If you enjoy spending time in the great outdoors surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery, you'll love hiking in this region. There are improved trails that casual hikers can enjoy as well as rugged backcountry options for those who want to truly get away from it all.
Four Popular North Georgia Hiking Trails
There are hundreds of hiking trails in North Georgia. A few of the most popular hiking spots include the trail to Anna Ruby Falls, the Appalachian Trail, the Bartram Trail and the Brasstown Bald Trail.
1. Anna Ruby Falls
Located just outside of the Alpine village of Helen and in close proximity to Unicoi State Park, the Anna Ruby Falls trail is one of the most frequently visited trails in northern Georgia. It's a paved trail that less than a mile long, so it's a hike that most visitors to the area can comfortably make. The trail's namesake, Anna Ruby Falls is located at the end of the trail where hikers can enjoy beautiful views of the double waterfall from well-maintained observation decks.
2. Appalachian Trail
Nearly 80 miles of the Appalachian Trail are located within the mountains of North Georgia, running from Springer Mountain to Bly Gap. Within the state, elevation along the trail varies from a low of 2,675 feet to a high of 4,461 feet. Located in the town of Dawsonville, Amicalola Falls State Park is one of the most popular points of entry to the trail in the state for hikers ranging from those who want to walk a small part of the trail to those who are planning to go the distance from Georgia to Maine.
3. Bartram Trail
Named for renowned 18th Century botanist John Bartram, the Bartram Trail in Georgia runs from the border of Georgia and North Carolina to Rabun Bald Mountain, which is located in the community of Rabun. There are 37 miles of the 110 mile Bartram Trail located in Georgia, but many parts of it are not maintained or marked in a manner that makes them suitable for novice or casual hikers. The location where the trail is best maintained is within the state's Tallulah Ranger District. To learn more about hiking this trail, see GABartramTrail.org, the official website for the Georgia Bartram Trail Group.
4. Brasstown Bald Trail
Hiking the Brasstown Bald Trail provides visitors with an opportunity to hike to highest point in Georgia and enjoy majestic views of the surrounding Appalachian Mountains. The trail is located in Brasstown Bald State Park. The park is situated in the town of Blairsville and is home to several hiking trails of varying difficulty. The Brasstown Bald Trail is the most challenging. Even though it is only just over one mile long, the trail is very steep. The view at the top, however, is well worth the climb for those who enjoy strenuous hiking. The park also provides a shuttle to the summit for those who want to enjoy the view without such a rigorous hike.
Learn More About Hiking Trails in North Georgia
These are just a few of the many hiking trails that visitors to the beautiful mountains of northern Georgia can enjoy. For additional information about North Georgia hiking trails, visit GeorgiaTrails.com. This site features an alphabetical list of more than 100 trails located in the region. You can click on the name of any trail you are interested in to find out how long it is, what county it is located in and how to get there. You can also view information about features specific to the selected trail such as whether or not there is a visitors' center or if there are restrooms or picnic facilities along the trail.
