Approach to Mount Yonah

So I'll be in Young Harris, GA with my mom and friends as well as my 8 year old. Looking to take them somewhere to set to up some easy TR as well as allowing me to get on a few harder climbs. Mount Yonah, seems to be the place but just concerned about the approach. All are avid hikers. Any input would be appreciated.

The approach is all uphill for at least a mile. Its pretty tough on folks that aren't avid hikers, but sounds like your crew should be good with it. We usually take it slow and hit the Lowers in like 45 minutes and the Main Face in about an hour. There are some fun climbs on the Main Face and personally I think its got some absolutely incredible bouldering all along the mountain (if you're into that kind of thing). Pack plenty of water and sunscreen if you're heading there anytime soon, and expect unbearable heat unless you hit it in the morning or evening.

BTW...if you are into bouldering, I've got a downloadable mini guide to some of the parking lot boulders on my website, UpstateBouldering.blogspot.com. Great routes from V0-V10!

The lowers are good for toprope plus it is very shady versus the much more exposed main face

I agree with the lowers for top roping . I took some non-climber friends and had a blast. The area to the left can be setup to where one can do several different routes from one top rope setup. The routes were all pretty mellow rated.

The face is more of a hike and I had a hard time route finding. I bet it is hot as hell this time of year on the main face.

I agree The Lowers are good for top roping, but the routes are short and in my opinion, absolutely terrible. I agree that the Main Face would be hot, but I wouldn't recommend the Lowers to anyone besides a boyscout group...unless quality of the climb isn't a factor. Hiking up the approach just to climb at the Lowers isn't a very fun trip IMO.

The only major issue not yet mentioned is poison ivy. Yonah is covered in the stuff all spring and summer. It is so dense that it blankets boulders, overhangs trails, and even totally covers the forest floor by the acre. It is practically unavoidable, so be cautious with little ones and wandering pets. I usually wipe exposed skin down with a towel and isopropyl alcohol upon returning to the trailhead and shower as soon as practicable.

Go really early to avoid the heat of direct sun; the main face stays shady until 10 or 11.

For a local trip out of Young Harris at this time of year I'd probably go to Pickens Nose instead. It is 1500' higher in elevation (much cooler) and has little to no poison ivy. There are no guide books but the main face on the eastern end of the ridge has a couple of obvious easy and moderate single pitch trad climbs as well as a few hard routes.