AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Tray Mountain Wilderness

Tray Mountain–Appalachian Viewpoint, 5 sights

16 mi · ▲ 2,848 ft · 6 hr 45 min

Tray Mountain–Appalachian Viewpoint, 5 sights is a 16-mile out-and-back in Tray Mountain Wilderness near Helen, GA. The route passes Tray Mountain before reaching Appalachian Viewpoint at the turnaround, 8 miles in. It climbs 2,848 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade. It scores 75/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi1,726 – 4,305 ft · steepest grade: 21%16.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Smith Creek 34.72664, -83.71604
Nearest town Helen, GA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Tray Mountain–Appalachian Viewpoint, 5 sights

16 mi · ▲ 2,848 ft · 6 hr 45 min

Elevation 1,725–4,304 ft

Out & Back · Tray Mountain Wilderness

Trailhead: Smith Creek · 34.72664, -83.71604

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 7:12 AM · sunset 7:56 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Smith Creek, heading NE.
  2. 1.7 miContinue straight onto Old FSR 690 / No Trail Access, heading E.
  3. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Abandoned FSR 690, heading NE.
  4. 2.6 miBear left onto 4WD, heading NE.
  5. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  6. 0.5 miBear left onto Tray Mountain Road, heading N.
  7. 2.6 miSharp right onto Appalachian Trail, heading NW.
  8. 0.5 miPass Appalachian Viewpoint.
  9. 500 ftReach Tray Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 0.6 miSharp left onto Tray Mountain Road, heading S.
  11. 2.6 miBear right onto 4WD, heading S.
  12. 0.5 miBear left, heading SE.
  13. 300 ftBear right onto Abandoned FSR 690, heading SE.
  14. 2.6 miContinue straight onto Old FSR 690 / No Trail Access, heading SW.
  15. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Smith Creek, heading SW.
  16. 1.5 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/tray-mountain-appalachian-viewpoint-out-back-5-sights-26-km

Weather

Sunrise 7:12 AMSunset 7:56 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.8 mi in (~131 min). Leave by 5:25 PM for the 7:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:45 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Smith Creek Trailhead

Hikes near Helen, Georgia