Georgia · Hiking · Near Highlands

Rabun Bald

Rabun BaldPhoto: Thomson200, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
3.0 mi
round trip
4,511 ft
climb
4,694 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Sep–Oct
best months

Is Rabun Bald open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Rabun Bald is a hike in the Chattooga River Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in northeast Georgia, within the Warwoman Wildlife Management Area. The State Department of Natural Resources manages the land, and the route is a natural-surface out-and-back that climbs from about 3,960 feet to 4,694 feet, with a total gain of about 4,511 feet over roughly 5.9 miles. The trail is rated expert, and it is a serious climb. The high point sits around 4,690 feet, and the route is roughly 6 miles long. It is not open to horses or bikes. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Highlands, North Carolina, put July highs around 78°F with lows near 58°F, and temperatures on the bald run cooler than that station because it sits higher. Winter is cold, with January highs around 42°F. The trip takes about 4 hours. The 3 Forks hike is about a mile away, and the Holcomb Creek Trail is about 1.8 miles off. WestFork Campground is about 5 miles away for an overnight stay.

Around this trail

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

    Sarah'S Creek Campground

    Campground

    Sites open the weekend of Nov 13 on Recreation.gov
  • Eat after

    Subway

    Fast food

    On your way back · 8 mi · 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 · Sep–Oct

    Best time to visit Rabun Bald

    Best months: September–October. 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

      42° / 24°

      14 wet

    2. Feb

      46° / 26°

      13 wet

    3. Mar

      54° / 32°

      14 wet

    4. Apr

      62° / 39°

      13 wet

    5. May

      69° / 47°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      75° / 54°

      15 wet

    7. Jul

      78° / 58°

      17 wet

    8. Aug

      76° / 57°

      16 wet

    9. Sep

      71° / 51°

      12 wet

    10. Oct

      63° / 41°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      53° / 32°

      11 wet

    12. Dec

      45° / 27°

      14 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Highlands, NC, 8.3 mi away at 3,850 ft. The station sits about 800 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

3 ForksPhoto: Thomson200, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

3 Forks

~2 min drive

2.02-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 1,422 ft gain.

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

3 ForksPhoto: ChattOconeeNF, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

3 Forks

~7 min drive

2.15-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 276 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Bartram

~4 min drive

35.83-mile point-to-point trail in North Carolina with 4,345 ft elevation gain.

PinnaclePhoto: JM Palacios, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Pinnacle

~11 min drive

Pinnacle is a 1.06-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 499 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

Bartram Nrt - Nantahala Rd - Georgia

~4 min drive

152-mile point-to-point backcountry trek through western NC mountains.

West ForkPhoto: Carl Black, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

West Fork

~7 min drive

A 1.81-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee connecting to several regional routes including the Benton MacKaye Trail and Chestnut Mountain Loop.

HIKE

DARNELL CREEK HORSE TRAIL LOOP

~5 min drive

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

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

Becky Branch Falls

~11 min drive

0.16-mile lollipop trail to Becky Branch Falls in Georgia

HIKE

Connector #2 Boswell Landing - Tennessee

~4 min drive

Challenging 187.53-mile point-to-point connector through NC's Tennessee region.

Route details

Distance
3.0 mi round trip
Climbing
About 4,511 ft
Summit
4,697 ft
Difficulty
Expert
Time
About 1 hour

Season

Season: Year-round.

Questions about this route

How long is the Rabun Bald on Rabun Bald?

About 3.0 mi round trip.

How much elevation gain is on the Rabun Bald?

About 4,511 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Rabun Bald?

It is rated expert.

How long does the Rabun Bald take?

About 1 hour round trip.

When is the best time for the Rabun Bald?

Year-round.

Conditions and forecast on Rabun Bald

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.