Rescheduled - Unicoi Gap to Brasstown Bald

Are you ready for a fun and challenging hike? This ~20 miler from Unicoi Gap to the summit of Brasstown Bald, the highest mountain in GA, and back might be for you.

We will start at Unicoi Gap and hike approx 4.4 miles on the AT (Appalachian Trail) to Chattahoochee Gap.  From Chattahoochee Gap we will turn north (hang a right) leaving the AT and onto the Jacks Knob Trail. This will take us 4.5 miles to the Brasstown Bald parking lot and will involve approx. 2000 feet of total ascent in this section.

From the parking lot, we will take the Brasstown Bald paved trail .6 miles and 400 feet up to the summit and the observation platform which will hopefully give us great views if the weather cooperates. We'll have lunch here while viewing how far we have come and how far we have yet to go.

After lunch, we will return the same way we came.  Once the front leader is on the way back, if you did not get to Brasstown you will need to turn around and go back with the group.

Just .15 mi/160 feet down from the Chattahoochee Gap is a trickle of water at 3200 feet, this spring is widely regarded as the origin/headwaters of the Chattahoochee River.


Recap:
Unicoi Gap to Chattahoochee Gap - 4.4 miles, ~1600 feet total ascent
Chattahoochee Gap to Brasstown Bald parking- 4.5 miles, ~2000 feet total ascent
Brasstown Bald trail .6 miles to Brasstown Bald -.6 miles, ~400 feet ascent
Brasstown Bald to Brasstown Bald parking lot - .6 miles
Brasstown Bald parking lot to Chattahoochee Gap- 4.5 miles, ~1000 feet total ascent
Chattahoochee Gap to Unicoi Gap - 4.4 miles, ~900 feet total ascent

Total: ~20 miles, ~6000 feet of ascent

This is a strenuous hike and only for advanced hikers with recent experience of 15 or more miles in the mountains, with an average hiking pace of 3 mph.  However, it should all be well worth it and should prove to be an adventurous day on the trail for those who are up to the challenge and would like to join us... 

The trip leader(s) reserves the right to consider participant's past history and to make the final determination for participation on this hike.

Head North on I-85 to I-985 past Gainesville for aprox. 47 miles.  Turn left onto GA-384N/Duncan Bridge Rd SW and continue until the road ends at GA-75. Turn right on GA-75N for 12.4 miles passing through Helen GA. The parking area near the trailhead is on the right-hand side.