Tray Spur
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
1755 Cleveland Highway
Gainesville, GA 30501
770 297-3000
Tray Mountain, with an elevation of 4,430 feet, is the seventh-highest peak in Georgia. The summit is located a short distance from Helen and serves as the boundary between White and Towns counties. The summit is located in the Tray Mountain Wilderness within the borders of the Chattahoochee National Forest and has limited views to both the north and south from a narrow clearing on the mountain.
We started our hike to Tray Mountain from U.S. Forest Road 79 along the Appalachian Trail in Tray Gap at 3,847 feet. From here it is a short but steep 600 foot climb to the summit. Tray Spur is located just downhill from Tray Mountain and to the right. It is easy to miss – especially in the summer months – but there are outstanding views to the north at the end of the Trail. If you decide to camp here – take water because there is no source. Your other option is to hike to the nearby Tray Mountain Shelter and get water from the spring behind the lean-to.
- click to watch some videos of this hike along the Tray Spur: Moonrise Sunset, Our Stealth Spot, Bear Encounter
- click to view photos from this backpacking trip on the Tray Mountain Spur Trail: March 10, 2017 (password required)
- click to read a trip report for this hike along the Appalachian Trail: March 10, 2017 (password required)
- click for a Trails Illustrated map of this hike to Tray Mountain
- click for a Tray Mountain topographical and profile map (password required)
- click for an ATC trail map from Chattahoochee Gap to Addis Gap (password required)
- click for an ATC profile map from Tray Mountain to Sassafrass Gap (password required)
- click for a Georgia Appalachian Trail overview map (password required)
- click for a Georgia Appalachian Trail profile map (password required)
- click for another hike on the Tray Mountain spur trail in May 2007
- click for a backpacking trip to the junction of the Tray spur trail in October 1997
- click to access the guidebook Appalachian Trail: Georgia-North Carolina which has details on this destination
- click for more information on the Appalachian Trail
- click for Appalachian Trail hiking and backpacking books
- click for other Georgia hiking and backpacking books