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Northeast Georgia HikingNew & Old Friends Who Like to Hike

April 4, 2023

Bartram Trail: Jones Gap to Whiterock Mountain

Distance
6.1 mi
Climbing
1,234 ft
Difficulty
Moderate
Type
Out & Back
GPS track availableView on AllTrails →

Wow! What a great day and hike. Perfect weather and the trails were in excellent shape, although some care was needed on numerous wet rocks and boulders. Some wildflowers, but still a bit early for many at our higher elevation. Great views too at several overlooks along the way, Several of us decided to extend the hike to Little Fishhawk Mountain, a half mile north of Whiterock Mountain.

The route

6.1 mi · 1,234 ft climbing · 4h 41m out, 3h 35m walking · 1.7 mph moving

Elevation

Hover over the profile to see the elevation and steepness. Your position will be shown on the map.

4,623 ft4,138 ft0.0 mi1.5 mi3.0 mi4.6 mi6.1 mi
  • Steepness
  • Gentle under 5%
  • Moderate 5–10%
  • Steep 10–15%
  • Very steep over 15%

25 photos are shown on the map where they were taken — click one to see it full size.

Photos (27)

  • Panoramic view to the southwest from Whiterock Mountain.
  • Today's Hikers (L-R) Back: Ray, Edwin, Jane, Gerald, Jenny, Rich, Ken, Matt, Charles, Londa & Lynn; Front:Heather, Squirt, Vic, Beth M, Beth H & Mike
  • Nice trailhead, but it does take a while to get there. Road up was better than usual.
  • We were greeted early on by some Bloodroot "waking up."
  • Lots of Start Chickweed today too.
  • Nice trail at the start, but the trees were not budding out quite yet.
  • Turn-off to our first overlook.
  • Heather spotted this tree with an unusual number of small galls all over it.
  • A view from Jones Knob.
  • Rich & Heather enjoying the view from Jones Knob.
  • Interesting things on Jones Knob.
  • A lonely branch of Serviceberry on Jones Knob about to bloom open.
  • From Jones Knob, our next stops, Whiterock Mtn. on the left and Little Fishhawk on the right.
  • Finally enough sunlight for the Bloodroot to bud open.
  • A curious, curly branching of a Mountain Laurel around a nearby tree.
  • Oakleaf lichen on a piece of bark that had fallen off a decaying tree.
  • This rock formation paralleling the trail seem to go on forever.
  • Another great view on the way to Whiterock Mtn.
  • Almost there!
  • Taking in the views from Whiterock Mtn. Vic, just relaxing.
  • Others enjoying the view but a bit further from the ledge.
  • Quite a tight spiral grain in this old log.
  • Our Little Fishhawk Mtn Hikers (L-R): Vic, Ken, Heather, Jane, Jenny, Beth, Charles, Londa, Mike & Matt.
  • A final view from a small overlook Vic found on the trail between Whiterock and Little Fishhook Mtns.
  • The leaves bear a resemblance to marijuana, but it's Cutleaf Toothwort!
  • Ray says this is not Yellow Stargrass . . . a Buttercup perhaps?
  • Nature put together this last wildflower photo of two types of Violets and Bloodroot growing together.