One of the premier hikes in the south. If you’re looking to climb the highest point in Georgia the hard way, then there is really only one choice. The Arkaquah Trail. This 12(ish) mile trail will lead you from Trace Rock gap following the ridgeline all the up way to Brasstown Bald. With a height of 4,784, Brasstown Bald is the highest point in Georgia. But don’t take this trail lightly, it makes our list of one of the toughest trails in Georgia and is a popular training run for locals looking for fast and steep elevation.
Below is a video of our day on the trail and a few tips for your trip!
The Arkaquah Trail, Georgia
Trail Info
Distance: 11.5-12 Miles
Elevation Gain: 3,784 ft
All Trails Link: Click Here
Tips for the Arkaquah Trail
- Parking at Trace Rock Gap is limited and may fill up quickly. The lot is not paved so cars with low ground clearance may have trouble parking.
- The Arkaquah Trail technically takes you to the Brasstown Bald visitor center parking lot. You will follow the paved trail from here to the lookout tower at the top of the mountain. Roughly 3/4 of a mile each way.
- There is little to no water available for filtering on the trail. There are vending machines at the Brasstown Bald visitor center. But during covid-19 times they may or may not have the water fountains turned on. So plan accordingly.
- The first 1.5 miles of this hike are very challenging as you will gain close to 1,800ft of gain in that short period. Be prepared.
- While it’s the gain that most people focus on. You will have almost 5 miles of downhill at the end of the hike. If you are slow moving downhill just take this into account when planning your time and nutrition.
- The Arkaquah Trail has some great views but they are mostly visible in winter once all of the leaves have fallen. Try to plan your trip from Nov-March.
