by Jacob “Valhalla” Myers, 2020 Bartram Trail Thru-Hiker
The Bartram Trail is a 102-mile trek through the Southern Appalachian Mountains. It loosely follows botanist William Bartram’s route when he documented the various plants unknown to Western explorers in the 18th century. The trail is blazed continuously except for the optional road walk and is normally hiked in 10 days.
Region: Deep South / Lower Appalachians (Georgia, North Carolina )
Distance: 102 miles, including optional 14-mile road walk (8-12 days)
Physical Difficulty: Difficult
- Significant elevation gain
- Trail can be overgrown or buried in duff
- Occasional river crossings
Logistical Difficulty: Moderate
- Permits not needed for hiking or camping
- Limited shuttle capabilities at Georgia (south) terminus
- Only resupply opportunity is in Franklin, North Carolina (~halfway point)
Season: Spring, Fall, Summer, Winter
Elevation (average): ~3,000 feet
Total Elevation Gain: 31,000 feet
Hiking the Bartram Trail
The Bartram Trail in many ways is the epitome of Southern Appalachian hiking. On my winter thru-hike in 2020 I walked alongside major rivers, seasonally exposed mountaintops, tons of root-covered trail, and, of course, lots of rain. Combine these conditions with tons of climbs and descents (and East Coast trail architects having no knowledge of what switchbacks are) and you get the Bartram Trail. The trail is designed to mirror the route of a famous botanist, so don’t forget the incredible abundance of biodiversity in both the lowlands by the Chattooga River and the highlands of Nantahala National Forest.
While I never met any thru-hikers on my trek, I did run into families camping for the weekend by the major rivers as well as day hikers and some hunters during my trek. The majority of the trip was quiet, and I never ran into any crowds.
I suggest tackling the Bartram Trail northbound. It terminates with awesome views atop Cheoah Bald (just get ready for a long descent after), and will start you on well-maintained terrain alongside the Chattooga River. The mild hiking lasts about 10-12 miles before making the climb up Rainy Mountain, which is where the fun begins. The trail leaves the river and steeply climbs into the mountains in a direct ascent—you will find no switchbacks here. Segments like this are what earned the Bartram Trail its designation as a “difficult” trail.
Hikers are rewarded with more than a few amazing seasonal ridgeline views in the Georgia segment, as well as a 360 panoramic from the Rabun Bald watchtower. There’s a handful of bubbling springheads and mountain stream waterfalls around Georgia as well.
After getting into North Carolina, the blazing changes to yellow rectangles and the trail begins leading up and down a series of mountain ranges in Nantahala National Forest. Osage Mountain, Wayah Bald, and Cheoah Bald are just a few great vistas the trail passes through. I was taken back by the sheer contrast of the lush, green forest I’d been walking through for days when I reached the burn-scarred mountains surrounding Wayah Bald. Many regions of Western North Carolina had wildfires in 2016, and while the trails have been cleaned up and the compromised structures have been rebuilt, it will take some time before the mountains are back to normal.
Contrast these mountain views with a walk around Nantahala Lake (NOBOs turn right at the road and follow it until you reach the Phillips 66 gas station; there is no blazing here.) This really gets you full tour of what Southern Appalachia has to offer. Spring or summer thru-hikers will see rafters and paddlers on the Nantahala River after summiting Cheoah Bald—always a fun sight.
How to Get to the Bartram Trail
Southern Terminus: Russell Bridge (map)
Nearest City: Walhalla. South Carolina (26 minutes)
Northern Terminus: Cheoah Bald (map)
Nearest City: Nantahala Outdoor Center and Bryson City, North Carolina (18 minutes)
I called a friend to get me to the Southern Terminus and left my car at public parking by the NOC. Chattooga Whitewater does offer shuttles if you would like to leave a vehicle at the Northern Terminus and have them take you down to Russell Bridge. The Bartram Trail Society does not recognize any official shuttle services, so I have listed a few local AT shuttles in the resources section at the bottom of this post.
When to Hike the Bartram Trail
While it’s possible to hike the Bartram during all four seasons, this trail is best hiked during spring or fall. All along the trail’s length are signs identifying plant species, many of which were originally identified by William Bartram. With this botanist being the focal character of the trail it makes sense to hike in late spring when the plants are in full bloom and segments of the trail have an abundance of biodiversity.
