Hiking Trails in Towns County, North Georgia Mountains
Arkaquah Trail
Trail descends along a ridge from Brasstown Bald parking lot to Track Rock Gap. There are ups and downs, some steep along the way. The final mile has several switchbacks. Open ridge tops provide excellent views. The trail is within the Brasstown Wilderness for about 5 miles of its length. This trail is not blazed.
Directions: Take U.S. 19 and 129 south from Blairsville, for 8 miles. Turn left (east) onto Georgia 180. Go 8 miles and turn left (north) onto Georgia 180 spur. Follow this road 3 miles to the Brasstown Bald Visitor Center parking lot.
High Shoals Trail
The trail descends through a series of long switchback to a creek crossing, then follows the creek to viewing platforms at two waterfalls. People have been fatally injured climbing on the rocks around these waterfalls. Please stay on the trails and observation decks. 1.2 miles.
Directions: Take GA 75 north from Helen for 11.4 miles. Turn right onto Indian Grave Gap Road, graveled Forest Service Road 283. Follow this road 1.5 miles to a small parking lot at the trailhead on the left. the road fords a fairly shallow stream close to the beginning. It is often difficult to travel in winter without four-wheel drive.
Horse Through Falls Trail
This is an excellent trail for novice hikers. It leads to the beautiful Horse Through Falls.
Directions: Take GA 75 north from Helen for 8 miles to Unicoi Gap. Turn left onto Forest Service Road 44 (Chattahoochee River Road). Go approximately 4.5 miles to the head of the river campground and follow signs to trail parking area.
Lake Chatuge Trail
This loop trail encircles Lake Chatuge campground around the lakeshore. 1.2 miles
Directions: Take U.S. 19 and 129 south from Blairsville, for 11 miles. Turn right (south) onto Georgia 288. Go 1 mile and turn left into Lake Chatuge Recreation Area. Turn left again into the boat-ramp parking area. The trail begins to the right of the boat ramp.
Jacks Knob Trail
This blue blazed trail begins with a short climb out of the Brasstown Bald parking lot, then descends nearly 1,500 feet through a series of switchbacks that cover about 2 miles. It crosses GA 180 in Jacks Gap and then climbs about 2.2 miles to the Appalachian Trail at Chattahoochee Gap. Approximately 0.2 mile south of Jacks Gap, the trail enters the Mark Trail Wilderness. Blazes will be farther apart on the wilderness portion of the trail.
Directions: Take U.S. 19 and 129 south from Blairsville, for 8 miles. Turn left (east) onto Georgia 180. Go 8 miles and turn left (north) onto Georgia 180 spur. Follow this road 3 miles to the Brasstown Bald Visitor Center parking lot.
Rocky Mountain Trail
This blue blazed trail climbs gradually from Forest Service Road 283, Indian Grave Gap Road, to the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) on the side of Rocky Mountain. A 3.5 mile loop trail can be made by combining the A.T., Rocky Mountain Trail, and Forest Service Road 283.
Directions: Take GA 75 north from Helen for 11.4 miles. Turn right onto Indian Grave Gap Road, graveled Forest Service Road 283. At 1.5 miles, pass the parking lot for High Shoals Trail on the left; continue for 0.5 miles to trailhead on the right. Parking is very limited at the trailhead. For more parking continue up the road to Indian Grave Gap, where the A.T. crosses the road. Forest Service Road 283 fords a shallow stream close to the beginning. It is often difficult to travel in the winter without four-wheel drive.
Wagon Train Trail
This trail follows an old roadbed from Brasstown Bald through the Brasstown Wilderness to the National Forest boundary approximately 1 mile south of Young Harris. 5.8 miles.
Directions: Take U.S. 19 and 129 south from Blairsville, for 8 miles. Turn left (east) onto Georgia 180. Go 8 miles and turn left (north) onto Georgia 180 spur. Follow this road 3 miles to the Brasstown Bald Visitor Center parking lot.
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