Brasstown Bald — On Top Of The World In The Georgia Mountains
Taking a vacation to the North Georgia mountains Brasstown Bald can mean a lot of things. Golfing, wine tasting, shopping, and water sports are just a few of the recreational activities vacationers and adventure lovers seek.
But another great reason to check out North Georgia is the majestic Appalachian mountains themselves and there is no better place to do this than Brasstown Bald, the highest natural point in the state of Georgia.
Brasstown Bald is an Appalachian destination rising 4,784 feet above sea level. This peak is part of the Blue Ridge mountains and is made of mostly dunite and soapstone. The Cherokee Indians are indigenous to this region called the mountain Enotah. Settlers called it “Brasstown” when they confused the Cherokee words for brass and green, both sounding similar. It earned the name “Bald,” a common term for mountains, for its unobstructed 360-degree view from the summit.
Visitors today flock to this grandest of the Georgia mountains for breathtaking views of the fall foliage. On clear days, you can see the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. To the south, you might even see some of the building tops in Atlanta. Hikers and park visitors also come to Brasstown Bald because of the relatively easy access to the mountain summit and observation point. The trail from the parking lot to the visitor’s center on top of the mountain is just a little over half of a mile, making it a perfect family excursion for the young and old.
More adventurous hikers can reach the summit via several nearby trails including the Wagon Train Trail and the Arkaquah Trail, which leads into the Summit Access Trail.
Once at the top, enjoy views of both the valley below and the mountains in Georgia, through the telescopes on the observation deck. Take a picnic and enjoy the picnic grounds around the visitor center. You can also read the interpretive signs along the trail leading up to the center.
The Blue Ridge Mountains were the inspiration for the great lyric from “America the Beautiful” lauding our purple mountains majesty. Truly, Brasstown Bald allows visitors to see the majesty of these centuries-old mountains and be humbled by the amazing views to be had atop the “roof of Georgia” in the Blue Ridge mountains.
