Yonah Mountain Trail #632

Dogs Leashed

Features Views

An out-and-back run to fabulous views from atop Yonah Mountain.

There are outdoor bathrooms at the bottom of the trail (near the trailhead), as well as near the service road junction.

The main Yonah Mountain Trail starts at the trailhead, available just off Chambers Road in Helen, GA.

The trail starts with a moderate uphill climb, crossing via bridge over a brook at one point. Eventually a set of switchbacks starts, as well as a very neat set of steps that are part of the mountain itself. There are lots of off-trail shortcuts that people have made; please try to avoid the temptation of taking these and stay on the blazed trail. As you climb, there are a few big scrambles up rocks that are in the path, but nothing too difficult.

Eventually, you'll reach the first LZ (landing zone) used occasionally by the US Army—this is a grassy area about two-thirds of the way up the trail (here is also where, if you wanted to do some toprope climbing, you'd take a detour to the right).

From this point, the trail gets significantly steeper. The last third is quite the uphill climb! At least there's no scrambling beyond this point.

Once you get to the outdoor bathrooms, you are at the end of the area managed by the National Park Service. Above this point on the mountain, there are few defined trails, as it is managed solely by the US Army. To reach the summit, follow the road to the right (south). Once at the "peak" (which is really just a grassy area for landing helicopters), you'll have great views of the surrounding area.