North Georgia Hiking

Beautiful trails are yours to explore in the great outdoors of the North Georgia Mountains. Just pack a snack and plenty of water, get your gear ready and go for a hike.

Ellijay THREE FORKS

Trail: To the left (North) on the trail is Long Creek Falls (2.3 miles round trip) . To the right is a beautiful section of old growth forest along Stover Creek.

Directions: Take 52 East from Ellijay about 4.8 miles. Turn left on Big Creek Road at the Dollar General. Follow this road about 15.4 miles (the final .4 miles are dirt) to Forest Service 58 and turn Right. This road follows Noontootla Creek to Three Forks. Parking is available where the trails cross the road.

Blue Ridge FREE KNOB LOOP

Trail: 2.5 miles, easy rating

Directions from Blue Ridge, Georgia: Travel east (toward Blairsville, GA) on GA Hwy 515, approx. 0.8 miles past intersection with GA Hwy 5. 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. Continue south on Aska Read to Shallowford Bridge. Turn left across river and immediate right on dirt-gravel road leading to Dial, GA. At 0.4 miles come to point where trail enters road from forest. Continue east on road to parking area at 1.2 miles.

SuchesJARRARD GAP TRAIL

Trail: 1.0 mile, easy/moderate rating

Directions: Take US 19 and 129 south from Blairsville Georgia for 9.5 miles. Turn right (west) onto GA 180 and go 7 miles to the main entrance to Lake Winfield Scott Campground. Turn left into the campground. Follow this road over a hill and continue straight ahead into a gravel parking lot at the foot of the hill. From the parking lot, hike along the paved road passing the guard rail at the head of the lake. The trailhead is on the right of the road just past the guard rails.

Blairsville SOSEBEE COVER TRAIL

Trail: Traveling through a second-growth cove hardwood forest, the 0.25 mile Sosebee Cove Trail is rated easy and receives moderate use. This area is a memorial to Arthur Woody, who served as the first Forest Service Ranger in Georgia.

Directions: from Blairsville Georgia, travel 9.5 miles south along US 19/129 and turn right (west) onto GA 180. Continue along GA 180 for 2 miles to the Sosebee Cove parking lot on the right.

HiawasseeHIGH SHOALS CREEK

Trail: The two waterfalls on High Shoals Creek are the highlight of this 170 acre site. A 1.2 mile trail takes visitors from FS 283 down to the falls.

Directions: Take 75 South from Hiawassee turn right onto Indian Grave Gap Road, graveled Forest Service Road 283 which leads visitors through the Swallow Creek Wildlife Management Area to the High Shoals Creek Falls Scenic Area.

Dahlonega YAHOOLA CREEK

Trail: This is about a 4 mile trail that circles Yahoola Creek Reservoir but also swerves back into the woods a ways. This trail is surprisingly tough with many short, steep climbs in the back hills. While this is a wide doubletrack trail that isn’t always very entertaining, this trail is right on the edge of town and is very easy-to-access. It’s great for a short after work hike or trail run without having to drive all the way up to the Appalachian Trail.

Directions: from Dahlonega go north past the Walmart on the “bypass.” Go straight through the stop light at the entrance to Walmart, and straight through the stoplight at the junction with 52. Shortly after the second light, hang a right into the small gravel parking area overlooking the dam.

Clayton RABUN BALD

Trail : 4 miles round trip Easy to Moderate hike, though last half mile is rather steep and some find this part strenuous.

Directions: from Clayton US 441 North to 1 mile past Dillard, right onto GA 246 toward Highlands for 7 miles, right onto FS7, go 2.1 miles take the right fore (FS7 goes left) go 1.3 miles, take a left fork on dirt road tward Beegum Ga, go 1.6 miles to parking area.

HelenANNA RUBY FALLS

Trail: This is an easy hike, but the view is well worth it! The main trail up to Anna Ruby falls is only about a half a mile one-way and it is paved, with some steps. The falls are definitely worth the hike! If you’re more adventurous, there’s a singletrack trail that continues on for about 5 more miles beyond the end of the pavement. There’s a $2 access fee.

Directions: Drive from Helen, Georgia, through Unicoi State Park, and then you’ll soon arrive at the Anna Ruby Falls Visitors Center.

Lakemont ANGEL FALLS

Trail: This is a heavily wooded trail that leads you to two different waterfalls. One is 1/2 mile in and the other is 1 mile from the starting point. There is a creek that runs along side the trail for a while. I would describe it as a moderate hike with some steep inclines.

Directions: From Highway 441, turn onto Lake Rabun Road and then travel several miles down the winding road around the lake. The entrance to the campground will be on the right hand side. Go into the campground and follow the road around until you see the trailhead sign.

Cornelia LAKE RUSSEL LOOP

Trail: This is a great loop around Lake Russell with some great views of the lake. There’s a nice campground here as well. The 2 dam crossings are very cool.

Directions: From Cornelia, head North/ Northeast on Dick’s Hill Pkwy (Hwy 13) and hang a right on Lake RussellRoad across from the Lake Russell Convenience store. go 2.5 miles, and hang a left at the sign. go left at the fork and park at the trailhead near the old dam. Then just follow the signs and head around the lake.