Yonah Mountain is probably the most prominent topographic feature around these parts. The name intrigues us. It’s not Hanoy spelled backwards. It’s a Cherokee word for “bear.” It’s an impressive cone-shaped piece of granite rising to 3,143 ft.(958 m.).
Yonah is situated in the Chatahoochie National Forest between Cleveland GA and Helen GA which are 7 miles apart. It can be seen from almost any road around here. However, it is not easy to get to.
For many years it was the mountain training ground for the U.S. Army Rangers 5th Battalion. Today, it is open to the public but slivers of private land across the only access road became a barrier. Housing and gates across the road make the trails less accessible.
Yonah is a popular spot for rock climbers. The upper cliffs visible in the photo is good for top roping and there are some good spots for bouldering. There is a climber web site devoted to Yonah Mountain which presents trail, camping and climbing details. www.coolclimbing.com
We’ll see a lot of Yonah while we wre here.
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