Brasstown Bald via Jack's Gap

This route starts and ends at a small pullout at Jack's Gap, on Georgia State Route 180, covering about 6 miles round trip with roughly 2,283 vertical feet of gain. From the pullout, the trail enters the woods and parallels the road briefly before crossing an old gated road and beginning a sustained climb. Short switchbacks and stone steps carry the trail up through hardwood forest, with the steepest sustained climbing starting around 0.6 miles in. Near the 1.8 miles, the trail crosses the top of Wolfpen Ridge through stands of rhododendron, then reaches a small campsite and overlook before descending briefly. At 2.3 miles, the trail ends at the Brasstown Bald summit parking lot. From the lot, cross to the visitor center and pick up the paved Summit Trail, passing a junction with the Wagon Train Trail (stay left) and crossing the Summit Shuttle Road. A final set of steps leads to the fire tower atop Brasstown Bald (4,784'), Georgia's highest point. Return by retracing the same route to Jack's Gap.