The 10 Hardest Bike Climbs in Georgia

Cycling Georgia

Photo: Brasstown Bald, the second hardest climb in Georgia.

Full admission - I fully understand that the Waffle House is not really a state symbol and it is also wholly inconsistent with the virtues and nutritional focus of cycling.  However, it does hold a favorite place in my heart (and stomach . . . ).  Some of us dads spent a lot of quality time there during our daughters’ Women’s Soccer NCAA Championship matches in 2011 -- thus the exception. 😋

The top bike climbs in Georgia are in the North Georgia Mountains subrange of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northwestern Georgia.  

The top bike climbing event in Georgia is the Six Gap Century, held in the North Georgia Mountains.  The Six Gap Century  involves 103.8 mile/11,230 vertical feet (including Neels Gap, Hogpen Gap, Unicoi Gap, Jacks Gap, Wolfpen Gap, and Woody Gap).  A  route map of the Six Gap Century can be found here.

GEORGIA’S #1 BIKE CLIMB

BELL MOUNTAIN

The steepest mile in the United States (17.4%) - and 25th steepest mile in the world - belongs to Bell Mountain in north Georgia. Just a few miles to the south lay some of Georgia’s other top climbs, like Brasstown Bald and Jack’s Gap.

GEORGIA’S #2 HARDEST BIKE CLIMB

BRASSTOWN BALD

Cycling Brasstown Bald, Georgia

Ride 2.5 miles gaining 1,388’ at 10.5% average grade.

Brasstown Bald Observation Tower center right of photo.

Brasstown Bald is a popular cycling climb to the highest point in Georgia. This mountain is located in the Blueridge Mountain subrange of the Appalachian Mountains.  On a clear day, you can see Atlanta 75 miles to the southwest from the observation tower at the top of the mountain. This is a brutally steep bike climb with the steepest quarter-mile at 16.6% and the steepest half-mile at 14.1%.

“Bald” is an Appalachian term for a mountaintop with 360 degree unobstructed views.

Brasstown Bald Observation Tower and Complex.

GEORGIA #3

JACKS GAP

Cycling Jacks Gap, Georgia

Ride 7.7 miles gaining 2,247’ at 5.6% average grade.

This climb ends at the start of the Brasstown Bald Climb.

This climb is on Georgia Scenic Byway Route 180.

GEORGIA #4

HOGPEN GAP WEST

Cycling Hogpen Gap East

Ride 2.4 miles gaining 1,203’ at 9.5% average grade.

We are surrounded by the lush North Georgia Mountain/Blue Ridge Mountain forest during this challenging and fun bike climb.

The Hogpen Gap climbs are along Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway and end at the Appalachian Trail, which crosses our path at the Gap. This bike climb is in the Blue Ridge Mountain subrange of the Appalachian Mountains and is in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest (866,468 acres established in 1936).

PJAMM Adventure App - beginning of Hogpen West climb

The steepest ½ mile on this climb is 11.5% and begins at mile 0.5.