Rabun Bald via Beegum Gap to rock lookout

This is our fourth attempt to do this hike! We will start at Beegum Gap and climb 1000 ft over 1.6 miles to the top of Rabun Bald, the second highest mountain in GA. The former fire tower, now lookout platform, affords a fine 360-degree view. After we have had our fill of looking, we will descend on the Bartrum Trail southbound on switchbacks to Flint Gap, pass through Saltrock Gap, which is a large camping area close to a stream, climb up to Flat Top but bypass its summit, and descend gradually to an off-trail rock overlook with a view to the west followed by an off-trail rock overlook with a view to the east. At one of them we will have lunch, after which we will retrace our steps. From top of Rabun Bald to the furthest lookout is 3+ miles. Estimated total elevation gain 2800 ft. We should be back at the cars by 4:30-5:00.

I (Dorothea) hiked from Wilson Gap to Saltrock Gap a few weeks ago and came across many blowdowns. The very large ones we merely photographed for the FS but the smaller ones we cleared away. Unless someone has in the meantime cleared the trail we may encounter more of the same on the remaining stretch of trail. If we do, we will clear whatever we can but we will limit our trail work to a maximum of one hour.  If you have a small saw or light-weight clippers, you may wish to bring them along. 

Mike will coordinate the carpool at the park-and-ride and Dorothea will join the group at the Clayton Ingles (south-west corner). Anyone "meeting at event" should be at the Ingles at 9:15.

We plan to have dinner in Clayton after the hike. Anyone who cannot stay for dinner should carpool with like-minded hikers or drive on their own to the Clayton Ingles, where they can join the carpool. Please note that parking is extremely limited at the trailhead, for which reason we will form the smallest possible carpool at the Ingles parking lot.

From Clayton take 441 north. Turn right at lights on to 246/106 towards Highlands. Drive 2.9 miles to Old Mud Creek Rd (at the turnoff there is a scenic service station/store). Note that Old Mud Creek Rd becomes Bald Mtn Rd in Georgia. Drive 2.9 miles and turn sharp right on to Kelsey Mtn Rd, which ends shortly at Beegum Gap.

If you have not recently completed a comparable AOC hike, we will be contacting you to determine whether this is the right hike for you.