The Whitewater Center has lots of other activities to offer the outdoor adventurer including a one-mile hiking trail which crosses a 330 foot suspension bridge and circles the whitewater center. Unique to most trails in the North Georgia Mountains this trail is entirely accessible for those who are physically challenged. Others will find an additional 20 miles of trails for hikers and mountain bikers, including the Bear Paw Trail and the Chestnut Mountain Trail, both of which are loops. A recent addition, the Thunder Rock Express, has received a lot of positive comments from bikers.

For those looking for an easier paced adventure try the Old Cooper Road Historic Trail which was used in the old days to transport copper by wagon from Ducktown to Cleveland before the arrival of the railroad from Blue Ridge.

One of the most scenic drives in the North Georgia Mountains is US Hwy 64 the through the gorge. The drive offers many photographic opportunities and you will find picnic areas, swimming holes, gift shop, a native garden and much more. You will surely enjoy your day and come back time and time again.

Rich Mountain Wilderness Area
Located between Blue Ridge and Cherry Log this Wilderness area offers a number of well marked hiking & biking trails through the forest where you will find creeks & waterfalls. The old growth forest is home to a variety of wildlife indigenous to this area.

From Blue Ridge go South on Aska Rd. 8 miles and go right on Stanley Creek Rd. follow to end of pavement. The Forest Service land starts .1 miles after the pavement ends where you will find the 1st of many trails this one goes off to the right and leads to a picturesque waterfall.

Cohutta Wilderness Area

Cohutta Wilderness Area

The Cohutta Loop traverses through Almost 70 square miles of the North Georgia Wilderness area. The drive abounds with walking trails and wildlife, and features occasional campgrounds as it follows the perimeter of the wilderness.

The road really is not a loop because there is no road across the northern end of this federal land. The Forest Service considers the loop a series of roads which it refers to by a series of numbers. Along the way the road offers babbling creeks nearby, climbing steadily to spectacular mountain views along the southern and southwestern end of the wilderness.

Our Cabin Rental clients will find a number of hiking trails including the Beech Bottom and Jack's River Trail. Several designated camping areas and scenic mountain view drives, the Lake Conasauga Recreational Area, with camping and a picnic area.

Amicalola Falls Trail
Visitor Center: (706) 265-4703
http://www.gastateparks.org
Amicolola Falls State Park is located in northern Georgia, approximately about a 1 hour drive from Blue Ridge. This falls is approximately 600 to 700 feet high; and is one of the most visited sites in North Georgia. This beautiful waterfall cascades into a reflecting pool at the bottom. There is a tail which goes from the bottom to the top of the falls was completed late in 2001. A paved walkway begins near the bottom of the falls and passes along a series of cascades. About one third of the way up it becomes a combination of viewing platforms and wooden steps to the top affording spectacular views of the Falls. You can park at the bottom, at the top and near the middle of the falls so it is possible to start the walk from either the middle, top or bottom.

Situated in the Chattahoochee National Forest close to Blue Ridge and Elliajay, this park offers a variety of outdoor activities. Hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders will find some of the most beautiful trails in NorthGeorgia. Most wind through hardwood forest and blueberry thickets, occasionally crossing streams and providing spectacular vistas. During the summer, children will enjoy the sand beach located on a clear mountain lake, as well as miniature golf and pedal boat rental.

Chattahoochee National Forest
The Chattahoochee National Forest is pretty remarkable it covers 18 counties North Georgia, and is broken into 6 ranger districts for management. Rabun County, in the northeast has the greatest physical and percentage acreage, while Catoosa has the least. Fannin County is 42% National Forest and has the largest amount of area designated wilderness, which means that it must be kept in its natural condition; the forest will never be harvested.

You can explore some 450 miles of trails, drive 1,600 + miles of road, and an incredible 2,200 miles of rivers and streams within the boundaries of the Chattahoochee National Forest. There are numerous things to do to explore the natural beauty of North Georgia many of which are just a short walk from a major road. Some of the more popular natural attractions within its boundaries are:

• Anna Ruby Falls
• Chattooga River Chattooga River Trip Report
• Appalachian Trail
• Headwaters of many major rivers including the Chattahoochee
• Swing Bridge (Blue Ridge)

Swinging Bridge (Benton MacKaye Trail)
A popular destination for our cabin rental clients and day-hikers is the Swinging Bridge on the Benton MacKaye Trail. This 265 foot long bridge is the longest swinging bridge east of the Mississippi River and is one of the most scenic spots in Blue Ridge and North Georgia.

In 1976 the USFS replaced a dangerous ford of the Toccoa River in this area with the Swinging Bridge. The bridgewas completed in 1977 and has become a landmark in Fannin County and a popular camping spot in the Blue Ridge Wildlife Management Area. It is one of the most scenic river locations in North Georgia.

The Benton MacKaye Trail and the swinging bridge are only open to foot traffic. Camping by the Toccoa River on either side of the river is extremely popular and it is unmanaged. Plan on a weekday visit to secure a site.

