ANYONE who has hiked with me before will tell you I typically don't hike simply for the sake of hiking. There MUST be some sort of payoff, which in most cases tends to be a waterfall. Rarely ever do I hike for a view, unless the view is something special and Rabun Bald is indeed something special!
We started our hike on a chilly Saturday in December. The parking area for the trailhead to Rabun Bald is at the end of paved Kelsey Mountain Road. There is a convergence of four driveways + the trail, which basically starts off as a continuation of Kelsey Mountain Road (unpaved).
THE EXPERIENCE
Taking the advice of many trail reports we used the LEFT side trail as our passage. It was reported to be steeper, but shorter in overall distance. It is important to know this loop trail is 3.3 miles total if you choose to follow one side up and the other down, but either way will give you a total elevation gain of about 1,050 feet in just 1.5 miles (or 350 feet per 1/2 mile).
Along the route we encounter several ice patches over the trail that required careful navigation. Once you reach the stone tower at the top of the mountain you will need to climb to the top for the best views. The first half of the stairs are your normal expectation, while the second half of the stairs are more like a Captain's Ladder. The platform is roughly 21' x 21' with built-in bench seating on the corner nearest the stairs. Plenty of room for 25 people or so.
NOTES: The stone platform is the remnant of a fire watch tower built in 1939. It was the first Fire Tower in the area.
Not only is the view endless from atop the tower, it is also 360 degrees of uninterrupted bliss! I've hiked many mountains and a total circular view such as this is not the norm, making it a very special place indeed! Adding to its charm is the fact that it is Georgia's SECOND TALLEST mountain @ 4,695 feet.
Our crew included a tween boy and 3 year old girl, whom I must add needed to be carried on many of the steep/icy sections. It is for this reason I would not recommend this hike to families with children under 5 years old. It is a lot on little legs.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Getting to the trailhead is the easy part. After that you're gonna work hard for this view, but it is truly worth the hike! Be sure to bring layers of extra clothing in colder months as the wind and lower temps will surely make you wish you had if you don't. Also, be sure to visit Mud Creek Falls (aka Little Eastatoe Falls) just on the other side of the golf course lake in Sky Valley. Here is the yelp link: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mud-creek-falls-sky-valley-2
ENJOY!
2020 / 101 read more