Georgia · Hiking

Bear Hair Gap Trail

2.2 mi
round trip
1,245 ft
climb
3,136 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–May, Aug–Nov
best months

Caution at last check

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 15 h ago

Is Bear Hair Gap Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. It doesn't name Bear Hair Gap 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.

Bear Hair Gap Trail is a 4.4-mile out-and-back hike on Forest Service land in the Blue Ridge Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in north Georgia. The route rises from about 2,600 feet to a high point of 3,136 feet, with a total elevation gain of 1,245 feet for the round trip. That makes the trail a moderate climb, and it pairs well with a short walk on the Coosa Backcountry, which starts just 0.1 mile away. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Blairsville put October highs around 70°F with lows near 43°F, and May highs around 76°F. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the higher ground run cooler. The trip takes about 2 hours. Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area, about 2.9 miles away, offers camping, and the Nottely River, about 3.2 miles away, offers paddling.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Mar–May, Aug–Nov

    Best time to visit Bear Hair Gap Trail

    Best months: March–May and August–November. 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

      49° / 25°

      12 wet

    2. Feb

      53° / 28°

      12 wet

    3. Mar

      60° / 34°

      12 wet

    4. Apr

      69° / 41°

      11 wet

    5. May

      76° / 50°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      82° / 58°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      85° / 62°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      84° / 61°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      80° / 55°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      70° / 43°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      61° / 33°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      52° / 29°

      12 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Blairsville Exp Stn, GA, 6.3 mi away at 1,949 ft. The station sits about 1,200 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

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Coosa BackcountryPhoto: TranceMist, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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HIKE

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Lake Winfield ScottPhoto: Thomson20192, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors