This is a separate mountain that isn't park of any of the massive park areas in the Appalachians nearby. The trailhead is at the end of a short gravel road that was bumpy; navigable with a sedan but not ideal. The hike is woodsy and not highly difficult, but the cumulative effect after a couple of miles is significant. I found a meadow short of the peak which was sufficient for my interest. It had some nice views. Wildlife included a woodchuck and a substantial snail population. This area was considerably less crowded than the bigger mountains or the tourist town nearby. It wasn't anything mind-blowing, but it's a good outdoor activity. read more

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The trail is only 2 miles long, but small part of it can be considered easy, most parts are rocky, some parts are steep. Normal trails take me 20 minutes for a mile, but this time it took me 80 minutes to get to the top. But reward is the beautiful views at the top. There are many tents and hammock setups at the small flat area on the peak. There are many branches along the trail with no sign, which are normally various shortcuts to the top, usually means steep, stay on trail with green marks. People were doing all kinds of yoga posting on the edges of rocks, it's nice but I personally don't think it worth the risk. Parking lot is small, expect to park along the way to trailhead. People brought climbing gears and lined up for serious climbing. According to a sign, this also is US military climbing training area. read more

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let me start by saying the one way treck is between 2.2-2.5 miles. so basically anywhere from 4.5 to 5 miles round-trip. You start out at the trail head, there are restrooms there. You start out going uphill a little bit, which is kind of quick and if you're not warmed up or you're not ready or in shape , your calfs can start burning quickly. The first part of the hike isn't terrible but it is uphill. I would say a good 70% of the hike is uphill. some of the uphill is very easy and some of it is rather difficult. I wouldn't recommend getting here during the heat of the day as it is only a partly shaded trail and you are exposed to the sun a lot. The summit has a central area that is exposed to the sun and the surrounding tree line which is shaded. The second half of the trail is much harder than the first in my opinion. You don't exactly have to "Boulder" but you do have to climb over some rocks for a part of the hike. it's not a steep jump off the rocks or off the cliff or something like that. It's a fairly safe area but it's pretty rocky in some places. In some areas there's also a lot of roots. It's a beautiful hike and I would recommend doing it in the morning or later in the evening. As you hike you'll notice that some people have made trails that go up to the same place but are not part of the official trail. I took the official trail. I didn't use any side routes or short cuts. When you get close to the top, you still have a little ways to go, but it's close, you'll hit a gravel road/trail. It comes to a T. You want to go right and uphill and follow the trail that way. I would say the first third of the trail is fairly nice and gentle uphill. The second third of the trail, after the overlook gets rocky and rugged that's the hardest part. The third part of the trail isn't terrible, but it's worse than the first in better than the second (by the third part of the trail, you're tired, so it's really hard to gauge). That being said, if you hike a lot, you're used to Colorado hikes you're in shape, you do marathons, run a lot, exercise and are fit this may not be a difficult hike for you. i hike maybe once a month but I am kind of out of shape. I started on a Wednesday around 215- 220 PM and reach the top around 4 PM. I did have to take a couple of breaks. I do recommend hiking shoes, not because you need them to hike per se but because they protect your toebox, especially when you're going downhill. If you have bad, knees or joints, I do recommend hiking sticks, but if you don't, the hike , isn't that bad. lots of butterflies and squirrels and little critters around this time. Every time I took a break something was buzzing around so if you have bug spray, you may want to use it. I do recommend this hike, it's a great hike, it doesn't take too long. From start to finish it took me maybe three hours and I spent 30 minutes at the top. I don't think if this is a newer hike for you, you should go in the evening or at night, because on the way down, while the trail is fairly well marked, there are a little offshoots that people created, which may confuse you in the dark. there are also plenty of areas to sit down for a second to catch your breath. I think you are allowed dogs on the trail but I don't know if they need a leash or not. Be warned people do camp a lot and I did notice some small pieces of glass here and there especially near the top. It's definitely not a lot, but I did notice it. as you get closer to the top, it does get a little wet, but not terrible and it's very nice. There's usually a lot of people on this trail so it's fun! I've done this trail about three times now, I haven't been in the past couple of years, I will say that I'm out of shape, and it was a little bit of a burner, but well worth it, read more

Got up here today with my dog and made a great day and walk for us. Tons of people out here today climbing enjoying the outdoors and famous Mr Yonah views. This was a good hike for me with a little dog who wore out but clean trails, people wearing masks in the woods but all good. I came up from gainesville for the day so not a long trip and as we came down had to get a Yonah burger I haven't had in years !! Puppy like it too! Juicy fire grilled burger and great onion rings and a water for the drive back. Yonah is an icon here, great repelling when the army isnt training but cool when the helicopters are aroubd and you have a front row seat!! Love N GA and what we call the mountains. Best trails ever!!! read more

------THE TRAIL ------ This hike is not for the young, the old and the weak. It starts off tough going uphill and your legs will beg you to turn back around to the safety of your car. I saw little kids on the hike and I don't know if they are just more fit than I will ever be or if their superhuman parents somehow carried them up. The trail does get easier after the beginning but some parts are incredibly steep. Most everyone else had huge hiking backpacks (like they were about to summit Everest) and I don't think those are necessary because while it's a tough hike, it's not only for advanced hikers. The average Joe could complete the hike but there will be some parts that are challenging. The views are amazing. You can see the parking lot from the summit and if you have good eyesight, even spot your car. Please don't stand near the edge or try to go onto that rock that juts out for a picture. The fall is dangerous and people have died. The summit also had some icy parts near the edges. The way down is easy because it is all downhill but forget about social distancing because some parts are narrow and you will be in close contact with others. I left the summit at 11 am and lots of people were coming up at that time. The entire hike was 4.5 miles and took 2 hours and 30 min with rests on random rocks in between. ------LOCATION/PARKING------ If you put "Yonah Mountain" into your GPS, you will end up in front of a private road with a sign that says "Hikers do not enter". Put "Yonah Mountain Trailhead". The parking lot is just dirt and gravel so when you turn in and it looks like you are about to drive into the woods into the middle of nowhere, just keep driving and you will find the other cars at the end near the questionable looking restrooms. Please don't bring your nice car. Bring a car that you are fine with driving over rocks and into mini potholes. The lot only had about 10 other cars at 9 am but when I left at 12 pm, it was full and people had to park far away from the trailhead. -----TIPS------ - Wear hiking boots (not sneakers because those have no traction) unless you are looking for a mud bath because you will slip and fall into the mud on your way down -Bring water (more than you think you need) - You can fake a picture at the edge if you sit on the ones that jut out but have other ledges right under - Wear multiple layers (it gets colder as you go up) read more

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*Open during COVID19/ Parking available too This is a tough trail! Maybe we'll get further up next time. Make sure to bring plenty of water and snacks and download the AllTrails App before climbing up. read more

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Popular undeveloped trail with awesome views! We hiked Mount Yonah Trail on a partly sunny Labor Day Monday. We arrived about 11:15am. This is a difficult rated trail, about 4.5 miles round trip and 1500ft+ elevation gain. This trail has sparse neon green cut out blazes nailed to trees. Hiking, rock climbing, limited camping and dogs on leash. No trash bins - Pack OUT please! *Not for people with fear of heights and knees and ankle sensitivity. * ++ Undeveloped trail! No pavements. Decent rocky trail (if you like rocks and boulders). The trail itself is rocky but more so on the 2nd mile up. It's canopied with a clearing at ~ 1 mile and also at ~ 1.85 mile, the granite cliffs near the summit. - Very popular with everybody and their brother. I expected less people b/c it's rated hard. It felt more like Stone Mountain traffic with many people lacking hiking etiquettes, not picking up after their dogs and themselves. = 2 outhouses at the trail head and another about 2/3 of way up at a US army training camp. It's NOT pleasant so take care prior to arrival. ++ Fantastic views of the valley and nearby peaks from the granite cliffs at 1.85 miles to the right of the trail. This is NOT the summit but most people stop hiking here. - Traffic at the lookout. There were about 30 people here before 1pm. Anchors and bolts on boulders, likely from army training and rock climbers. + There were some rock climbers at the bottom of a steep cliff (less than 1 pitch, looked to be ~5.6 to 5.9). ++ Grassy open tree ringed Summit with few (fcfc) campsites / fire pits. There were only 7 people here! Slightly below the summit was another boulder cliff where we were above some birds soaring thermals. = Parking is free but tight. Very rough gravel hill to the lot. There were at least 50 cars when we arrived and saw additional 30-40 parked along the tight dirt road on our way out. Overall, I found this continuous ascent trail to be moderate and one of the best in Georgia. The negatives were waaaay too many people. The positives were several rock scrambles close to the summit and reward vistas at 1.85 mile and just below the summit. Maybe an earlier AM hike on a non-holiday next time for less traffic! read more

