State Route 180 marker

State Route 180

Georgia State Route 180 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by GDOT
Length26.0 mi[1] (41.8 km)
Major junctions
West end SR 60 in Suches
Major intersections US 19 / US 129 / SR 11 northeast of Vogel State Park
East end SR 17 / SR 75 in southern Towns County
Location
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountiesUnion, Towns
Highway system
  • Georgia State Highway System
← SR 178→ SR 181

State Route 180 (SR 180) is a 26.0-mile-long (41.8 km) state highway in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. Its routing is located within portions of Union and Towns counties.

Route description

SR 180 begins at an intersection with SR 60 in Suches, within the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest and Union County. It winds its way to the northeast until it intersects US 19/US 129/SR 11 (Gainesville Highway), just northeast of Vogel State Park. The four highways run concurrent to the northeast for approximately 2.3 miles (3.7 km). The route heads east to SR 348 (Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway). SR 180 continues to the northeast, until it meets its eastern terminus, an intersection with SR 17/SR 75 (Unicoi Turnpike) halfway between Hiawassee and Helen in southern Towns County.[1]

SR 180 traverses some of the most difficult terrain in Georgia, traveling the gaps of the highest mountains in the state. The route has two sections known as Bald Mountain Road and Wolfpen Gap Road, which are joined by the concurrency with US 19/US 129/SR 11. Most of the highway is in the Chattahoochee National Forest.

Bald Mountain Road, named for the state's highest peak (Brasstown Bald), is the eastern section of the highway and has been designated a National Scenic Byway and a Georgia Scenic Byway. Part of SR 180 is included in the Russell–Brasstown Scenic Byway. Bald Mountain Road crosses the Nottely River shortly before the concurrency with US 19/US 129/SR 11.

Wolfpen Gap Road (the 11.8-mile-long (19.0 km) western section of the highway) is known to be the curviest road in the state. Sites along this section include various hiking trails and scenery as well as Vogel State Park, access to Sosebee Cove, an intersection with the Coosa Back Country Trail, and Lake Winfield Scott (Georgia's highest lake). The highpoint of the highway is 3,260 feet (990 m) at Wolfpen Gap.

SR 180 is not part of the National Highway System, a system of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.[2]

Major intersections

CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
UnionSuches0.00.0 SR 60 – Morganton, DahlonegaWestern terminus
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest11.117.9

 US 19 south / US 129 south (SR 11 south / Gainesville Highway)		Western end of US 19/US 129/SR 11 concurrency
13.521.7

 US 19 north / US 129 north (SR 11 north / Gainesville Highway)		Eastern end of US 19/US 129/SR 11 concurrency
14.423.2
 SR 348 south (Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway) – Robertstown		Northern terminus of SR 348
20.733.3
 SR 180 Spur north		Southern terminus of SR 180 Spur
Towns26.041.8 SR 17 / SR 75 (Unicoi Turnpike)Eastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Bannered route

State Route 180 Spur marker

State Route 180 Spur

LocationSoutheast of Brasstown Bald
Length2.5 mi[3] (4.0 km)
The approach to Brasstown Bald

State Route 180 Spur (SR 180 Spur) is a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) spur route that connects the SR 180 mainline with a parking lot at the visitors center for Brasstown Bald, the highest point in Georgia. It starts on the Towns–Union county line, then travels completely within Towns County.

SR 180 Spur shares the National Scenic Byway and Georgia Scenic Byway designations bestowed upon the SR 180 mainline.[4] Because of the altitude and steepness of the road, and because it serves no through traffic, it is often closed in winter due to inclement weather.

CountyLocationmi[3]kmDestinationsNotes
Chattahoochee–Oconee National Forest0.00.0 SR 180Southern terminus
Towns2.54.0Brasstown Bald Visitor's CenterNorthern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Google (June 22, 2013). "Route of SR 180" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
  2. ↑ "National Highway System: Georgia" (PDF). United States Department of Transportation. October 1, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
  3. 1 2 Google (June 22, 2013). "Overview map of SR 180 Spur" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
  4. ↑ Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway Brochure (Georgia Department of Transportation)
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