Tennessee · Hiking

Starr Mountain

4.8 mi
round trip
2,235 ft
climb
2,333 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
best months

Is Starr Mountain open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Cherokee National Forest. It doesn't name Starr Mountain, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Cherokee National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Starr Mountain is a 9.6-mile out-and-back hike in Tennessee's Cherokee National Forest, within the Ocoee Ranger District and the South Cherokee National Forest & Wildlife Management Area. The route rises from about 1,000 feet to a high point of 2,333 feet, with a total elevation gain of 2,235 feet over the course of the trip. The steepest stretch comes at about 2.2 miles in, where the grade reaches 27 percent. The hike is rated expert, and the climb is steep and long. Plan on about 4.5 hours for the round trip. The Gee Creek and Gee Creek Watchable trails start within a quarter mile of the route, and the Starr Mountain Extension is about 0.7 miles away. For timing, fall is the most comfortable season. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Athens, Tennessee, show October highs around 73°F with lows near 47°F, and the station sits well below the summit, so temperatures on top run cooler. Spring is similar, with April highs around 71°F.

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

    Best time to visit Starr Mountain

    Best months: March–June and September–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° / 28°

      12 wet · 1 snow

    2. Feb

      53° / 31°

      12 wet · 1 snow

    3. Mar

      62° / 37°

      12 wet

    4. Apr

      71° / 45°

      11 wet

    5. May

      79° / 55°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      85° / 63°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      88° / 68°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      88° / 66°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      83° / 60°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      73° / 47°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      61° / 36°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      52° / 31°

      12 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Athens, TN, 13 mi away at 940 ft. The station sits about 1,400 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

CHESTNUT MOUNTAIN HORSE TRAILPhoto: Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

CHESTNUT MOUNTAIN HORSE TRAIL

~1 min drive

6.9-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 2,479 ft elevation gain and loss.

Slickrock Branch RoadPhoto: Ken Lund from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Slickrock Branch Road

~17 min drive

1.43-mile point-to-point trail in Tennessee with 109 ft gain and 497 ft loss.

HIKE

COFFEE BRANCH TRAIL

~1 min drive

14.5-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 3,847 ft elevation gain.

Lowry Cove TrailPhoto: Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lowry Cove Trail

~2 min drive

3.86-mile point-to-point trail in Tennessee with 2,880 ft gain

Quartz LoopPhoto: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Quartz Loop

~23 min drive

1.69-mile loop in Tennessee with 409 ft gain and 395 ft loss.

HIKE

COKER CREEK FALLS TRAIL

~18 min drive

4.54-mile out-and-back hike in Tennessee with 2,571 ft elevation gain/loss.

Prince Gap TrailPhoto: Ken Lund from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Prince Gap Trail

~19 min drive

7.04-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 1,366 ft elevation gain and loss.

Clemmer Spur TrailPhoto: Nicolas Raymond from Bethesda, Maryland, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Clemmer Spur Trail

~16 min drive

A 2-mile point-to-point trail offering easy access to Tennessee's natural scenery.

HIKE

CHESTNUT LOOP BIKE TRAIL

~23 min drive

12.44-mile out-and-back bike trail in Tennessee with 3,486 ft elevation gain

HIKE

Starr Mountain Extension

~1 min drive

1.31-mile out-and-back trail on Starr Mountain in Tennessee with 237 ft gain.

Route details

Distance
4.8 mi round trip
Climbing
About 2,235 ft
Summit
2,339 ft
Difficulty
Expert
Time
About 2.5 hours

Questions about this route

How long is the Starr Mountain on Starr Mountain?

About 4.8 mi round trip.

How much elevation gain is on the Starr Mountain?

About 2,235 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Starr Mountain?

It is rated expert.

How long does the Starr Mountain take?

About 2.5 hours round trip.

Conditions and forecast on Starr Mountain

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.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors