Brasstown Bald: Hiking Up Georgia’s Highest Peak

Brasstown Bald has been sitting on my list of must-do hikes for months now, and I figured it was finally time to be able to cross it off. I knew that with it being the highest peak in Georgia, the view would not disappoint, which is why it would be worth the 2-hour drive to get there from Kennesaw. I also decided I wanted to be able to watch the sunset from the mountain, so we left Kennesaw at around 5 pm in order to be at the top before the sun setting at 7:45 pm. 

The Brasstown Bald Hike:

When you first discover that the hike is only 0.6 miles, you think that you are in for a short and easy journey. However, you are quickly met with a pretty steep incline and fairly demanding switchbacks. Thankfully the shortness of the hike makes up for the steep zig-zagged trail making it an overall moderate difficulty.

This was also one of my favorite hikes aesthetically. You were greeted and encouraged by so much greenery surrounding you at all times, and there were a few points where the trees hovered over you perfectly, creating a cute little nature tunnel to walk through. While the sign at the beginning warned me of rattlesnakes, I was thankfully only witness to a few small birds hopping along in front of me every now and then. 

Finally, once you get to the top, there is a pretty neat observation deck. This is also where the Visitors Center is located, but it was closed since we went after hours. However, I learned that inside the Visitors Center is a museum and a short film that are worth checking out, so I would love to go back when it is open.

The View From Brasstown Bald:

From the observation deck, you can see four states, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina. There are also several guides along the observation deck to help you figure out what other mountains you are looking at.

However, you are only really able to see the different states and mountains if you go at a time when it isn’t too foggy. Typically if you go in the middle of a sunny day, then your view will be clear.

Since we went at sunset, it was pretty foggy for us, but I loved it because this was a new experience for me. It really felt like I was walking in the clouds when it was at its foggiest. The only problem was that the fog obstructed our view of the sunset a bit, but as I said before, I did not mind too much.

My best advice for this hike is to bring water (and don’t forget it in the car like I did), even if a .6-mile hike sounds easy for you. Remember to bring your camera because this is easily one of the best views around, and bring someone to share the experience with. 

I really don’t think there is a bad time of day to go to Brasstown Bald. Next time I go, I would love to be able to do some stargazing!

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