Brawley Mountain
Benton MacKaye Trail Association
P.O. Box 6
Cherry Log, GA 30522
https://bmta.org/
Brawley Mountain (3027′) is the site of a fire tower that is the only remaining one on the entire Benton MacKaye Trail. The tower is used for TV and radio communications and is no longer accessible to the public. At summit, there is a flat area with winter views of Blue Ridge Lake and the surrounding mountains.
From Wilscot Gap, it is a 3.2 mile hike to Brawley Mountain. 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 use it to loop back to the parking area if you want an alternative to the Benton MacKaye Trail on the return trip.
- click to watch videos of the U.S. Army training in the valley below our campsite, the Coors water collection system (password required)
- click to see photos from this hike to Brawley Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest: January 21, 2021
- click to read a trip report from this hike near Suches, GA: January 21, 2021 (password required)
- click for a Trails Illustrated map of this area in the Chattahoochee National Forest
- click to view a map of the entire Benton MacKaye Trail in North Georgia (password required)
- click for another map of the entire Benton MacKaye Trail (password required)
- click for a BMTA profile map of section four and five of the Benton MacKaye Trail (password required)
- click for a loop hike starting at Big Stamp Gap that uses both the Appalachian and Benton MacKaye Trails (password required)
- click for more information on the Benton MacKaye Trail
- click for Benton MacKaye Trail hiking and backpacking books
- click for other Georgia hiking and backpacking books
