Exploring Northern Georgia: Brasstown Bald

If you’re planning a trip to the North Georgia Mountains and are looking for daily activities, you need to check out Brasstown Bald, which is the highest point in Georgia.

We weren’t entirely certain what to expect from our visit but were blown away by the pure beauty of it all.

Exploring Northern Georgia: Brasstown Bald

A couple of weeks ago we visited Brasstown Bald with Damien (one of the owners of the campground we stayed at) to get some experience with nighttime photography. We had never shot nighttime photos so he gave us some tips and it was awesome. We still have a lot to learn and practice, but here’s one of our photos. I ran out during the shot for a “ghost” effect.

We weren’t able to really get a sense of the place because it was night-time and we were just in the parking lot, but we knew we had to make a trip back during the day.

Check Out The Video of our visit to Brasstown Bald

In this video, we highlight our visit to Brasstown Bald.

The Drive

The drive up to Brasstown Bald is a beautiful one, where you’re able to see the distant mountain ranges peaking up over the hills directly in front of you. The lush forest comes near the road pushing the feeling of serenity as you go along.

Once you turn onto the road that leads directly up to the parking lot you’ll need to drive slow. Some of the turns are extremely sharp, not to mention you’re constantly climbing uphill.

The staff at the entrance booth are extremely knowledgable and willing to help with any questions you may have. They’re also there to collect the $5 per person entrance fee for anyone 16 years and older. The price covers the shuttle if you choose to use it, as well as access to the visitor’s center where you’ll enjoy breathtaking mountain views, a short video about Brasstown Bald, and there’s even a museum you can explore.

The History

When you first turn into Brasstown Bald, and before you head up the steep incline to the parking lot, you’ll notice a smaller parking lot and a bulletin board with some info.

Here’s a close-up of the history of Brasstown Bald, in case you enjoy a bit of backstory.

The Hike

Once you park in the main lot you’ll have the option to jump on a shuttle to the visitors center at the top, or hike the .6 of a mile trail up to the top. Katie and I elected to make the hike to the peak.

The hike is a lush one, with trees creating a canopy as you walk. There are signs on the way up that give information about the trail, connecting trails, and tidbits about how the mountain ecosystem works.

Though the trail is paved it’s still a bit strenuous since it’s constantly going up hill. Katie and I were pretty much out of breath the entire time, haha. We still prefer the short hike over the shuttle because it was great exercise and the views were an amazing reward.

With that said, don’t forget about the shuttle option if a steep walk isn’t something you’re looking forward too. I’m not joking when I say the short hike is almost entirely on an incline.

The Views

As you hike you’re way up the hill don’t become discouraged because of the lack of views. I like to consider the hike to be the calm before the storm, well minus being out of breath.

You know great views should be right around the corner but when are they going to show up?

Let me tell you, they do show up.

Once we made it to the top the little breath Katie and I had left was immediately stolen by the sheer beauty of the mountain ranges. One of the rangers informed us that visibility was about 50 miles the day we were there.

It wasn’t only the rolling mountains, but the lakes that littered the valleys, and the clouds creating their shadows that lent themselves to the full beauty of the landscape.

You photo below shows the parking lot. We visited on a Tuesday so it wasn’t too crazy but I imagine that parking lot gets pretty full during the weekend or summer.

The Visitor’s Center

The first place we checked out was the viewing balcony.

Afterwards we headed downstairs to the visitors center. They have a separate movie room with a large screen that plays a video on the mountain and how it’s ecosystem sustains itself. The video was informative and enjoyable, and wasn’t too long at only 15 minutes.

Across from the theater is a museum with information on the mountain and its history. If you have the time we think both the movie and the museum are worth a look through.

Should you visit Brasstown Bald?

Overall we had a great time at Brasstown Bald and will most certainly be back one day. No matter how you experience it, if you take the shuttle, hike the trail, visit the museum, or watch the movie, nothing will top the views you get from the deck on the visitors center. Honestly, our photos don’t do it justice. If you plan to be in North Georgia we think this is a place you should absolutely check out.

Here are a few more photos from our visit:

Have you visited Brasstown Bald? If not, you should know that it most certainly gets our seal of approval.

What are some of your favorite places to explore in North Georgia?