Big Bald Mountain is the highest peak in Gilmer County, Georgia, U.S. and is in the Rich Mountain Wilderness, which is administered as a component of the Chattahoochee National Forest.
| Big Bald Mountain | |
|---|---|
 Big Bald Mountain, viewed from the Bear Rock Ridge Bed and Breakfast | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,055 ft (1,236 m)[1] |
| Prominence | 1,755 ft (535 m)[2] |
| Listing | Highest point in Gilmer County[2] |
| Coordinates | 34°45′05″N 84°19′14″W / 34.7514718°N 84.3206112°W[1] |
| Geography | |
  Big Bald Mountain | |
| Location | Chattahoochee National Forest |
| Parent range | Blue Ridge Mountains |
| Topo map(s) | USGS Blue Ridge, GA |
Description
editMany of the mountains in this area are covered in a deep, black porter's loam.[3] The vegetation in the area consists of second-growth hardwood forests.[4]
The mountain is about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) southwest of Cherry Log, 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Ellijay and about 8 miles (13 km) south of Blue Ridge. Rich Mountain is about 1.4 miles (2.3 km) southwest of Big Bald Mountain, while U.S. Route 76 runs to the west of the mountain. Big Bald Mountain's summit is inside the Rich Mountain Wildlife Management Area.[5] With an elevation of 4,075 feet (1,242 m), Big Bald Mountain is the tallest mountain in Gilmer County.[2] It is also the 19th tallest mountain in the state of Georgia using a 160 feet prominence rule.[6]
Hiking
editNo trails pass over Big Bald Mountain's summit. However, hikers can climb to the summit by hiking off-trail from Rich Mountain Road, a former logging road running through the Rich Mountains.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Big Bald Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
- ^ a b c "Big Bald Mountain, Georgia". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
- ^ "The Rich Mountains". SherpaGuides.com. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
- ^ "The Flora of the Oconee National Wildlife Refuge". Georgia Botanical Society. 1997. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
- ^ "Rich Mountain Wildlife Management Area" (PDF). georgiawildlife.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-21. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
- ^ "Georgia 4000-foot Peaks". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
- ^ "Decision notice and finding of no significant impacts for the rich mountain project" (PDF). USDA Forest Service. 2004. Retrieved 2017-03-18.