Brasstown Bald, at 4,784 feet the highest point in Georgia, rises sharply from the Blue Ridge Mountains about 12 miles south of Hiawassee. The summit is accessible by trail (the last half-mile is steep) or by shuttle from the visitor centre car park. On a clear day, the 360-degree views take in four states: Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and South Carolina.
The visitor centre at the top has exhibits on the natural history of the Southern Appalachians and the cultural geography of the Cherokee nation. The summit meadow is a good place to spot migrating hawks in autumn; during the fall hawk migration (mid-September to mid-October), counters tally thousands of birds passing through. The road to the car park is seasonal — check ahead in winter.