Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Georgia Blairsville Brasstown Bald
AO Edited

Brasstown Bald

Georgia's highest point was given its strange name thanks to a simple translation error.

Blairsville, Georgia

Added By
Thomas Harper
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Brasstown Bald Historical Marker   thomasharper / Atlas Obscura User
Brasstown Bald   Mike Gonzalez on Wikipedia
Black Bear Centerpiece   thomasharper / Atlas Obscura User
Brasstown Bald   thomasharper / Atlas Obscura User
  Rachel Preskitt / Atlas Obscura User
  roody2shoes / Atlas Obscura User
Sunrise at Brasstown Bald   Bexorz / Atlas Obscura User
  roody2shoes / Atlas Obscura User
  roody2shoes / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Marked by a towering observation center, Brasstown Bald is the highest point in Georgia at 4,784 feet above sea level, and the notably cool peak gained its unique name thanks to a simple mistranslation of a Cherokee word.

The area around mountain peak now known as Brasstown Bald was originally inhabited by the Cherokee tribe of American Indians. In the Cherokee language, the word used for "Green Place" is incredibly similar to the word for "Brass," and the untrained ear of the white men who came to re-settle the land confused the two terms, changing the description of the mountain's natural beauty to its current brassy misnomer.     

Despite the altered name, the peak's height and beauty has not been lost on visitors thanks in large part to the peak's comfortably cool temperatures. Even in the summer, the temperature at the top of the mountain is usually 10 to 20 degrees cooler than the surrounding lowlands, making it a popular place for scenic sightseeing.

Getting to the top is easy enough as a shuttle carries visitors to the observation tower at the summit, or true nature lovers can simply hike it. The visitor's center on the peak has a museum with taxidermied examples of local wildlife like black bear and bobcats, as well as the stone observation tower from which the surrounding Chattahoochee National Forest is on full display with a stunning 360-degree panoramic view. On a clear day, you can see four states from the peak (Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina).

Related Tags

State High Points Mountains Geographic Markers

Know Before You Go

Kids under 16 are free, but adults are $5 each (NOT per carload.) The fog hangs thick here in the mornings, regardless of the time of year you visit. Consider a late afternoon visit for the best long-range view. The observation deck is open 24/7, and the view at sunrise or sunset is hard to beat.

This is often where people go to see the leaves change for fall, but keep in mind that this is the highest point in GA with a micro-climate similar to Massachusetts. If the colors are shining in the city (or even in the lower mountains) then it's already too late to see them here. Go early.

Community Contributors

Added By

thomasharper

Edited By

leslipeterson, Bexorz, paigemindsthegap, EricGrundhauser...

  • leslipeterson
  • Bexorz
  • paigemindsthegap
  • EricGrundhauser
  • Rachel Preskitt
  • roody2shoes

Published

May 20, 2014

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://paigemindsthegap.com/brasstown-bald-at-sunset/
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brasstown_Bald
  • http://www.summitpost.org/brasstown-bald/152987
  • http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/conf/recarea/?recid=10542
  • https://365atlantatraveler.com/brasstown-bald/
  • https://365atlantatraveler.com/brasstown-bald/
  • https://365atlantatraveler.com/fall-colors-in-georgia/
Brasstown Bald
Blairsville, Georgia, 30512
United States
34.874199, -83.810652

Nearby Places

Bell Mountain

Hiawassee, Georgia

miles away

Nacoochee Mound

Helen, Georgia

miles away

The Appalachian Trail Shoe Tree

Blairsville, Georgia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Blairsville

Blairsville

Georgia

Places 2

Nearby Places

Bell Mountain

Hiawassee, Georgia

miles away

Nacoochee Mound

Helen, Georgia

miles away

The Appalachian Trail Shoe Tree

Blairsville, Georgia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Blairsville

Blairsville

Georgia

Places 2

Related Stories and Lists

The Highest Places in America

List

By Meg Neal

The Summit Scaling Subculture of Highpointing

geographic markers

By Thomas Harper

Related Places

  • Mount Denali

    Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

    Denali

    The king of U.S. high points towers over every other peak on the continent.

  • Mount Rainier

    Ashford, Washington

    Mount Rainier

    The highest point in Washington state is a volcano covered in glaciers.

  • Mount Hood

    Government Camp, Oregon

    Mount Hood

    Despite a legend that says this highest peak in Oregon was climbed in high heels, scores of people have died on its slopes.

  • Gannett Peak

    Cora, Wyoming

    Gannett Peak

    The easiest way to the highest point in Wyoming is only accessible via one hefty fee.

  • Granite Peak

    Granite Peak

    The highest point in Montana is as rugged and singular as the state itself.

  • Borah Peak

    Mackay, Idaho

    Borah Peak

    This highest peak in Idaho can only be reached by traversing a formation known as "Chicken-Out Ridge."

  • Kings Peak

    Duchesne County, Utah

    Kings Peak

    The highest peak in Utah is the hardest to reach, but only if explorers choose the hard way.

  • The left peak is Boundary Peak

    Dyer, Nevada

    Boundary Peak

    The highest point in Nevada had to be decided by court order after California tried to claim it as their own.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.