Atlanta TrailsbyTrailful Outdoor Co
Hiking Trails in Georgia

Rabun Bald: hiking the Bartram Trail from Beegum Gap

Hike the Bartram Trail to Rabun Bald, the second-tallest mountain summit in Georgia, to catch stunning panoramic views from the mountain’s summit.

georgia hiking trails: 2-4 miles 3 miles
(round trip)
? Your mileage may vary! Accuracy of your GPS device, weather conditions, and stops along your route will affect your own recorded distance.
georgia hiking trails: moderaterelatively
moderate
?Our difficulty estimate, based on distance, terrain, elevation change, & ease of wayfinding. May vary daily due to weather, trail reroutes, downed trees, etc.
georgia hiking trails: dog-friendly Dog-
friendly
?Leashed dogs are allowed on this trail. We’ve loved hiking this route with our trail-loving Labrador Retrievers! Check out more of our favorite dog-friendly trails in Georgia for a great hike with your pup.

LOCATION:Rabun County near Clayton, Georgia

PACK:our Osprey day pack and our hiking gear list

OFFICIAL MAP: Nat Geo 778 Trails Illustrated Map (find it at Trailful Outdoor Co.)

Birds of prey circle in thermal uplifts in the seemingly endless valleys below. The rolling southern Appalachian Mountains, weathered by time, surround the summit, creating an endless panoramic view that’s stunning no matter where you turn. This hike on the Bartram Trail to Rabun Bald offers a generous dose of serenity and a gorgeous dose of natural beauty from a soaring summit, the second highest in Georgia.

Hike the Bartram Trail in Georgia to the summit of Rabun Bald, and catch stunning 360-degree panoramic views from an old fire tower platform

Georgia’s loftiest peak, Brasstown Bald, offers equally stunning, see-forever views. But unlike Rabun Bald, there’s a paved access to Brasstown’s summit. While Rabun Bald is often quiet and serene, visitors often crowd Brasstown Bald by the literal busload. While access to Rabun Bald requires a bit more effort, the payoff seems so much sweeter, and the views just a bit better given the workout to reach the summit.

This day hike is the easiest, and shortest-distance, access to the Rabun mountaintop. The hike follows the Bartram Trail, a long-distance trail that treks some of northeast Georgia’s most beautiful landscapes before entering North Carolina north of Rabun Bald. The trail follows the route William Bartram, a writer and naturalist, journeyed in the late 1700s, including a particularly beautiful stretch of the Bartram Trail on the wild and scenic Chattooga River just south of Rabun Bald.

Hike the Bartram Trail to Rabun Bald, the second-tallest mountain summit in Georgia, to catch stunning panoramic views from the mountain's summit. #hiking #trailrunning #backpacking #atlanta #georgia #travel #outdoors #adventure

Bartram Trail to Rabun Bald: the hike

The hike departs a quiet, upscale Sky Valley neighborhood near the end of a gravel road (view maps and driving directions – and please be sure not to block any driveways or the gravel road). The hike veers left to follow a green-blazed trail, an access trail to the nearby Bartram Trail. (A gravel road veers to the right; take the path to the left.) The trail immediately climbs elevation, ascending Rabun Bald’s lower elevations through a forest dense with rhododendron and mountain laurel.

The access trail reaches the Bartram Trail at just under .2 mile. The hike turns right, trailing the yellow-blazed Bartram Trail southbound toward the Rabun Bald summit. The trail gains elevation unrelentingly; however, the difficulty is moderate, thanks to a series of sharp trail switchbacks that conquer the height slowly.

Rabun Bald on the Bartram Trail: hike through a beautiful autumn forest to 360-degree views from Georgia's second-highest mountain

The Bartram Trail meanders through a rocky landscape dominated by gnarly, blue-green leafed rhododendron that cast a lattice of shadows on the trail’s path. In springtime, ferns unfurl and wildflowers dot the trail’s sides, framed by large rock outcrops covered in green moss and silvery lichen.

The Bartram Trail reaches a campsite in a wide clearing at .8 mile. Glassy mica speckles the trail’s sandy surface, glimmering in rays of the sun. The hike turns left, following the yellow-blazed Bartram Trail southbound in a switchback-saturated final ascent toward Rabun Bald. The trail crosses a large slab of cemented rock, and passes a large outcrop at 1 mile, meandering through the last few switchbacks before beginning the final, straight-shot trek to the summit.

The Bartram Trail summits Rabun Bald at 1.5 miles, passing a small campsite. An observation platform caps the mountain’s rocky, bald summit, and the platform is accessible by steep-pitched wooden stairs. The tower’s foundation is historic: it was the first fire tower in the area, and was more recently converted to a wood viewing platform above the original tower’s stone base.

Rabun Bald: hike the Bartram Trail from Beegum Gap to some of Georgia's best mountain views

Outstanding views surround the Rabun Bald summit, offering hikers a 360-degree panorama anywhere they turn. Rabun Bald’s lofty peak sits on the Eastern Continental Divide, offering sweeping, long-range views of the surrounding North Carolina and Georgia wilderness. Georgia’s Black Rock Mountain is visible to the southwest. To the northwest, the North Carolina summits of Standing Indian Mountain, Pickens Nose, and the firetower-capped Albert Mountain rise from the horizon. And the enormous, sheer-sided slopes of Whiteside Mountain are visible to the northeast.

Departing the breezy, sun-drenched Rabun Bald summit, this out-and-back hike doubles back on its outbound route, retracing the Bartram Trail northbound. The route turns left off the yellow-blazed Bartram Trail at 2.75 miles, following the green-blazed access trail to the Beegum Gap trailhead. The access trail reaches Beegum Gap at 3 miles, completing the hike.



Nearby hiking adventures

In the area with energy left to spare? Follow an ultra-scenic stretch of the Bartram Trail from Warwoman Dell to Pinnacle Knob, visiting the stunning cascades of two waterfalls before climbing to beautiful 180-degree views from a rocky summit near Clayton. Or hike a small stretch of the Bartram Trail to the banks of the crystalline Chattooga River on a hike to Dicks Creek Falls. Cross the SC border to visit Issaqueena Falls, one of South Carolina’s most beautiful waterfalls. Score exceptional canyon and waterfall views at Tallulah Gorge State Park. And check out the full list of our favorite hikes in Rabun County for more adventure inspiration.


 
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.

Rabun Bald: Bartram Trail via Beegum Gap Map, Directions & Details

This map shows our approximate route while exploring this trail, but does not replace an official trail map. Please refer to the official trail map for the most current and accurate route.

Love the trail?

This trail is maintained thanks to the hard work of countless volunteers and donations from supporters of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Please support them by making a donation or joining a volunteer day. Let's work together to keep these fantastic trails maintained and open for use!

Driving Directions



Parking

Extremely limited (and free) parking is available at the USFS trailhead. Please don't block the gravel road or driveways.


GPS Coordinates

34.979000, -83.303067     //     N34 58.740 W83 18.184

Elevation Profile

Rabun Bald via Beegum Gap: Bartram Trail Elevation Profile
 

Eric Champlin is a creative director and photographer who loves to explore southeast. He's the co-owner of Trailful Outdoor Co, a locally-owned hiking outfitter shop in Hiawassee in the Georgia mountains near the Appalachian Trail. He’s also the co-founder of Atlanta Trails and Asheville Trails, digital magazines that highlight the South’s best outdoor adventures. His mission? To inspire others to get fit outdoors and explore the South’s incredible scenic beauty.