To get to the swinging bridge: From Blue Ridge take Hwy 60 South towards Suches approximately 14 miles. You will then go down a USFS road about 3 miles to a parking area then have a short walk down the trail to the bridge.

Cross the North Georgia-Tennessee Line in the Town of McCaysville
Many of our Cabin Rental clients make it a point to visit the quaint town of McCaysville, on the North Georgia side, chartered in 1904, is split by the Georgia-Tennessee state line, Copperhill is on the Tennessee side. You can actually have one foot in North Georgia and one foot in Tennessee when you cross the Blue Line marking the place where the states meet. Toccoa Avenue (North Georgia) turns into Ocoee Street (Tennessee) while the Toccoa River becomes the Ocoee River under an old iron bridge built in 1911 and still standing.

There are a number excellent shops and antique stores or you can sit in a café and have lunch on the bank of the Toccoa River. The area has a rich history with the discovery of copper in 1843. By 1847, it is recorded that 90 cakes of ore were transported over poor trails to the railroad at Dalton. In the spring of 1899 the Tennessee Copper Company began smelting works near McCays and the town grew rapidly. Grading for the company railroad began and a shaft was sunk for the Burra Burra Mine in Ducktown.

As the mines played out today the towns of McCaysville and Copperhill rely more on tourism. The 1996 Olympic Games, increased tourism in the area when the Ocoee Whitewater Center was built for the Olympic kayak competition. The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, which runs daily in season, has increased tourism in McCaysville, and today Toccoa-Ocoee Street is lined with antique and specialty shops, art galleries and several excellent restaurants.

Ducktown Basin Museum and Burra Burra Mine Site
212 Burra Burra Hill, (off Tennessee Highway 68), Ducktown, TN 37236
(423) 496-5778
Located on 17 acres in Ducktown. the Burra Burra Mine site consists of 10 buildings and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Mining activities began in 1899 and continued until1959. The site was also the mining company's surface headquarters from 1902 to 1976. Buildings on the site include the mine office. Shop building, change house, hoist house, and powder house.

The Ducktown museum presents the basin's history through a variety of audio-visual, mining artifact exhibits and examples of the different kinds of equipment used in the mines. The Burra Burra Mine received its name from the basin's copper deposit, which was named for a copper deposit of similar size in Australia. The history of the Cherokee Nation, including it's removal from the basin, is also presented.

Georgia's Blue Ridge and Cohutta Mountains
The Blue Ridge Range in comprises the majority of the Appalachian Mountains which extend from Maine to Alabama. These mountains formed a natural barrier to the westward movement of settlers until the 19th century. West of the Blue Ridge range is a second series of mountains that runs from West Central North Carolina to North Georgia. In North Georgia, this range is known as the Cohuttas; further north they are called the Smoky Mountains.

Blue Ridge, Georgia, is the Gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Cohuttas to the west and the Blue Ridge to the south and east. Many Cherokee Indians would farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the summer, leaving during the winter and staying at the Cherokee village of Aska, or "winter home."

To our forefathers the North Georgia Mountains was a very rich place to settle. At the time agriculture was the major industry in the area, lumber and mining in both the Cohuttas and Blue Ridge Mountains contributed significant income to the North Georgia settlers. Around the turn of the century the federal government bought quite a bit of North Georgia Mountain land to create the Chattahoochee National Forest. Today, more than 100,000 acres of land around Blue Ridge is managed by the United States Forest Service.

Blue Ridge, Georgia is known as the Gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains. People from Atlanta, Chattanooga and the entire Southeastern United States think of Blue Ridge, Georgia as the place to start their Blue Ridge Mountain vacation because of the multitude of outdoor recreational opportunities, and easy access to the North Georgia Mountains.

Lake Blue Ridge

Boating, water skiing, tubing, and fishing are the main attractions on the lake. Fishermen will find bluegill, walleye, and small mouth bass, and even an occasional trout, but what makes the area popular with anglers is that Lake Blue Ridge is the only lake in the state where you can battle the robust Muskie. Lake Blue Ridge is the only lake south of the Great Lakes where Walleye are caught. Thirty-five fish attractors have been scattered around the coves and creeks.

The mighty Toccoa River feeds Lake Blue Ridge from the South. The Toccoa River starts in the Chattahoochee about 15 miles above the lake. Lake Blue Ridge dam provides one of the best tailwater trout fisheries in North Georgia. Fishermen need to be aware of the TVA's release schedule and only wade fish the Toccoa River when TVA is not generating electricity. The Toccoa River can become hazardous quickly when they release. At the Tennessee state line the Toccoa River changes its name to the Ocoee and turns into one of the Southeast's most spirited whitewater streams for rafting and kayaking.

History of Lake Blue Ridge
Work began on the Blue Ridge dam in North Georgia by the Toccoa Electric Power Company in 1925. Work was completed in 1931 and began producing hydroelectricity for the region, at the time it was known as Lake Toccoa. In 1934, Lake Toccoa was renamed to "Lake Blue Ridge". The Lake Blue Ridge dam was the largest earthen dam in the Southeast at the time it was constructed. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) purchased the Lake Blue Ridge dam in 1939. The two primary purposes of the dam wore to produce hydro electricity and to control flooding for the Tennessee valley. Today, TVA owns approximately 18 miles of shoreline, including the Blue Ridge Dam. The full pool elevations is 1,690 feet above sea level and there is a flowage easement to the height of 1,700'.

