Whiteside Mtn, Rabun Bald, Bridal Veil Falls, and Dry Falls

This is another in the Summit Sunset Series where we will enjoy sunsets from some of the best scenic viewpoints...on or near moutnain peaks.  If you've never had this experience, you don't know what you're missing, so time to find out...

Ok so the weather this weekend is shaping up to be interesting...some snow and ice up in Highlands on Friday, with Partly Cloudy skies and highs in the 40s over the weekend.  So the plan with this event is to make the most of Sunday with two spectacular hikes in the same general area...then ending with a sweet sunset at the top of Whiteside Mtn (4931').

This will be a long, full day and not great for those who need to return home before evening.  So make sure you are up for some all day adventure and also can handle being out in the cold all day...forecast high is 42 in Highlands on Sunday.

We will start out with a moderate hike up the 2nd highest peak in GA, Rabun Bald (4696').  The summit has a viewing platform and 360 degree vista (see pic below). You can see Wayah Bald, Mt Yonah, Scaly and Whiteside Mtns from up there as well.  We will be taking the least strenuous and shortest route up, from Beegum Gap.  This is the official signed NFS trailhead and it is only about 1.6 miles up and gains 1100'.  It is important to stress that the pace will be SLOW.  So it will be a gradual walk up the mtn and we will keep the group together the entire time.

After returning to our cars, we will drive up to the Highlands, NC area. Highlands is a nice area and one of the highest elevatin towns east of the Mississippi River. It is about a 25 min drive to "Dry Falls" which is a nice waterfall near the road.  Hopefuly will be a little iced up from the last couple of days, but tough to predict that.  It is only a 5 minute walk down to the falls.  We will also check out Bridal Veil Falls which is on the road and you can actually drive under it.

After we enjoy the waterfalls, it's just about a 15 min drive to the trailhead to Whiteside Mtn.  Here we will take our time exploring and enjoying this area.  We will hopefully take a side trail to the "Devil's Courthouse" area and overlook.  But we will try to time it to be at the summit of Whiteside at 6:04 PM to view the sunset.  Then it's just about a 15 min hike back down to the cars and we head back to ATL.

The estimated time back to the carpool is about 9:30PM and that is if you don't stop for food on the way home...there are no official plans for that but each vehicle can do as they wish.

The big variable with this event is the amount of ice left on the roads and trails from Friday night.  Maybe it will all have melted and be a non-factor, but hopefully there will be at least some left at Whiteside which sometimes features some really beautiful icicle formations in the winter (see pic below)

But we just don't know what we are going to get, so if you sign up for this event, just keep an open and flexible attitude as to how the day will progress.  If the trail down to Devil's Courthouse is too icy, we will have to cut that part out. If we have trouble getting to the Rabun Trailhead due to icy roads, we can substitute something else for it..probably Scaly Mtn (which is about 2 miles away and very similar distance and difficulty) or perhaps Pinnacle Knob in Clayton if we had to.  So there are many "Plan B" options, but hopefully all will go well according to Plan A and the ice will be a positive and not a negative.

With the slow pace, this could be a D3, even with the 2100' of elevation gain and moderate distance of 6 1/2 miles.  But the terrain on the Devil's Courthouse trail is a bit rugged and steep, so will make it D4.

This will be a day of true winter hiking with high temps forecast to just reach the low 40s.  So be sure to dress very warm, so you are comfortable both while moving and also while standing around waiting for the sunset or taking in the vistas at the various overlooks.  Also we probably will not have time for a food stop in the middle of the day so eat a hearty breakfast and also bring enough food on you to get you through the day.  

So should be an adventure for sure and hope you can join us.

Directions will be provided at carpool for drivers.

Be sure to read entire Itinerary before signing up!