Brawley Mountain

Brawley Mountain (3027′) is the site of the only remaining fire tower on the entire Benton MacKaye Trail. The tower is currently used for TV and radio communications and is no longer accessible to the public. At Brawley Mountain there is a flat area with winter views of Blue Ridge Lake and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains of the southern Appalachians.  The area near the summit has mixed hardwood and pine forests, steep ridges, and deep valleys – although the summit itself lacks an expansive open area like some other summits in North Georgia.   

From Wilscot Gap, it is a 3.2 mile hike to Brawley Mountain on the Benton MacKaye Trail which is a much quieter alternative to the nearby Appalachian Trail. The hike begins with a steep 1.3 mile and ~700″ climb up to Tipton Mountain (3147′), then descends and ascends multiple times to small gaps before you make the final 400′ climb to Brawley Mountain. Camping is permitted at the summit, but there is no water here. The gated Forest Road 45 also leads from Wilscot Gap to the firetower and you can use the road on the return trip to loop back to the parking area if you want an alternative to the Benton MacKaye Trail.