Bartram Trail

Bartram Trail is a long-distance hiking route in the Southern Appalachians, following the approximate path of 18th-century naturalist William Bartram’s southern travels. The National Recreation Trail alignment runs from near Russell Bridge on Georgia State Route 28 at the Georgia/South Carolina line to Cheoah Bald at the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina.

Expect classic ridge-and-summit hiking with repeated climbs and descents rather than a single steady grade. The route’s highest point is Wayah Bald (5,385 ft), where it crosses the Appalachian Trail; the lowest mapped point along the trail corridor is around the Chattooga River (about 1,500 ft).

It’s a sustained, moderate long-distance outing overall, with terrain that ranges from mellow stretches to rugged mountain sections as you move between Georgia and North Carolina.

Water and small stream crossings show up often enough that you should plan around variable availability and the possibility of dry periods on smaller creeks in dry weather. The trail corridor has established places to camp; shelters are limited compared with many long trails, so carrying and using lightweight camp planning helps.

Navigation is straightforward where the trail is blazed: look for yellow rectangular markings. Pay closer attention on any road-walk or linkage segments, since markings can be sparse there.

Seasonally, it’s an all-year route in practice, but conditions are usually most comfortable in spring through late fall. Winter travel is possible, but higher elevations can bring snow and ice depending on the year and timing.

More information: Conditions, Wikipedia, The Bartram Trail: 112 Miles of Southern Appalachian Solitude