Georgia · Hiking

Mount Yonah

Mount YonahPhoto: twslivxe26, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
2.5 mi
round trip
1,946 ft
climb
3,164 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–May, Sep–Nov
best months

Is Mount Yonah open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Mount Yonah is a hard hike of about 5 miles in the Chattooga River Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in north Georgia. The route is an out-and-back that climbs from roughly 1,760 feet to about 3,160 feet, and the high point sits at 3,164 feet. The trail is on natural surface and is not open to horses or bikes. It is managed by the Forest Service, and it stays open year-round, with a round trip estimated to take about 2.5 hours. The most comfortable months are typically May and September, when typical averages from a nearby weather station run around 74°F and 76°F for highs. That station sits well below the summit, so temperatures on top run cooler. The climb is steepest around the 1.1-mile mark, with a grade of about 35 percent. The trailhead is close to several bouldering areas, including Sparrow Boulder and Project Boulder, both about 0.1 mile away. The Tsalaki Trail and Chunanee Falls Trail are both within about 2.5 miles.

Local outfitters

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

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

    Best time to visit Mount Yonah

    Best months: March–May and September–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° / 28°

      12 wet · 1 snow

    2. Feb

      53° / 31°

      12 wet · 1 snow

    3. Mar

      61° / 36°

      12 wet

    4. Apr

      69° / 44°

      11 wet

    5. May

      74° / 53°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      79° / 61°

      14 wet

    7. Jul

      82° / 64°

      15 wet

    8. Aug

      80° / 64°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      76° / 58°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      68° / 47°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      59° / 37°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      52° / 31°

      12 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sautee 3w, GA, 1.9 mi away at 1,591 ft. The station sits about 1,600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. 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

Laurel Ridge TrailPhoto: ChattOconeeNF, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Laurel Ridge Trail

~8 min drive

1.82-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 644 ft elevation gain

Dukes Creek FallsPhoto: Bas van Oorschot, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Dukes Creek Falls

~10 min drive

1.52-mile out-and-back trail to Dukes Creek Falls in Georgia

Smith Creek TrailPhoto: Bas van Oorschot, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Smith Creek Trail

~15 min drive

8.86-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 1,143 ft gain.

Waterfall Access TrailPhoto: ChattOconeeNF, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Waterfall Access Trail

~10 min drive

0.84-mile out-and-back waterfall trail in Georgia with 522 ft gain

Raven CliffsPhoto: ChattOconeeNF, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Raven Cliffs

~11 min drive

4.92-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 883 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Jacks Knob

~23 min drive

4.43-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 2,159 ft gain

DUKES CREEKS FALLSPhoto: Bas van Oorschot, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

DUKES CREEKS FALLS

~10 min drive

1.24-mile loop hike at Dukes Creeks Falls in Georgia with 770 ft of elevation gain.

Lake TrailPhoto: gary_leavens, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lake Trail

~11 min drive

2.12-mile out-and-back hike in Georgia with 1,399 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

OAKEY MOUNTAIN ORV TRAIL

~23 min drive

12.82-mile out-and-back ORV trail in Georgia with 3,425 ft elevation gain/loss

Anna Ruby FallsPhoto: Bas van Oorschot, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Anna Ruby Falls

~15 min drive

0.88-mile out-and-back trail to Anna Ruby Falls in Georgia

Route details

Distance
2.5 mi round trip
Climbing
About 1,946 ft
Summit
3,164 ft
Difficulty
Hard
Time
About 2 hours

Season

Season: Year-round.

Questions about this route

How long is the Mount Yonah on Yonah Mountain?

About 2.5 mi round trip.

How much elevation gain is on the Mount Yonah?

About 1,946 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Mount Yonah?

It is rated hard.

How long does the Mount Yonah take?

About 2 hours round trip.

When is the best time for the Mount Yonah?

Year-round.

Conditions and forecast on Yonah Mountain

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.