Hightower Bald, at 4,588 feet, is the fourth-highest peak in Georgia, rising from within the Southern Nantahala Wilderness in Towns County along the North Carolina state line. The peak carries an unusual historical footnote: in 1818 and 1819, mathematician James Camak conducted two surveying expeditions to mark Georgia's northern border, producing conflicting results. The discrepancy left a peculiar north-south jog in the state line just north of the summit, still marked on maps as Montgomery's Corner and the 30 Mile Post.
No trail reaches the summit, so the ascent requires off-trail navigation. The most straightforward approach follows the Appalachian Trail to Rich Knob or Bly Gap, then heads west along the ridge. An alternative southern approach via Shoal Branch involves steep bushwhacking north toward the cliffs, then working around to Tom's Gap or up Buckhorn Ridge; the final stretch may require crawling through heath thickets. Expect roughly 2.5 miles one way with over 2,000 feet of elevation gain, making this one of the more demanding hikes in Georgia.
The summit is capped by a dwarfed red oak forest with a dense understory of beaked hazel and hawthorn; the stunted trees can be climbed for views across the wilderness. The 150-foot south-facing cliffs shelter rare plants including Blue Ridge St. John's wort and federally listed Biltmore sedge. Loggy Branch Cove on the northern approach harbors Georgia's largest colony of yellowwood trees, making the route in as rewarding as the summit itself.
