Northeast Georgia Mountains
Family adventure, natural charm, lush green forests, sparkling rivers, thundering waterfalls, and blue mountains await visitors here in the Northeast Georgia Mountains. Visitors can connect with nature with the 1,000 acres of forest land, primarily in the Chattahoochee National Forest and numerous state parks found throughout the area. Here in the mountains of eastern Georgia, there is no shortage of spectacular views of waterfalls, where some are big and bold, others are more delicate; however, only a few can be seen from the road and most falls require some degree of short walking or walking deep into the forest.
Diverse trails, 829 acres of pristine wilderness and wildlife, and the highest cascading waterfall in the Southeast make Amicalola Falls State Park one of the most popular parks in Georgia and a true wonderland for nature lovers. nature. There are several options for visitors to better view the falling waters from an accessible walkway to view the falls from afar, a short drive to the overlook parking lot, to a challenging trail with stairs. Starting at the visitor center, a short distance from the base of the falls, there are two trails, the East Ridge Trails and the West Ridge Trails, where both end at the Amicalola Falls overlook and can be combined to make an amazing and challenging loop.
The 1.1-mile East Ridge Trail begins behind the visitor center, where it winds through the forest on a steep path of roots and rocks that gains 800 feet in elevation on its quest to reach the top of the falls. Near the top there are several viewpoints where the views of the valley and the surrounding mountains are more than spectacular. Descending the West Ridge Trail takes one through the gorge with spectacular views of the cascades. The trail begins at a stairway where 425 steep leads up a paved walkway at the edge of the cliffs to a bridge that spans the gorge, providing stunning views of the cascading water. The stairway continues down another 175 steps with stunning views of the water cascading down into the gorge. Near the base of Amicalola Falls, the trail returns to asphalt past the reflection pond where it gives way to a more rugged trail that ends at the parking lot in front of the visitor center.
Vogel State Park, the second oldest state park in Georgia, sits at the base of Blood Mountain, which has the highest summit on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia and is surrounded by the Chattahoochee National Forest. This park has a rich history where many of the facilities were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression and the surrounding mountains were tied to Native Americans prior to European settlement. The park’s popularity stems from the variety of accommodations and outdoor activities including a 22-acre lake and a variety of trails to choose from.
The best hike for thrill seekers is the 4.1-mile partial-loop Bear Hair Gap Trail that winds its way up and over the lower ridges of Blood Mountain gaining more than 1,000 feet in elevation. As the trail winds through the forest, the only sounds to be heard are the rushing waters of the mountain streams and the sight of the many colors of autumn leaves falling to the forest floor is amazing. At the top of the trail, a short winding side trail leads to the outer rim where the view of the valley and Trahlyta Lake is purely breathtaking. For a short, leisurely hike, the 1-mile Trahlyta Lake Trail winds its way along the wooded shores of the park’s 22-acre lake. Crossing the earthen dam provides a photo opportunity of the Blood and Slaughter Mountains, which provide a spectacular backdrop to the lake.
Right in the heart of the Chattahoochee National Forest near Helen Georgia is a short half-mile trail that leads to Anna Ruby Falls, a rare double waterfall that flows over a towering sheer cliff below the top of Tray Mountain. The sights and sounds of the twin falls pouring down wispy white tendrils and splashing over moss covered rocks are beyond spectacular. The falls are created from two streams, with Curtis Creek on the left plunging over 150 feet into the boulder-filled basin and York Creek spilling 50 feet merging the streams to form Smith Creek. Although the falls are the main attraction, the short hike is something to consider. Along the left side of the trail are angled rock outcroppings where the sounds of the falling stream fill the forest on the right side. A short distance from the trailhead, the trail crosses a bridge creating an opportunity for an up-close view of streams cascading over rocks creating multiple levels of small waterfalls.
With an area of only 2.1 square miles and the third most visited city in the state, Helen Georgia is well known for its Bavarian-style buildings that offer a glimpse of Germany right here in Georgia. Although Helen is a small town, its Blue Ridge Mountain location, alpine charm, cobblestone trails and natural beauty draw visitors from all over the country.
Tallulah Falls is home to the 2-mile-long, nearly 1,000-foot-deep gorge, where the Tallulah River has carved a geological formation with five waterfalls, creating one of the most spectacular canyons in the eastern US. In the Park Tallulah Gorge State visitors can hike the rim trails to viewpoints that showcase this spectacular scenery. The north and south edge trails are 0.75 miles each way with modest elevation gains and some stairs with five overlooks on each trail. For thrill seekers, one can descend from the north rim down 310 steps into the gorge where a swinging suspension bridge crosses the gorge 80 feet over the rocky bottom with spectacular views of the river and waterfall. A staircase with 347 steps leads back to the southern edge.
Operated by the National Forest Service, Minnehaha Falls is considered the most spectacular waterfall in Rabun County. However, the road to get there can be a bit rushed. For eight miles, the narrow two-lane road with hairpin turns winds along the shores of Rabun Lake before crossing a bridge where the last two miles are single lane. dirt road that hugs the cliff face overlooking the lake. Getting to the falls from the trailhead is a short 2 mile hike up a small flight of stairs before turning into the forest along the steep cliff face. The trail ends at a wide, steep rhododendron lined inlet where the falls drop 60 feet and widen rapidly as they tumble over rocks in 3 to 5 foot increments and land in a rock pool where a peninsula juts out into the creek bed allows one to stand right next to the base of the falls.
Just south of Hiawassee is Georgia’s highest point, Brasstown Bald Mountain, where the visitor center sits atop at 4,784 feet above sea level. The visitor center is a unique circular building housing 8,000 square feet of space. walking museum with a circular viewing platform above it offering stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. To reach the summit from the parking lot, visitors have two options, an all-day shuttle bus or the 6-mile hike through the forest on a paved trail that gains 358 feet in elevation.
Along the eastern Continental Divide, where views of mountaintops reaching altitudes of 3,640 feet overlook the pristine Appalachian Forest, lies Georgia’s highest state park, Black Rock Mountain State Park. Roadside overlooks showcase exceptional scenery in Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains with views up to 80 miles. The park’s hiking trails, rated from easy to difficult, take hikers through wildflowers, small waterfalls, streams, and lush forests.
The ever-so-popular Tennessee Rock Trails 2.2-mile rough loop winds through the lush Black Mountain forest and gains more than 600 feet in elevation on your quest to reach the mountain’s peak. Reaching the narrow summit covered in huge rock outcroppings offers stunning views of the mountain ranges in the distance and the valleys in between. The difficult ADA Hi Falls Trail is a lovely walk through a wet cove where the trail features mature hardwoods, rhododendrons, ferns, and lichen-covered rocks. Trails for the last quarter mile descend the 190-foot cliff face and end at an observation deck at the base of a small waterfall.
Donated to Towns County in Hiawassee, the 18-acre Bell Mountain Summit is now known as the Hal Herrin Scenic Lookout. The 2.3 mile paved road takes you right to the top and the last mile is very steep and in most places wide enough for a vehicle. There are two parking lots to accommodate visitors, the lower lot for the faint of heart and the top lot which is 300 feet further up an extremely steep incline that is challenging even to walk on. The observation deck sits at the top of a 100-step stairway at a height of 3,424 feet and offers 360-degree views. Bell Mountain offers one of Georgia’s prettiest views of the North Georgia Appalachian Mountains with Chatuge Lake stretching out in the distance along the valley floor. For the nature lover, the top of this mountain may be the saddest you have ever seen, to see such a beautiful place with all the childish graffiti scribbles is heartbreaking. Today, signs warn visitors of the chambers that overlook the summit, and in time, nature will heal these scars.