Atlanta TrailsbyTrailful Outdoor Co
 

Hiawassee has always been one of our favorite basecamps for our favorite trail adventures. Those moments on a hike are always some of our favorite memories of all: the early morning scramble to the trailhead after grabbing a coffee and a quick bite in town. Following the trail, feeling every footstep deepening the connection to the forest and feeling everyday life just kind of fade away. Catching a water break from a breezy, view-packed summit or just downwind from a waterfall’s mist. There’s just something about hiking the southern Appalachian Mountains that has always touched our souls. And this Georgia mountain town offers nearby access to some of our state’s best hikes.

We truly fell in love with this stretch of the Georgia Mountains. We moved to Hiawassee from Atlanta several years ago to open Trailful, our hiking outfitter shop located on Main Street one block from the town square. This mountain town is home to Lake Chatuge, a beautiful mountain lake nestled below Georgia’s tallest mountain summit, Brasstown Bald. Thanks to the town’s close distance from the Appalachian Trail at Dicks Creek Gap and Unicoi Gap, the town is an official Appalachian Trail Community. And it’s a stop for many AT thru-hikers on their epic 2,000+ mile journey from Georgia to Maine. While the Appalachian Trail and Lake Chatuge are two of Hiawassee’s biggest draws, the town makes an excellent destination for chasing waterfalls and scaling summits, thanks to its proximity to an abundance of North Georgia’s best hiking trails. We’ve also found it to be a pretty amazing place to call home: there’s nothing better than hitting the AT for a sunset hike after closing our shop, and there’s nothing better than helping everyone from novice hikers to AT thru-hikers to outfit their next big adventure.

 
Leave No Trace: Atlanta Trails, Asheville Trails and Trailful are official Leave No Trace partners

Please Remember

Always leave no trace, pack out everything you pack in, and if you see trash, pick it up and pack it out.

Stay on the marked trail, tell someone where you're going, pack safety and wayfinding essentials, and don't rely on a mobile phone to find your way. Please always practice good trail etiquette. And before you go, always check the trailhead kiosk, official maps, and the park or ranger office for notices of changed routes, trail closures, safety information, and restrictions.