Date: June 6, 2024
Time: Forest open 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Location: Hiawassee, GA
Trip Registration: REGISTER HERE
Located within the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, the Brasstown Bald Visitor Information Center is the highest point in Georgia, rising 4,784 feet above sea level and just a short drive from Blairsville, Hiawassee, and Helen. On the Bald you’ll find picnic areas with great views; a general store with locally made products; three trailheads just off our parking lot; a mountaintop natural science & history museum, and observation deck that offers a spectacular 360° view of the surrounding area, including four states (GA, TN, NC, & SC) and if you’re lucky, the skyline of Atlanta!
Participants drive to the parking area below the Bald and then can walk up (steep, better to plan on walking down) or ride a shuttle ($8 both ways) to the observation area where you will find a historical museum and other interesting displays. The Bald was once a special location for Native Americans who called it something that sounded like “Brass-town” to English-speaking people, thus the name. Brass was never produced there as some might think.
Overnight Option
Participants can go up the day before and stay overnight at several different hotels/motels or camping is also available. Please make your own arrangements. Debbie and Vince plan to drive up on Wednesday and stay over.
The Bald is administered by the U.S. Forest Service and does not open until 10:00 am each morning. Birders, there is a great area around the parking lot to see birds much earlier than opening time, so come early. We will be in the parking lot—just look for us. Hikers may want to leave early and hike up!
Please contact Vince Jackson for details VinceJackson529@att.net.
Driving
Hiawassee is an easy drive from Clemson. Hiawassee is straight up US Highway 76 West. However, Brasstown Bald is harder to GPS. Some GPS units may display an incorrect location for Brasstown Bald since there is no physical address for the facility. We suggest using the longitude and latitude coordinates for the intersection of Highway 180 and Spur 180 which will provide the most accurate GPS directions. The coordinates you use are N34.847894, W83.798567. While these coordinates are accurate, this is no guarantee that your GPS unit will calculate a route accurately. The signage is clear.
