Georgia · Rock climbing · Blairsville

Tesnatee Gap Trail

Tesnatee Gap TrailPhoto: Thomsonmg2000, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
1 route
V3
Bouldering
Mar–May, Aug–Nov
best months

Is Tesnatee Gap Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. It doesn't name Tesnatee Gap Trail, so check the source for the area it covers (5 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Tesnatee Gap Trail is a bouldering climbing area in north Georgia's Blue Ridge Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, within the Appalachian National Scenic Trail corridor. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route sits among several trailheads and shelters in the surrounding network of national forest and scenic trail units. The closest neighbors are the Logan Turnpike, a hike just 0.1 mile away, and Whitley Gap Shelter at 0.4 mile. A.T. Whitley Gap Shelter, about 1.3 miles off, offers camping, and Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area lies roughly 2.7 miles away. The area has one climbing route: Ball Dropper, a boulder problem rated V3. It was first climbed in January 2021. For timing, fall is the most comfortable stretch. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show October highs around 70°F and lows near 43°F, and the station sits roughly 1,250 feet lower than the route, so temperatures here run cooler.

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

    Best time to visit Tesnatee Gap Trail

    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.

    1. Jan

      49° / 25°

      12 wet

    2. Feb

      53° / 28°

      12 wet

    3. Mar

      60° / 34°

      12 wet

    4. Apr

      69° / 41°

      11 wet

    5. May

      76° / 50°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      82° / 58°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      85° / 62°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      84° / 61°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      80° / 55°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      70° / 43°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      61° / 33°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      52° / 29°

      12 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Blairsville Exp Stn, GA, 10.4 mi away at 1,949 ft. The station sits about 1,300 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

Routes (1)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Hogpen GapPhoto: Thomsonmg2000, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Hogpen Gap

Next door

Georgia climbing at Hogpen Gap with varied routes and scenic mountain setting.

Mount YonahPhoto: Scott Long, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mount Yonah

~17 min drive

Mount Yonah in Georgia has 10 climbing routes across 6 grades, offering bouldering and trad options.

White WallPhoto: Scott Long, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

White Wall

~17 min drive

White Wall in Georgia has 10 climbing routes across 9 difficulty grades.

Main FacePhoto: Scott Long, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Main Face

~17 min drive

Main Face in Georgia has 39 climbing routes across 12 grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad styles.

Tallulah GorgePhoto: Chanilim714, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Tallulah Gorge

~44 min drive

Tallulah Gorge in Georgia has 2 trad climbing routes.

Main WallPhoto: Chanilim714, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Main Wall

~44 min drive

Main Wall is a climbing crag in Georgia with 33 routes.

CLIMB

Raven Cliff Falls

~6 min drive

Raven Cliff Falls is a bouldering crag in Georgia with 1 route.

CLIMB

big cheese

~9 min drive

Big Cheese is a bouldering area in Georgia with 1 route.

CLIMB

Blood Mountain

~9 min drive

Blood Mountain in Georgia has 3 bouldering routes with 3 difficulty grades.

CLIMB

Coopers Creek

~14 min drive

Georgia creek-side climbing with varied routes and natural scenery.