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Mount Yonah hike is my favorite in GA. It is a bit of a trek to get to the top, about 2.2 miles to the summit (4.5ish round trip), and definitely not easy. It can get a bit steep at times (most times), so be sure to have that water ready and ready for breaks. I would recommend not bringing small children or individuals who are too weak or too old since it does get very strenuous on the legs, back, lungs, or really just taxing on the body. The trail is clean and easy to follow, as long as your are paying attention of course. There is a nice half-way point where it is flat and clear with a view you can see already. It does get rocky at times as well, so make sure to be wearing proper shoes. The view at the top is SO BEAUTIFUL, especially for a Georgia hike. You get to look at the wide horizon below and if it's a nice day with no clouds, you can enjoy the sun and all it shines on. Also, there are some flat areas where some people will pitch a tent for camping at the top. read more

Excellent, strenuous, scenic height to the top of Mt Yonah. Wonderful views of Northeast Georgia from the sheer rock face where people practice rappelling. Ample campsites available. A great way to spend an afternoon picnicking high in the north Georgia mountains. read more

Super great spot for a hike! It's definitely not for the faint of heart, but give it a try - you won't regret it. read more

After I got into my hiking phase, I think Yonah Mountain has to be my absolute favorite hiking trail. It is extremely strenuous and is challenging, but the 4 mile hike round trip is totally worth it and the view is absolutely stunning. When I used to live in ATL, I would visit at least once a month whenever I want to get my mind off of things or want to hike with friends. The first half of the hike isn't too bad, but after you hit midpoint, the incline is pretty steep and the remaining hike is pretty challenging. It takes about 45-50 minutes for me personally (I am a fast hiker) to get to the top and let me tell you - the view is beautiful. The air is crisp and it's the perfect place to meditate, read a book, chat with a friend or even have a picnic. Everytime I come to Yonah, I am mesmerized and I'm so happy to get a good workout in as well. When I visit ATL, I definitely intend on returning to get a hike in. Highly recommend if you're looking for a challenging hike and even if you're not -- it's worth it for the view at the end! read more

Definitely not the easiest trek, but if you're up for a little adventure and challenge this is the place you want to hike. Getting there depending where you are located may or may not be a drive it really depends on the part of the state you are from. Also you will get to a side dirt road, that's the actual entrance to the parking lot of the trail. It looks sketchy but that's the correct route to take. Avoid if it just rained, it's possible for your car to get stuck in the mud there. Once you are on the actual mountain trail and beginning your hike, be prepared ahead of time. Bring good hiking shoes. You will be going through some tough terrain and you could easily roll an ankle if not careful. Stay hydrated, bring a decent amount of water for the journey up and down. The entire hike is probably close to 2-3 hours depending how well you pace yourself. The trail is marked out but color tags on trees only for a portion of the trail the rest you just have to pay attention to how the ground is laid out. Stick to the trail, do not wander off, people have died doing that here. Most of the trail you are surrounded by trees and at times it can be really steep or narrow. There are some really great sites to see on the mountain, bring a camera! Overall, it sounds hard but it's really fun and it will test you but in a good way. I recommend this for anyone who wants to try it. Nature lovers will love this place. It's just you and mother nature out there! read more

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Length: 4.4 Miles Difficulty: Moderate to moderately difficult. You're hiking up a mountain. It can be steep at times and the trail is very rocky, you won't find any pavement here. The trail itself is 90% shaded on the way to the top so this hike is pretty manageable during the hottest days of summer. Dog Friendly: Yes. A couple of large rocks that your dog will have to climb or hop over. Some parts are pretty rocky and rough on paws. Sights: Fairly pedestrian on the way up but there are a couple lookout points after the halfway mark. The views at the top are phenomenal, you get a very expansive view of the rolling landscape. It's worth the hike. FYI: Drive slow on the path to the trailhead. Very rough and contains large dips - you'll bottom out if your car is low. Summary: Not quite a favorite but it's one of the closer trails to Atlanta, only 1.5 hours away. A good hike if you're looking to get a workout and rewarding view at the end. read more

Mount Yonah Trailhead - View near the top. Photo doesn't quite do it justice. - Hiking Near Me - Cleveland, Georgia

It was a challenge but well worth it! Lots of rocks and some slippery mud along the way! Great work out for sure. Took us 1 1/2 hours to reach the top and 45 min to come back down. read more

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Amazing hike and worth every step of the way! Take a lot of snacks and wear anti slip shoes. read more

Mount Yonah Trailhead - Amazing lookout points. Short hike but the incline is great so take a lot of snacks! - Hiking Near Me - Cleveland, Georgia

