February 7, 2017
Pinnacle Knob Trail - From Courthouse Gap Rd. - Rabun Co. GA
Today's hike was in Rabun County starting on Courthouse Gap Rd hiking up to the Bartram Trail at Courthouse Gap and on up to the Pinnacle Knob Trail onward to the summit of Pinnacle on the newly routed trail. Distance 5 mi
Trail information
The new Pinnacle Knob Trail is a great improvement over the old one. The original trail climbed straight up the steep mountain with no switchbacks and this led to some serious erosion until much of the trail was turning into a deep gulley. The new improved trail consists of a series of switchbacks following the northeastern side of Pinnacle Mountain before skirting the mountain's southern ridge towards its summit.It is a beautiful trail that is much less strenuous than before. From this parking spot, you walk up the gravel road for approx. .25 mi then turn left onto the Courthouse Gap Trail. Continue another .25 mile to the Bartram Trail at Courthouse Gap. Turn right and continue to the Pinnacle Knob Trail (green marker trail number 58). The summit has spectacular mountain views! DRIVING
Directions
From Clayton GA, Walmart area, Travel north on Hwy 441 for 2.5 miles and turn right onto Pinnacle Dr. Continue on Pinnacle for 2.7 miles and turn left onto Courthouse Gap Rd. and continue until you get to the big powerline cut and park there. Walk up the road a quarter mile or so and look for the access trail on the left. Another great day for a hike! Mostly Cloudy and cool with temperatures mostly in the 50's F
Conditions
Mostly Cloudy and cool with temperatures mostly in the 50's F.
Hikers (11)
- John Anderson
- Mike Bell
- Phil Brownrigg
- Ray Clark
- Tim Hale
- Whitney Hutchinson
- Bob Magee
- Dave Norton
- Mary Lu Norton
- Tony Presley
- Vic Robson
Birds identified
House Finch, Cardinal, American Crow, Chickadee
Photos (14)
Our parking area at Courthouse Gap Road. Look for the Courthouse Gap Trail around a quarter mile up the road on the left. This trail leads up to the Bartram Trail at Courthouse Gap. After turning right on the Bartram Trail in about .25 mi you come to the Pinnacle Knob Trailhead (marked 58). The new trail is beautifully constructed with nice woodland and mountain views all the way to the summit. As you get closer to the summit, you pass lots of boulders and rock ledges covered with bright green moss. This one would be a suitable emergency shelter! At the summit, you get magnificent mountain views!. You can see well into the NC mountains! Looking down into the valley, we see Camp Pinnacle (A GA Baptist Retreat Center for Girls). Another nice view! Geological Marker at the summit. Our GPS track for the hike. The OFHC gang for today's hike. (l-r) John Anderson, Phil Brownrigg, Dave Norton, Ray Clark, Vic Robson, Tim Hale, Mary Lu Norton, Whitney Hutchinson, Bob Magee, Mike Bell and Tony Presley .