I hiked this trail in the winter. For those looking to get away from the “green tunnel,” consider hiking in late fall or early winter once the trees are bare. Many miles of the Bartram are spent on tree-covered ridgelines where it can be difficult to look out into the mountains when the trees are full. Late fall, especially during a dry year, would be the safest time to hike the northern section of the Bartram since the chance of floods are mitigated.
Bartram Trail Terrain
The Bartram Trail is almost entirely dirt-pack with the occasional exposed roots from flooding. Atop a few of the mountains—especially near Wesser Bald, where the forest is still recovering from wildfires—the trail can be soft, which makes the uphill slightly more difficult, but it was all very navigable. Segments of the trail were buried in duff, but the trail bed was deep enough and well blazed enough so that you won’t lose where you’re going. High waters near the Northern Terminus (up to 3 feet deep and flowing) can be a concern, so check the forecast for rain when approaching the finish.
Bartram Trail Resupply Strategy
The only town the Bartram Trail goes through is Franklin, which is full-kitted with a grocery store, potential lodging, and restaurants, so naturally a thru-hike should be broken into a southern segment and a northern segment. There is a well-stocked snack resupply option at the Wesser General Store near the Northern Terminus that serves plenty of thru-hikers, but it is a 10-minute hitch on a seasonally active road from the Nantahala River road crossing. This makes it a great spot to grab some snacks or drinks after finishing the hike NOBO, but logistically it isn’t a great resupply option.
Warwoman Dell (NOBO mile 19) is only 3 miles from Clayton, Georgia, which has a grocery store, restaurants, and lodging, but a hitch from this picnic area is unlikely and the road is tight with no shoulders and low visibility, making a walk into town a bit of a risk.
Logistics: Land Management, Water, Special Gear
In many ways the Bartram Trail encompasses the adage “the trail provides.” Water is abundant, public land campsites are often available throughout the trek and do not require reservations or permits, and since the trail passes directly through Franklin, it is easy to resupply as long as you bring enough food to get you there. The majority of your logistical focus for this hike should be directed at securing a shuttle to get you back to your vehicle at the Southern Terminus and preparing for lots of rain in North Carolina, as well as potential river crossings in that same area.
Camping and Permits: Again, no permitting necessary. You can hop on this trail with almost no advance logistical planning.
What Type of Land: The trail exists on Chattahoochee National Forest land in Georgia and primarily sits upon Nantahala National Forest Land in North Carolina. The optional road walk goes through public highways in the trail town of Franklin, North Carolina. Some of the trail around Nantahala Lake goes through private drives (High Water Trail), but this segment is short and you will re-enter national forest land once you cross the highway.
Water: Water is abundant for most of the trail. Even the road walk skirts by small mountain creeks that one could fill up at. Gather water in the valleys and side streams and enjoy hiking over the mountaintops.
Special Gear: Wet feet lead to blisters. Bring dry socks for sleeping and a proper rain kit. Wet environments often lead to chafing as well, so consider bringing BodyGlide or an anti-chafe equivalent as well as a blister treatment kit.
What to Know Before Hiking the Bartram Trail
Trail Markers: In Georgia, the trail is blazed with metal yellow diamonds nailed to the trees, but in North Carolina the blazes change to yellow rectangles. It’s a minor change but I have heard from folks who forgot about this and kept looking for diamonds after crossing the state line.
Weather: Weather in Southern Appalachia is unpredictable and in the rainy seasons flooding can be a hazard. I crossed waist-deep water twice during my hike in December, so be prepared for that during wet times.
Road Walks: While the trail is very well blazed, the optional road walk in Franklin and the road segment at Nantahala Lake are not marked at all. Know where your trail reconnects are, and practice safe habits while walking on these small country roads.
Bartram Trail Resources
The Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy
Hiiker Elevation and Mapping Data
Chattooga Whitewater Outfitters shuttle (864) 647-9083
Wesser General Store (828) 488-7226
“Jacob “Valhalla” Myers is a Southern-Appalachian- based outdoorsman, writer, and amateur endurance athlete. When not documenting his adventures on his website, Jacob works and plays in his small mountain-town home in Cashiers, North Carolina, where he occasionally guides waterfall tours and other hiking trips. Jacob was a 2020 NOGO AT hiker due to the Covid-19 outbreak, but he completed a number of hikes in the Southeast, including the Bartram Trail (2020), a marathon of the Foothills Trail (2020), and the majority of the 6,000-foot mountains of the Southeast. In 2021 he completed the Arizona Trail and is looking to attempt the Trans Adirondack Route in fall 2021.