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This is one of my favorite local hikes. Anyone can do it WITH THE RIGHT MINDSET. You have to remember you are going straight up a mountain. It isn't exactly beginners; that's why I said with the right mindset anyone can do it. If it is 20 degrees, you are going to still be breaking a sweat. The top is breathtaking, and definitely worth it. I recommend it to anyone that is willing to put in the work for it. read more

Mount Yonah Trailhead - Very old picture, but it is a fraction of the view from the top. - Hiking Near Me - Cleveland, Georgia

Pretty awesome experience climbing the trail. It is a bit of a tougher climb when doing it in freezing temps like we did. Definitely a bit icy at the half way point and beyond, so you gotta be careful depending on conditions. For this Floridian girl, it was a great hike and relatively challenging-in a good way read more

I've been going to this mountain or the last 10 years and it doesn't get much easier. The view, however, seems to be nicer every time I've gone. If you haven't already, you have to check out this trail in Cleveland, GA. read more

Mount Yonah Trailhead - Top of Mount Yonah from a DJI Mavic Air - taken by drone pilot Marvin Rosario - Hiking Near Me - Cleveland, Georgia

Let me start off by saying it was a challenging hike, but well worth it. My friend told me I had to input coordinates to find the trail (34.637383, -83.725117) otherwise you can end up at any point around the mountain. The length of the hike (to and from) is about 4-5 miles. I am a beginner hiker and in average shape. I had to take breaks often throughout the hike, so with breaks the hike in total took about 2 hours. The trail can get very narrow and steep. There are lots of rocks and tree branches sticking out of the ground, so be careful as it is easy to trip. Be sure to wear proper shoes as the path can get slippery and bring plenty of water! It's important to note that the dirt path leading up to the trail site was rough! I recommend taking a four wheel drive if you can. Besides that the views were great especially when you get to the top. read more

Mount Yonah Trailhead - The view from the top of Mt. Yonah - Hiking Near Me - Cleveland, Georgia

Awesome trail. Might be too steep for beginners. Nice views. Only 10 mins drive from Helen. read more

Mount Yonah Trailhead - Mountains view - Hiking Near Me - Cleveland, Georgia

This hike was crazy! I am a Floridian, and therefore walking on anything that is not flat is already quite the challenge for me. I'm pretty fit, but there were random people surpassing me and Boyfriend so fast, it was making me question just how good my endurance is. The entire hike feels like walking on a stair master. It took us about 2-2.5 hours to get to the peak. The peak was a foggy, windy, rainy mess. It was so awesome. I couldn't see over the edge because the fog was glaring back at me, but the experience felt like an Alice in Wonderland mixed with Blair Witch Project moment. As I walked, the world was tilting because I was on the edge of the mountain. We felt victorious when we reached the top because it wasn't as easy as we thought it would be. I would say it's probably considered a moderate hike so don't think by my Floridian description that this is a hard hike. The hike down was a lot faster since gravity is basically rolling you down the mountain. We just got a bit worried about slips and slides because of the rain. read more

Mount Yonah Trailhead - Hiking Near Me - Cleveland, Georgia

A wonderful hike! One of my favorites in the area. It's about 4 miles. Easy to follow markings. Fun boulders to go over in just one area. At times it was steep. My overweight puggle was able to reach the peak so you can too! read more

This sunset was amazing fun hike do not recommend hiking down at night also bring portable chargers.

Great place to take a family if you have older children( age 10 and up) the hike to the top of the mountain is over two miles and gets very strenuous and is not for the faint at heart. It is worth it once you get to the top the views are amazing. read more

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Beautiful beautiful view! A must see if you are in the area! The trail is pretty difficult if you are not prepared for steep uphill climb. Also downhill can be tough on knees because of grade. My husband and I are hikers so we enjoyed the challenge to the top. We grabbed a stick for the way down and it made the down grade easier to navigate. Highly recommend bringing a hiking pole or stick if you have one. It's shaded most of the trail which makes it nice in all kind of weather. We encountered a rain storm during our hike which made the rocks slippery so our stick became resourceful again. Follow the green markings on trees and download the All Trails map if you can bc some parts can be hard to follow. read more

Mount Yonah Trailhead - Hiking Near Me - Cleveland, Georgia

Beautiful hiking trails that wind up and around Mount Yonah. This 3,166ft tall Mountain has approximately 2.5 miles of trails that start from a well signed trailhead parking lot. There are restroom facilities in the parking lot, and also about halfway up the trail towards the summit. The summit is cleared and grassy, but is ringed in trees, obscuring the view. The best views are from the Southern rock faces just below the actual summit. read more

