Stanley Creek
Photo: Thomson20192, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)- 1.6 mi
- round trip
- 311 ft
- climb
- 2,253 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Mar–May, Aug–Nov
- best months
Caution at last check
Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 16 h ago
Is Stanley Creek open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. It doesn't name Stanley Creek, so check the source for the area it covers (4 listed).
Road Maintenance: West Cowpen Road (FSR 17)
Agency closure covering Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests · USFS · Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
Prescribed fire on Oconee Ranger District at Jasper County
Agency closure covering Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests · USFS · Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
Muskrat Road, FS 218, Temporarily Closed
Agency closure covering Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests · USFS · Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
Flash Flood Awareness
Agency closure covering Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests · USFS · Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
Lake Winfield Scott closed except fishing pier
Agency alert covering Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests · USFS · Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
As of · Source: USFS · Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Stanley Creek is a short, easy out-and-back hike in the Blue Ridge Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in north Georgia, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about 1.6 miles long, with a total elevation gain of about 311 feet, and it starts at roughly 2,208 feet, rising to a high point of about 2,253 feet before returning to the starting level. The route is natural-surfaced and allows bikes, and the climb is gentle, with the steepest stretch at about 0.05 miles in from the start, where the grade reaches about 7 percent. The trip takes about half an hour, and the trail is open year-round. 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, with September and October seeing the fewest wet days of the year. The Benton Mackaye Trail passes about 0.4 miles away, and Stanley Gap is about 0.6 miles off. For an overnight stay, Sandy Bottoms - Toccoa River Campground is about 3.8 miles away, and Lake Blue Ridge is about 4.8 miles away.
Best time to go · Mar–May, Aug–Nov
Best time to visit Stanley Creek
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.
Jan
49° / 25°
12 wet
Feb
53° / 28°
12 wet
Mar
60° / 34°
12 wet
Apr
69° / 41°
11 wet
May
76° / 50°
12 wet
Jun
82° / 58°
13 wet
Jul
85° / 62°
13 wet
Aug
84° / 61°
12 wet
Sep
80° / 55°
9 wet
Oct
70° / 43°
10 wet
Nov
61° / 33°
10 wet
Dec
52° / 29°
12 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Blairsville Exp Stn, GA, 21.3 mi away at 1,949 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
Photo: Thomson20192, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)Benton Mackaye Trail
Next door
A 279.77-mile point-to-point backpacking trail through remote Georgia mountain wilderness.
Photo: Thomson20192, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)Stanley Gap
Next door
9.66-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 1,006 ft gain.
Photo: schwglr, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Morganton Point Lake Trail
~12 min drive
0.42-mile out-and-back hike at Morganton Point Lake Trail in Georgia
Photo: Thomson20192, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)Appalachian Trail
~22 min drive
120-mile point-to-point section of the iconic Appalachian Trail through Georgia mountains.
Photo: Olin Gilbert, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Lower Green Mountain (Connecto
~5 min drive
2.04-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 321 ft gain.
Photo: Olin Gilbert, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Flat Creek Loop
~4 min drive
10.14-mile loop in Georgia with 1,593 ft gain and 1,745 ft loss.
HIKE
Long Branch Loop Connector
~5 min drive
0.86-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 347 ft elevation gain
HIKE
Duncan Ridge Trail
~18 min drive
12.70-mile out-and-back hike in Georgia with 7,882 ft gain
Photo: Thomson20192, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)Anderson Creek
~21 min drive
6.58-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 2,085 ft elevation gain.
Toccoa Canoe Trail
~7 min drive
26.86-mile out-and-back canoe trail in Georgia with 1,071 ft elevation gain