Georgia · Hiking

Nelson Cove

2.6 mi
loop
833 ft
climb
2,911 ft
high point
Loop
route
Mar–May, Aug–Nov
best months

Is Nelson Cove open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Nelson Cove is a 2.6-mile hike in the Blue Ridge Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in north Georgia, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is rated easy, with a total elevation gain of 833 feet. The route starts at about 2,231 feet and climbs to a high point of 2,911 feet, with the steepest stretch at about 1.8 miles in, where the grade reaches 27%. The trail surface is natural, and bikes are allowed. Horses are not. For comfortable weather, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Blairsville show May highs around 76°F and October highs around 70°F, though that station sits roughly 960 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the ridge run cooler. Bridge Gap lies just 0.2 miles away, and the Access Trail is about 1.1 miles off. Farther out, the Nottely River offers canoeing about 7 miles away, and Blood Mountain has climbing about 9 miles away.

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 Nelson Cove

    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, 2.1 mi away at 1,949 ft. The station sits about 1,000 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

Miller TrekPhoto: Clevergrrl, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Miller Trek

~12 min drive

9.10-mile loop in Georgia with 1,636 ft elevation gain.

Coosa Backcountry TrailPhoto: TranceMist, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Coosa Backcountry Trail

~15 min drive

2.32-mile out-and-back hike in Georgia with 1,182 ft elevation gain

Woods Hole ShelterPhoto: TranceMist, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Woods Hole Shelter

~16 min drive

0.40-mile out-and-back trail at Woods Hole Shelter in Georgia

HIKE

Coosa Backcountry

~13 min drive

10.10-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 3,712 ft elevation gain.

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

Coosa Backcountry

~15 min drive

A 6-mile out-and-back backcountry hike through Georgia's Coosa region.

Bryant Creek TrailPhoto: ChattOconeeNF, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Bryant Creek Trail

~15 min drive

5.2-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 1,312 ft elevation gain and loss.

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

Lake Winfield Scott

~17 min drive

0.30-mile loop trail at Lake Winfield Scott in Georgia with 564 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

ROUNDTOP MOUNTAIN

~3 min drive

9.96-mile out-and-back trail at Roundtop Mountain in Georgia with 4,312 ft gain/loss.

Byron Herbert ReecePhoto: Pete Seabolt, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Byron Herbert Reece

~16 min drive

1.40-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 111 ft gain and 488 ft loss.

Slaughter Creek TrailPhoto: ChattOconeeNF, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Slaughter Creek Trail

~17 min drive

0.7-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 397 ft gain and 3,086 ft max elevation.

Route details

Distance
2.6 mi
Climbing
About 833 ft
Summit
2,923 ft
Difficulty
Easy
Time
About 1.5 hours

Season

Season: Year-round.

Questions about this route

How long is the Nelson Cove on Beasley Knob?

About 2.6 mi.

How much elevation gain is on the Nelson Cove?

About 833 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Nelson Cove?

It is rated easy.

How long does the Nelson Cove take?

About 1.5 hours round trip.

When is the best time for the Nelson Cove?

Year-round.

Conditions and forecast on Beasley Knob

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.