in northern Georgia, just shy of the South Carolina line.  It is only about 40 miles or so away from Georgia’s more famous mountain, Springer mountain, where the Appalachian trail begins for northbound hikers. 

Paved Trail to the Summit

Ascending Brasstown Bald is fairly straightforward.  One can drive most of the way up the mountain to a large parking lot.  There is a $3 entry fee at the entrance that was handled on the honor system on my visit.  From the parking lot, one has to continue on foot along a paved trail.  The trail is 0.6 miles in length and is billed as being “very steep”; so steep in fact, they have arranged an alternative shuttle service to the top for those seeking a less demanding alternative.  Truth be told, it is a fairly easy walk that doesn’t take more than 10 minutes, but it is good that there is an alternative for less active individuals.  The scenery from the summit should not be missed.

Lookout Tower

View of Parking Lot and Mountains in the Distance

Arriving at the top, one is met with a summit sign that is immediately dwarfed by an enormous observation deck and lookout tower.  The summit sign indicates that the elevation is 4,784 feet.  The sign also indicates, at great length, the Cherokee etymology of the name of the highpoint.  It’s a strange digression. 

 

View from the Top

The sign is sufficient for achieving the highpoint, but the observation deck is the real draw here.  The views abound in every direction.  In the distance, peaks can be seen extending across Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and even North Carolina (assuming good weather).  It really doesn’t matter where one stands, the views are simply remarkable.  So tranquil, and I largely had the view to myself, as there were only two other people present on the observation deck on my visit. 

   

Vanity Shot at Summit Sign

The geological marker is actually housed inside of the observation deck.  There is a gate with stairs leading down to it, just opposite of the entrance to the visitor’s center.  Unfortunately, both the visitor’s center and the gate were locked up when I visited.  Similarly, the entrance to the lookout tower was blocked, so I was not able to ascend that either and the movie room was closed.  That’s the downside to visiting during the low season, I suppose.

Amazing View from the Top!

After a period of reflection, I posed for a photo by the summit sign and descended to the parking lot.  Onward to Alabama…