Murray County High Point Trip Report
Bald Mountain (4,005 ft)
Date: April 15, 2000
Author: Fred Lobdell
Bald Mountain, Murray County's highest point, is in the eastern part of the county near the Fannin county
line and only a few miles south of the Tennessee state line. It lies in the Cohutta Wilderness Area of the
Chattahoochee National Forest. It is the westernmost area above 4,000 feet elevation in the United States
until the high plains and Black Hills are reached.
From the intersection of GA 515 with GA 52 just east of the town of Ellijay, take 52 west about 11 miles
to the sign for Lake Conasauga Recreation Area. This is Forest Service road 18. (All the Forest Service
roads in this area are easily passable by an ordinary passenger car.) Turn right on FS 18 and go 3.5 miles
to FS 68. Turn right on FS 68. After about 6 miles there will be a three-way junction with FS 64. Turn
left, staying on FS 68 and still following the Lake Conasauga signs, and go another 3.5 miles to the
trailhead for the Tearbritches Trail. Park here.
The Tearbritches Trail, on the north side of the road, climbs moderately steeply, reaching the summit of
Bald Mountain after 0.4 miles and a gain of 400 feet elevation. As with most of these southeastern
mountains, the summit area is fairly flat and you'll want to wander around a bit to be reasonably confident
of having stood on the highest spot.