Windy Ridge Trail
- 1.4 mi
- round trip
- 1,144 ft
- climb
- 2,260 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Mar–Nov
- best months
Windy Ridge Trail is a moderate out-and-back hike of about 2.8 miles on Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area in Georgia, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. The trail climbs from a starting point of about 1,700 feet to a high point of 2,260 feet, with a total elevation gain of about 1,144 feet over the round trip. The climb is front-loaded, with the steepest stretch at about 0.45 miles in, where the grade reaches 32 percent. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Jasper show October highs around 69°F and May highs around 75°F, while July averages about 85°F. That station sits roughly 800 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the ridge run cooler. The hike takes about 1.5 hours. Turner Trail starts just 0.1 mile away, and Wildcat Creek Trail is about 0.6 mile off. The High Gap Purple Trail lies about a mile away, and Amicalola Creek, a paddling route, is about 1.7 miles away.
Best time to go · Mar–Nov
Best time to visit Windy Ridge Trail
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.
Jan
48° / 31°
10 wet · 1 snow
Feb
52° / 34°
9 wet
Mar
60° / 40°
10 wet
Apr
68° / 47°
9 wet
May
75° / 55°
9 wet
Jun
82° / 63°
10 wet
Jul
85° / 67°
11 wet
Aug
84° / 66°
9 wet
Sep
79° / 61°
8 wet
Oct
69° / 50°
8 wet
Nov
59° / 40°
8 wet
Dec
51° / 35°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Jasper 1 Nnw, GA, 8.9 mi away at 1,465 ft. The station sits about 800 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: StephenGA, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)Appalachian Approach Trail - Georgia
~8 min drive
A 15.48-mile point-to-point approach to Georgia's Appalachian Trail with mountain scenery.
Photo: Bas van Oorschot, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Mountain Laural Loop Trail
~9 min drive
1.16-mile out-and-back hike in Georgia with 629 ft elevation gain/loss.
Photo: jeffgunn, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Abandoned Track
~13 min drive
Short point-to-point walk along a historic abandoned track in Georgia.
Photo: Thomson20192, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)Appalachian Trail
~16 min drive
120-mile point-to-point section of the iconic Appalachian Trail through Georgia mountains.
Photo: Bas van Oorschot, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Hike Inn Lodge
~10 min drive
10.96-mile out-and-back hike in Georgia with 1,704 ft gain.
Photo: Bas van Oorschot, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Spring Trail
~9 min drive
0.62-mile out-and-back hike in Georgia with 221 ft of elevation gain
Photo: Thomson20192, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)Anderson Creek
~14 min drive
6.58-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 2,085 ft elevation gain.
Photo: jsnyng, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Fdr-872 Jones Creek Dam Trail
~18 min drive
6.30-mile out-and-back hike to Jones Creek Dam in Georgia
Photo: Bas van Oorschot, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Creek Trail
~9 min drive
1.02-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 813 ft elevation gain.
Photo: jsnyng, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)JAKE/BULL CONNECTOR TRAIL
~18 min drive
6.96-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 1,309 ft elevation gain
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
