Georgia · Hiking

Hemptop

9.6 mi
round trip
2,344 ft
climb
3,574 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–May, Aug–Nov
best months

Is Hemptop open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. It doesn't name Hemptop, 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.

Hemptop is a hard hike in the Conasauga Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in north Georgia, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about 9.6 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 2,344 feet, and it is an out-and-back route that starts at roughly 2,655 feet and climbs to about 3,574 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 3.1 miles in, where the grade reaches 18 percent. Horses are allowed on the trail, and the surface is natural. Bikes are not. For timing, fall is the most comfortable season. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Blairsville show October highs around 70°F with lows near 43°F, and the station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. Jacks River and Penitentiary Branch are both within about a mile and a half, and Sugar Cove is about 1.6 miles away. For an overnight stay, Jacks River Fields Campground is about 4.9 miles off.

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

    Best time to visit Hemptop

    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, 33.1 mi away at 1,949 ft. The station sits about 1,600 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

Route details

Distance
9.6 mi round trip
Climbing
About 2,344 ft
Summit
3,576 ft
Difficulty
Hard
Time
About 4 hours

Season

Season: Year-round.

Questions about this route

How long is the Hemptop on Hemp Top?

About 9.6 mi round trip.

How much elevation gain is on the Hemptop?

About 2,344 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Hemptop?

It is rated hard.

How long does the Hemptop take?

About 4 hours round trip.

When is the best time for the Hemptop?

Year-round.

Conditions and forecast on Hemp Top

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.