Sassafras Knob, Mayapple Knob and Rattlesnake Knob

Summary
Distance: 5.5 miles — Egypt Gap to Rattlesnake Knob and back
Elevation gain: 1,700 feet
Type: Out and back
Trailhead: Private property
AllTrails map (here)

This was another day working on the Georgia 4000 Challenge, and these three peaks have eluded us for a while. The problem that we had was that my car could not make it up Bell Gap Rd to access the Forest Service land because the road has become deeply rutted. I was fortunate to find a way to access the area from private property with consent of the land owner. So, I’m describing the hike along the ridge between the peaks and not the entire hike.

These three peaks are numbers 29, 30, and 31 of the Challenge. Only one more to go now.

It was a spectacular Spring day as we made our way along the ridge from Egypt Gap eastward towards the three peaks. There is a fairly distinct trail on the ridge line and it was easy to make our way towards Skut Knob.

It was an easy walk to the summit of Sassafras Knob, but you need to head south off the summit to work your way around cliffs that are too tall to safely descend.

Walking below the Sassafras Knob cliffs

After getting past the Sassafras cliffs, the path descends into a wide saddle before climbing Mayapple Knob. The climb was straight forward and an easy walk up an open ridge line. The Mayapple summit is fairly flat, but the high point is pretty obvious. From the summit, the path heads northeast on a spur before continuing east. There are two small knobs to climb along the way to Rattlesnake Knob.

Rattlesnake Knob was the highlight of the day, and maybe even of the entire peak bagging effort. It is one of my favorite peaks, not for the actual summit, but for the climb to get there. The route climbed up a narrow, and somewhat exposed, rocky spur. As you made your way up, there were great views to the south and west. We were even treated to late season icicles.

This was a truly spectacular adventure into the Southern Nantahala Wilderness. It feels somehow fitting that our months long exploration of Georgia’s high country is coming to an end on peaks that were so hard to reach and so rewarding to experience. We’ve got one peak to go to complete the GA 4000 Challenge — Eagle Mountain.