Georgia · Hiking · Near Highlands

Pinnacle

PinnaclePhoto: JM Palacios, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
1.1 mi
round trip
605 ft
climb
3,139 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–Nov
best months

Is Pinnacle open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Pinnacle is a short, easy hike in the Chattooga River Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in north Georgia, on land managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. The trail is about a mile long and rises roughly 450 feet from its starting point, with the high point at about 3,139 feet. It is an out-and-back route, and the climb is front-loaded, with the steepest stretch at about 0.27 miles in. The trail is on natural surface, and bikes and horses are not allowed. The trip takes about half an hour, and the trail is open year-round. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the best bets. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 69°F and September highs around 72°F, with July the warmest month at about 77°F. Courthouse Gap is about 0.4 miles away, and Warwoman Dell Nature Trail and Becky Branch Falls are each about 1.2 miles off. Warwoman Creek, a fishing spot, is about 3.7 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Wilson Gap

    Campground

    Campground · 3.3 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Taco Bell

    Fast food

    Open after 6
  • 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 · Mar–Nov

    Best time to visit Pinnacle

    Best months: March–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

      45° / 26°

    2. Feb

      49° / 29°

    3. Mar

      55° / 34°

    4. Apr

      64° / 42°

    5. May

      69° / 50°

    6. Jun

      74° / 59°

    7. Jul

      77° / 61°

    8. Aug

      76° / 60°

    9. Sep

      72° / 55°

    10. Oct

      65° / 45°

    11. Nov

      57° / 36°

    12. Dec

      49° / 30°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mtn City 2 Sw, GA, 2.7 mi away at 3,464 ft. 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

Warwoman Dell Nature TrailPhoto: JM Palacios, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Warwoman Dell Nature Trail

~2 min drive

Easy 2.5-mile out-and-back creek walk through Georgia's scenic dell.

Tennessee Rock TrailPhoto: lns1122, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Tennessee Rock Trail

~5 min drive

2.08-mile loop in Georgia with 911 ft elevation gain and loss.

DARNELL CREEK HORSE TRAILPhoto: Olin Gilbert, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

DARNELL CREEK HORSE TRAIL

~7 min drive

16.48-mile out-and-back horse trail in Georgia with 3,403 ft elevation gain

Rabun BaldPhoto: Thomson200, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Rabun Bald

~11 min drive

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

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

Becky Branch Falls

~2 min drive

0.16-mile lollipop trail to Becky Branch Falls in Georgia

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

Bartram Trail

~12 min drive

Bartram Trail is a 102.01-mile point-to-point trail in Georgia.

HIKE

Chattooga River Trail

~11 min drive

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

HIKE

DARNELL CREEK HORSE TRAIL LOOP

~6 min drive

13.44-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 5,675 ft elevation gain/loss.

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

Rainey Mountain Trail

~4 min drive

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

HIKE

White Twister Mountain Bike Tr

~12 min drive

4.06-mile loop mountain bike trail in Georgia with 741 ft elevation gain.

Route details

Distance
1.1 mi round trip
Climbing
About 605 ft
Summit
3,139 ft
Difficulty
Easy
Time
About 0.5 hours

Season

Season: Year-round.

Questions about this route

How long is the Pinnacle on Pinnacle Knob?

About 1.1 mi round trip.

How much elevation gain is on the Pinnacle?

About 605 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Pinnacle?

It is rated easy.

How long does the Pinnacle take?

About 0.5 hours round trip.

When is the best time for the Pinnacle?

Year-round.

Conditions and forecast on Pinnacle 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.