Lake Blue Ridge Fishing Access
There is only one full service marina on Lake Blue Ridge where you can rent boats. It is located on the northern side, near the dam with covered boat docks and has a gas dock, boat launch and also has a well stocked store for food and water sports equipment and supplies. There are other boat launches at Morganton Point and the Lake Blue Ridge Recreation Area (also known as Dry Branch or Green Creek).

Lake Blue Ridge State parks and Campgrounds
Campers can enjoy some 55 campsites in the area, surrounding Lake Blue Ridge with grills, picnic tables and tent pads, bathrooms and showers; no hookups provided. For availability around the lake Memorial Day through Labor Day, contact the U.S. Forest Service, Toccoa Ranger District. Located on the shores of Lake Blue Ridge 1/2 a mile from the town of Morganton, this rustic campground contains 43 campsites, 8 picnic sites, a pavilion and a boat launch ramp.

There is a designated public swimming area with a lifeguard on duty during the summer camping season, and a boat ramp. No showers or hiking trails are located within this recreation area, and electricity is available only in the bathrooms. The Lake Blue Ridge Trail is a 6/10 mile loop trail that follows the shoreline of Lake Blue Ridge and offers a beautiful view of the lake.

Carters Lake
Carters Lake is one of the most pristine lakes in North Georgia. Located outside of the town of Ellijay 3,000+ acre lake offers recreational opportunities for fishermen, hunters, campers, boaters, bikers, and hikers. This portion of the Coosawattee River was known as one of the best whitewater rapids in the eastern United States before the creation of Carters Lake.

About the Lake
The original Carters Lake dam was completed in 1977, and since that time Carter's Lake has become extremely popular with fishermen, hikers, mountain bikers, and campers. Carters Lake is the deepest of all lakes in the state of Georgia, and boasts excellent lake fishing, and the remote nature of the lakeand rich cultural and natural history.

The lake is basically a huge retention pond designed to help control the annual flooding of the Etowah River Valley. As with the other TVA lakes in North Georgia the secondary purpose of the lake is power generation. In the center of the lake, the main channel is a thin strip with long fingers running deep into the mountains making this an excellent place to go canoeing.

Recreation at Carters Lake
Because of its remote nature, the lake and surrounding land offer the outdoor enthusiast a wide variety of activities. A large wildlife management area (WMA) gives hunters a bag a trophy buck or a number of other animals. Fishing is also a popular past time as you will find the shoreline uncluttered with docks.

Hikers will find trails of varying difficulty which make the lake a popular hiking destination. The Oak Ridge Trail follows a high ridge to the lakeside, and then returns along a creek. In just over a mile there are four distinct ecosystems. Tumbling Waters (Ridgeway) takes you to one of the few remaining waterfalls in the area here Tails Creek twists and turns down a fifty-foot cascade. The Hidden Pond Songbird Trail is an easy hike that allows you to visit the wetlands of a gentrified beaver pond, and the beaver pond itself, rich in waterfowl. Finally, the Carters Lake Nature Trail takes you through some of the most scenic areas near the Visitors Center, with multiple scenic views of the lake.

The Toccoa River Canoe Trail
The Toccoa River Canoe is one of the most popular canoe trails in the Blue Ridge area. The trail starts at the Deep Hole Recreation Area and flows some 14 miles to the take-out at Sandy Bottoms. Much of the trail traverses through USFS land where you will find laurel and rhododendron thickets, and all types wildlife indigenous to the area. Don't forget your fly rod as many trout fishing opportunities exist. Throw in a few rapids to liven up you day make this a perfect canoe trip. This Toccoa River canoe trail is ideal for beginners and those who enjoy a relaxing float in a north Georgia Mountains.

• Length: 13.8 miles
• Use: Moderate
• Rating: Easy
• River Flow: 3-4 mph

Tubing on the Toccoa River

Directions to the Sandy Bottom Canoe Take-Out: From McDonald's restaurant at the intersection on Georgia Hwy. 515 and Georgia Hwy. 5 north in Blue Ridge, follow Georgia Hwy. 515 east approx. 0.8 miles to Windy Ridge Rd. Turn right at Windy Ridge Rd., go 0.2 miles to dead end with Old U.S. 76. Turn left, go 0.2 miles to Aska Road on right. Turn right, go south 8.5 miles on Aska Rd. Turn left, go across Shallowford Bridge, and turn right on Shallowford Bridge Rd. Go 1.3 miles to Old Dial Rd. Turn right on Old Dial Rd., go 0.6 miles to the Sandy Bottom Canoe Take Out on the right.

Travel Time: About one hour from the city of Blue Ridge to Deep Hole Recreation Area.

  The Sandy Bottoms Canoe Take-out

Less than 90 minutes North of Atlanta...
Straight up I-75 to I-575 to Hwy. 515