In 1980, the Eagles released a song called “Seven Bridges Road.” Beginning at a Bartram Trail trailhead on Scaly Mountain Road (officially NC 106), about halfway between Highlands and Dillard, Georgia, is a 13-bridges hiking path.
While all of the water crossings are foot bridges and none of the waterways are large, this trail provides plenty of opportunities to view lush native vegetation – due to all the water – and to listen to the soothing flow of tiny creeks and waterfalls. Mushrooms galore exist on this trail, especially the tiniest pinwheel mushrooms that grow on decaying sticks.
Tulip poplars and mountain laurel drop so many flowers along the path in late spring that the trail is covered, snow-like, in color. Moss and ferns are abundant in and around boulders and along the waterways. And waxy galax plants shoot up their stems of white flowers throughout the warmer months.
The hike is easy-to-moderate in difficulty, with most of the path downhill from the Osage Overlook trailhead/parking lot to Hale Ridge. But there is a little bit of up and down along the way. Primarily, because the trail tends to be so wet, hikers need to be careful crossing all the bridges and on steps and rocks, due to slipperiness.
No vast views are offered on this hike, but the cool shade of the massive trees, the almost constant sound of trickling water, and the plentiful flora and fauna make this a “must” excursion that is easy to get to from the Plateau (Highlands-Cashiers area).
While on the trail, make sure to always follow the yellow Bartram Trail blazes attached to or painted on trees. A few side spur trails jet off of the path from Osage Overlook to Hale Ridge, so be careful not to take those and risk getting off the Bartram Trail. As always recommended, using the Gaia GPS app or AllTrails (pulled up before getting out of signal range) on a phone helps ensure the correct trail is followed.
This is a 3.7-mile hike, from Osage Overlook to Hale Ridge. For hikers who do not want to do an out and back – making it a 7.4-mile hike – simply park one vehicle at the Hale Ridge trailhead, which is a few miles off of NC 106 and easy to find by putting “Hale Ridge” into a GPS, and then drive about seven miles to Osage Overlook to leave a vehicle. The Hale Ridge parking area is located on a short portion of gravel road, and parking spots are minimal. Look for the aging “Osage Overlook 3.7 miles” carved sign at the trailhead to determine the right spot where the trail will end up.
Another suggestion: purchase a helpful Georgia/North Carolina map off the Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy website; this map not only shows the trail, but also the main and side roads – such as NC 106 as well as Hale Ridge Road.
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