{{Short description|State highway in Georgia, United States}} {{Use American English|date=March 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Multiple issues| {{Too few opinions|date=December 2013}} {{One source|date=December 2013}} }}
{{Infobox road |state=GA |type=SR |route=180 |map={{maplink-road|from=Georgia State Route 180.map}} |map_custom=yes |map_notes =Georgia State Route 180 highlighted in red |length_mi=26.0 |length_ref=<ref name="Google">{{Google maps|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=State+Route+180%2FWolf+Pen+Gap+Rd&daddr=State+Route+180&hl=en&ll=34.781664,-83.871002&spn=0.300029,0.441513&sll=34.688692,-84.022359&sspn=0.001173,0.001725&geocode=FUlPEQIdCez9-g%3BFVl_EwIdBGEC-w&oq=Hel&dirflg=h&mra=dme&mrsp=0&sz=19&t=m&z=11|title=Route of SR 180|accessdate=June 22, 2013}}</ref> |length_round=1 |tourist=25px25px Russell–Brasstown Scenic Byway |established= |direction_a=West |direction_b=East |terminus_a={{jct|state=GA|SR|60}} in Suches |junction= *{{jct|state=GA|US|19|US|129|SR|11}} *{{jct|state=GA|SR-Spur|180}} at Jacks Gap |terminus_b={{jct|state=GA|SR|17|SR|75}} in southern Towns County |counties=Union, Towns |previous_type=SR |previous_route=179 |next_type=SR |next_route=181 }}
'''State Route 180''' ('''SR 180''') is a {{convert|26.0|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} 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== {{More citations needed section|date=June 2013}} 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 {{convert|2.3|mi|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.<ref name="Google"/>
SR 180 traverses some of the most difficult terrain in Georgia, traveling the gaps of the highest mountains in the state.{{citation needed|date=June 2013}} 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 {{convert|11.8|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} western section of the highway) is known to be the curviest road in the state.{{citation needed|date=June 2013}} 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 {{convert|3260|ft|m}} at Wolfpen Gap.{{citation needed|date=June 2013}}
SR 180 is not part of the National Highway System, a system of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.<ref name="NHS Georgia">{{cite web|title=National Highway System: Georgia|url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/nhs_maps/georgia/ga_georgia.pdf|format=PDF|publisher=United States Department of Transportation|date=October 1, 2012|access-date=June 22, 2013}}</ref>
==Major intersections== {{jcttop|state=GA|length_ref=<ref name="Google"/>}} {{GAint |county=Union |cspan=4 |location=Suches |mile=0.0 |road={{jct|state=GA|SR|60|city1=Morganton|city2=Dahlonega}} |notes=Western terminus}} {{Jctint |location_special=Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest |lspan=3 |mile=11.1 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=GA|US|19|US|129|dir1=south|dir2=south|name2=SR 11 south / Gainesville Highway|city3=Dahlonega|city4=Cleveland}} |notes=Western end of US 19/US 129/SR 11 concurrency}} {{GAint |mile=13.5 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=GA|US|19|US|129|dir1=north|dir2=north|name2=SR 11 north / Gainesville Highway|city3=Blairsville}} |notes=Eastern end of US 19/US 129/SR 11 concurrency}} {{GAint |mile=14.4 |road={{jct|state=GA|SR|348|dir1=south|name1=Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway|city1=Robertstown}} |notes=Northern terminus of SR 348}} {{GAint |county1=Union |county2=Towns |location_special=Jacks Gap |mile=20.7 |road={{jct|state=GA|SR-Spur|180|dab1=Brasstown Bald|dir1=north|location=Brasstown Bald}} |notes=Southern terminus of SR 180 Spur}} {{GAint |county=Towns |location_special=Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest |mile=26.0 |road={{jct|state=GA|SR|17|SR|75|name2=Unicoi Turnpike|city2=Helen|city3=Hiawassee}} |notes=Eastern terminus}} {{jctbtm|keys=concur}}
==Spur route== {{One source section|date=June 2013}} {{Infobox road small |state=GA |type=SR-Spur |route=180 |length_mi=2.5 |length_ref=<ref name="GoogleSpur">{{Google maps |url=https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=GA-180+Spur+N&daddr=GA-180+Spur&hl=en&ll=34.861778,-83.804398&spn=0.037467,0.055189&sll=34.848191,-83.798663&sspn=0.001171,0.001725&geocode=FcW7EwIdFlYB-w%3BFWITFAId_ikB-w&oq=Hel&dirflg=h&mra=dme&mrsp=0&sz=19&t=m&z=14 |title=Overview map of SR 180 Spur |link=no |access-date=June 22, 2013 }}</ref> |location=Towns and Union counties |tourist=25px25px Russell–Brasstown Scenic Byway Russell–Brasstown Scenic Byway }} [[File:GA180spur.jpg|thumb|left|The approach to Brasstown Bald]] '''State Route 180 Spur''' ('''SR 180 Spur''') is a {{convert|2.5|mi|km|adj=on}} 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 until it reaches Brasstown Bald.
SR 180 Spur shares the National Scenic Byway and Georgia Scenic Byway designations bestowed upon the SR 180 mainline.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dot.ga.gov/DriveSmart/Travel/Documents/Scenic%20Byways-RussellBrasstown-Flyer.pdf |title=Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway Brochure (Georgia Department of Transportation) |access-date=2016-05-15 |archive-date=2016-02-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222005233/http://www.dot.ga.gov/DriveSmart/Travel/Documents/Scenic%20Byways-RussellBrasstown-Flyer.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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.{{citation needed|date=June 2013}} {{-}} ;Major intersections {{jcttop|state=GA}} {{GAint |county1=Union |county2=Towns |cspan=2 |location_special=Jacks Gap |mile=0.0 |road={{jct|state=GA|SR|180|nolink=y}} |notes=southern terminus }} {{GAint |location_special=Brasstown Bald |mile=2.5 |road=Brasstown Bald Visitor Center |notes=northern terminus }} {{jctbtm}}
==See also== * Georgia State Route 66 * {{portal-inline|Georgia (U.S. state)}} * {{portal-inline|U.S. roads}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Attached KML}} {{commons category|Georgia State Route 180}} * [http://georgiaroads.tripod.com/gahwy9.htm Georgia Roads (Routes 161 - 180)] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110711165635/http://www.highpointing.com/Georgia/brasstown_bald_pictures.htm Brasstown Bald Pictures: Several images of SR 180 Spur]
180 Category:Transportation in Union County, Georgia Category:Transportation in Towns County, Georgia