Nestled in Blue Ridge on the Toccoa River is beautiful Lake Blue Ridge. This 3290 acre lake is situated approximately 2 hours from Atlanta. Lake Blue Ridge offers great opportunity for anglers with a fish population consisting of bluegill, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, white bass, walleye, rainbow trout, channel catfish and flathead catfish. There are several boat ramps available and plenty of camping around the lake. Other recreational activities at Lake Blue Ridge include swimming, hiking, mountain biking and water skiing. The lake can be accessed from either Blue Ridge or Morganton. Call Lake Blue Ridge Marina for more details: 706-632-2618
The Toccoa River Trail - Deep Hole Recreation Area to Sandy Bottoms consists of 13.5 miles of Class I ,II & a section III rapids. Deep Hole Campground is located between Blue Ridge and Suches on the Hwy 60. Another popular run on the Toccoa River is from Sandy Bottoms to Aska Rd. or Swan Bridge to Aska Rd. The run from Swan Bridge is 5 miles to Aska while from Sandy Bottoms to Aska Rd. is 3 miles. The put in Swan Bridge is located at Toccoa Valley Campground on Aska Road.
The Aska Trails consist of Stanley Gap, Green Mountain, Flat Creek and Long Branch trails. Great hiking and mountain biking available on these trails! Green Mountain and Long Branch Trails are on the north side of Aska Rd. while Flat Creek & Stanley Gap are on the south side. Stanley Gap (5 mile long trail out & back), Flat Creek (5.75 mile loop), Green Mountain (4.5 mile out & back), Long Branch (2.5 mile loop). Terrain is mostly long steep climbs with equally long descents, lots of roots with some rocky sections. The easier of the 4 trails is the 2.5 mile Long Branch Trail with Stanley Gap being the toughest. Long Branch can be accessed via Green Mountain Trail or from the parking area on Shady Falls Rd. (Off Aska Rd.)
The Benton MacKaye Trail (BMT) shares some footpath with the Stanley Gap Trail. Stanley Gap has some great mountain views from atop its 3442' peak. There are great views of Lake Blue Ridge from Green Mountain Trail. Be sure to see the Fall Creek Falls which are easily accessed from Stanley Creek Rd.
Long Creek Falls - Parking is at 3 Forks. The falls are just a short i mile hike on the AT.
Fall Branch Falls - On Stanley Creek Road. Follow the Benton Mackaye Trail one quarter of a mile to the lower falls.
Noontootla Creek Falls - Located on FS 58 near Three Forks. Short steep hike to the falls.
Jacks River Falls - Located on FS 69. Little Rock Creek passes under the road. It is less than a half mile walk to the falls.
Sea Creek Falls - Located in the Cooper Creek area off FS264. A short walk to the falls.
Springer Mountain is not only the southern end or the beginning of the Appalachian Trail (AT), but it is also the start point of the Benton MacKaye Trail (BMT). Springer Mountain can be accessed via forest Service Road 42.
The Appalachian Trail - This hike only trail runs from Springer Mountain, Ga. close to 2,155 miles until its end on Mount Katahdin in Maine. The Georgia section is made up of 80 miles from Springer Mountain to Bly Gap which lies on the Georgia/ North Carolina border. Sections of the AT can be combimed with neighboring trails to make short(er) loops.
Benton Mackaye Trail - (Hike Only) 300 miles in length.
Also starting at Springer Mountain, the BMT ends at Davenport Gap in the Smoky Mountains. A hike only trail, the Georgia section of this trail adds up to 80 miles. The BMT has many access points, whether it be Springer Mountain, Three Forks, or off the Hwy 515 in Cherry Log.
Three Forks - It is the point on the FS58 where Long Creek, Chester Creek, and Stover Creek join together to make up Noontootla Creek. This is also the point where the AT and the BMT intersect and the start for the Duncan Ridge Trail. Long Creek Falls are just a mile hike from here.
Duncan Ridge Trail - This tough 32 mile trail starts by sharing the footpath with the Benton Mackaye Trail. This trail ends near B;lood Mountain and can be joined with the AT for a 60 mile loop back to Three Forks on FS 58. Very steep terrain.
Cohutta Area
South Fork Trail - Parking is at Jack's River Field's on FS 64. It is a 8 mile loop using 5.5 miles of Forest Road and 2.5 miles of singletrack. Great views, creek/river crossings, Jack's River. The trail joins up with the Benton Mackeye for 1.5 miles. South Fork Trail, FS Road26 and FS Road 64 complete the loop.
Mountain Town Creek Trail - Other than Jack's River Trail, this is probably one of the wettest trails around. You will cross MountainTown Creek nearly a dozen times. A 5.5 mile trail running from the top trailhead (on FS 64) to the bottom trailhead (2 miles from Gates Chapel Road). Very lush, with waterfallsand some slick rocky terrain. This is an out and back type trail, but has been used as a piece of a popular 24 mile loop. The loop connects Bear Creek, FS 68, FS 64, and Mountain Town Creek Trail.
Jack's River Trail - (Hike Only) This is one of the most popular hiking trails in North Georgia. The trail runs 16.7 miles from Dally Gap to Alculsy. From Dally Gap, it's a 9 mile hike to the beautiful Jack's River Falls. Along the 9 mile hike to the falls , you will cross Jack's River 20 times. If you continue on to the trail end in Alculsy, you will ford the River 42 Times.
Pinhoti Trail - All the way from its beginning in Alabama, this trail traverses the mountains of North Georgia and finds its way to the Benton Mackaye Trail near Watson Gap. There are over 200 miles of Pinhoti Trail. The Fannin access point to the last section is at Buddy Cove Gap off the FS 64 near Watson Gap . This section will take you 3.1 miles to the Benton Mackaye Trail.