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Really nice hike. Pretty strenuous though, especially after you reach the grassy clearing half way up. The view at the top of the mountain is totally worth the extra effort. Take plenty of water, especially if you take a dog because there is only one stream at the very beginning. read more

Mount Yonah Trailhead - Hiking Near Me - Cleveland, Georgia

Free fun. Great, clean, ez - moderate trail. I was recommended this hike by a friend. Could be better marked, but it is easy to find your way. 2 miles up and 2 miles down. Most of the two is wide for hiking. Good shoes is all you need. read more

Mount Yonah Trailhead - A view down the rock face. - Hiking Near Me - Cleveland, Georgia

Great hike. Went up in the winter and it has snow on top. The view was great and overall, the hike was easy. Highly recommend. read more

Mount Yonah Trailhead - Very good hike and excellent for beginners and experts alike. We went on snowy February day and it was awesome. - Hiking Near Me - Cleveland, Georgia

This was a challenging hike but well worth the incredible views. Pictures don't really do the view justice either. It wasn't very crowded when we went and the parking lot is bumpy on the drive up but we didn't have any issues in our car-just watch out for potholes. If you're looking for a quick 30 minute hike this isn't it, as it took us a total of 3 hours to hike up, spend some time at the top for lunch and then the hike down. I went extremely slow on the way down since it's easy to trip on the roots and rocks. read more

Beautiful, wonderful hike near Helen, Georgia. It's definitely worth a day trip if you have the time.

Visited: 11/05/2016 Considering other trails I've been on, I definitely don't consider this an easy hike for most people. Certainly wasn't for me. Apparently I'm terrible at rock scrambling. Yes, I understand the difference between alpine scrambling and rock scrambling. Reason I said rock scrambling is because there were multiple times where when coming down, I really did have to use my hands. When you're tall and lean, you most likely wouldn't. However, with being on the shorter end, I unfortunately had to. Plus, even going up, there were times when there was just so many smaller sized rocks under my feet, that it felt like trying to climb up with a bunch of dice. Not exactly marbles, but more like dice due to the smaller rocks/pebbles that were abundant in nature. When I compare this with Blood Mountain, I even find Blood Mountain be much more bearable than the smaller rocks on Yonah. I could literally see myself tumbling down since I was not confident in my footing. Yet, the hike was worth it because of the amazing view. Oh, and the military uses this trail for training, so...I assume if it is military worthy, then don't just assume it's an easy hike ;) And no, we weren't aware of this until we were closer to the top. Overall, definitely worth the hike! Enjoy the beautiful view at the very top!! Tip: If you have weak ankles, use higher hiking boots instead of a low cut one ;) For this hike, I highly recommend. read more

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Unbelievably awesome hike. My two boys and i did the whole trail in 3 hours. Its just really a special place. Only caveat is theres really mot a scenic top to see the view, except the green grassy clearing. It really was quite a good darn workout for us! It rained the whole time and we still trucked on... All the way. I dont think i could have gone up much further as ot was pretty chsllenging in the rain. Another great tging is that its FREE. We would love to come back. So worth the time! read more

Mount Yonah Trailhead - Scenic lookout near top - Hiking Near Me - Cleveland, Georgia

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We love hiking Mt. Yonah. We hike it at least times a year. One of our favorite hiking spots.

Fantastic workout hike with a great elevation change. Not like the paved walking trails that are flat and more common in North GA. A real gem. read more

So much fun on this trail. I would rate it moderate. Lots of foot traffic. Amazing view

For hikers out there that enjoy an awesome view, I'd highly recommend visiting Mount Yonah. The 4ish mile trail is not too challenging but I would be wary of any super new beginners wanting to go. According to an altitude app the hike is right at a 1600' climb which is not too bad. The view at the top is unmatched. Provides endless opportunities for fantastic pictures or just sight seeing. Getting to the trail-head you have to travel down about a 1/2 mile of bumpy gravel road to the parking lot that accommodates roughly 30ish cars. I would suggest hitting the restrooms elsewhere before going to Yonah. The one's located in the parking lot are fairly smelly (although they were being cleaned when returning). For anyone that may need to use them going up the mountain there are some located near the top (about 15 minutes from the top). This is a great spot to spend a day for just hiking and relaxing at the top before the descent. Would recommend for anyone to try the hike! read more