Georgia · Hiking

Rabun Beach

Rabun BeachPhoto: KW Baker, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
0.5 mi
round trip
278 ft
climb
1,790 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–Jun, Aug–Nov
best months

Is Rabun Beach open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. It doesn't name Rabun Beach, 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 Beach is an easy out-and-back hike of about a mile in the Chattooga River Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in north Georgia, managed by the Forest Service. The trail rises about 77 feet from its low point of 1,688 feet to a high of 1,790 feet, with the steepest stretch at about 0.36 miles in, where the grade reaches 7 percent. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show October highs around 71°F with lows near 47°F, and April highs around 70°F. Summer runs hotter, with July highs near 85°F. Rabun Beach Recreation Area, a campground about 0.1 mile away, sits right next to the trail. Angel Falls, another hike about 0.3 mile off, and Lake Rabun Beach Recreation Area, a campground about 0.4 mile away, are also close by. Paddlers can reach the Soquee River about 6.6 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

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

    Best time to visit Rabun Beach

    Best months: March–June 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

      50° / 30°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      54° / 31°

      10 wet

    3. Mar

      61° / 37°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      70° / 44°

      10 wet

    5. May

      76° / 53°

      11 wet

    6. Jun

      83° / 61°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      85° / 65°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      84° / 64°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      79° / 59°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      71° / 47°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      61° / 37°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      53° / 32°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Clayton 1 Ssw, GA, 10 mi away at 1,965 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

Angel FallsPhoto: KW Baker, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Angel Falls

Next door

2.20-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 576 ft elevation gain.

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

Stone Place Trail

~12 min drive

4.98-mile out-and-back hike in Georgia with 1,237 ft elevation gain

HIKE

OAKEY MOUNTAIN ORV TRAIL

~5 min drive

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

Upper Terrora Natura TrailPhoto: pseabolt, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Upper Terrora Natura Trail

~7 min drive

0.56-mile loop with 49 ft elevation gain in Georgia

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

Tennessee Rock Trail

~19 min drive

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

HIKE

Stonewall Falls Mountain Bike

~9 min drive

11.43-mile loop mountain bike trail in Georgia with 1,356 ft elevation gain.

Terrora Lake Loop TrailPhoto: pseabolt, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Terrora Lake Loop Trail

~7 min drive

0.54-mile loop around Terrora Lake in Georgia with 193 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

White Twister Mountain Bike Tr

~8 min drive

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

HIKE

Panther Creek Trail

~13 min drive

11.5-mile out-and-back creek hike in Georgia with mixed forest terrain.

Stone Place TrailPhoto: pseabolt, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Stone Place Trail

~9 min drive

1.08-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 304 ft elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors