Georgia · Hiking · Near Highlands

Bartram Trail

Bartram TrailPhoto: Jsfouche, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
102 mi
one way
22,454 ft
climb
5,342 ft
high point
Point to point
route
Sep–Oct
best months

Is Bartram Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. It doesn't name Bartram Trail, so check the source for the area it covers (4 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

The Bartram Trail is a long, moderate hike of about 102 miles in the Chattooga River Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in north Georgia. It runs from a low point of about 1,485 feet to a high of about 5,342 feet, with a total elevation gain of about 22,454 feet over the full route. Summer and early fall are the mildest stretch. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Highlands, North Carolina, run from highs around 78°F in July to about 71°F in September, while winter highs sit in the low 40s. That station sits roughly 1,500 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the upper reaches run cooler. The route is not wheelchair accessible, and horses and bikes are not allowed. Plan for about 45 hours on the trail. The Bartram Chattooga Connector starts right next to it, and Dicks Creek Falls is about a third of a mile away. Across the state line in South Carolina, Whetstone Horse Camp and the Rocky Gap Horse Trail are both within about 1.6 miles.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Whetstone Horse Camp

    Campground

    Sites open the weekend of Nov 13 on Recreation.gov
  • If it rains

    Sunset Rock

    Viewpoint

    In town

    Cliff in Macon County, North Carolina, United States

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Highlands

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Sep–Oct

    Best time to visit Bartram Trail

    Best months: September–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      42° / 24°

      14 wet

    2. Feb

      46° / 26°

      13 wet

    3. Mar

      54° / 32°

      14 wet

    4. Apr

      62° / 39°

      13 wet

    5. May

      69° / 47°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      75° / 54°

      15 wet

    7. Jul

      78° / 58°

      17 wet

    8. Aug

      76° / 57°

      16 wet

    9. Sep

      71° / 51°

      12 wet

    10. Oct

      63° / 41°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      53° / 32°

      11 wet

    12. Dec

      45° / 27°

      14 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Highlands, NC, 13.4 mi away at 3,850 ft. The station sits about 1,500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

    Closures we've recorded since August 2026

    • Spring 2026 Forest-wide Fire Restrictions

      Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests · Order dated April 23, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026 → lifted Oct 13, 2026 · Forest Service

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Bartram Chattooga ConnectorPhoto: Jsfouche, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Bartram Chattooga Connector

Next door

0.74-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 107 ft of elevation gain.

Rabun BaldPhoto: Thomson200, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Rabun Bald

~12 min drive

2.95-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 2,343 ft elevation loss.

3 ForksPhoto: ChattOconeeNF, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

3 Forks

~12 min drive

2.15-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 276 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Chattooga River Trail

~8 min drive

19.36-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 2,219 ft elevation gain.

Rainey Mountain TrailPhoto: JM Palacios, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Rainey Mountain Trail

~8 min drive

1.16-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 531 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

ROCKY GAP HORSE TRAIL

~5 min drive

31.44-mile out-and-back horse trail in South Carolina with 4,204 ft elevation gain

HIKE

Willis Knob Horse Trail

~4 min drive

5.4-mile out-and-back horse trail in Georgia with 1,390 ft elevation gain

HIKE

Chattooga River Trail

~14 min drive

8.34-mile out-and-back hike on Chattooga River Trail in South Carolina with 3,342 ft elevation gain

Becky Branch FallsPhoto: JM Palacios, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Becky Branch Falls

~10 min drive

0.16-mile lollipop trail to Becky Branch Falls in Georgia

HIKE

WILLIS KNOB HORSE TRAIL

~5 min drive

31.44-mile out-and-back horse trail in South Carolina with 5,032 ft elevation gain

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors