North Georgia
Legends of the Fall
*Get out of Atlanta to explore the natural beauty of northern Georgia.
words by > Bret Love
HELEN
Billed as “Georgia’s Alpine Village,” this former mining town nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains reinvented itself in the 1970s as a quaint re-creation of a traditional Bavarian village, providing a taste of the Alps in the foothills of the Appalachians. On the banks of the Chattahoochee River, it attracts outdoor enthusiasts with river tubing, horseback riding, canoeing, fishing, hiking and more. But arguably the biggest sport here is shopping, with more than 200 import and specialty shops selling everything from German food and cuckoo clocks to candles and crafts. Autumn is the busiest time of the year, with Oktoberfest and AlpenFest. Arrive early to avoid rush.
NEARBY EXCURSIONS: Anna Ruby Falls, Babyland General Hospital, Habersham Winery
CLOUDLAND CANYON STATE PARK
www.gastateparks.org/info/cloudland
If you’re looking for spectacular scenic vistas of autumn colors all ablaze, explore this 3,485-acre state park situated on the western edge of Lookout Mountain. Straddling a gorge cut into the mountain by Sitton Gulch Creek, the park earns its name with elevations ranging from 800 to nearly 2,000 feet. The rugged geology of striking rock outcroppings are offset by the lush flora for which the northern Georgia mountains are known. Outdoor amateurs can amuse themselves with the killer canyon view afforded by the picnic area parking lot, but hardy hikers will find the 4.8-mile West Rim and Waterfalls Trail well worth their effort. The 16 cottages dotting the canyon’s edge provide picturesque, postcard-worthy sights (especially in the morning, when it feels as if you’re living in the clouds), but the park also includes 114 campsites, including 30 walk-in sites and 11 backcountry sites for those who really want to rough it.
NEARBY EXCURSIONS: New Echota Historic Site (Cherokee Indian capital), Lookout Mountain Battlefield
DAHLONEGA
Back in 1828 (21 years before the famed California gold rush), thousands of prospectors descended upon this tiny town in the heart of northern Georgia’s Cherokee Nation, which is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Dahlonega prospered in the wake of this frenzied mining activity, and a US Branch Mint opened in 1838, coining more than $6 million in gold before closing in 1861. Panning for gold is still a popular pastime here, but the town has since become just as popular for shopping, sightseeing, bluegrass music, and arts and crafts. Set in the historic Lumpkin County Courthouse, the Dahlonega Gold Museum pays tribute to the town’s golden legacy with exhibits that include a set of original gold coins, a five-ounce gold nugget and a hydraulic cannon and nozzle used to blast soil from the surrounding mountainsides. The city also plays host to several major festivals, including Gold Rush Days in late October and an Old Fashioned Christmas Celebration (December 1–3) that ranks among the state’s largest.
NEARBY EXCURSIONS: Chestatee Wildlife Preserve, Consolidated Gold Mine, Ellijay Apple Farms
AMICALOLA FALLS STATE PARK
www.gastateparks.org/info/amicalola
Located in the Chattahoochee National Forest, this 829-acre state park is one of Georgia’s most popular, thanks to the 729-foot cascading falls, the tallest east of the Mississippi River. Amicalola has undergone vast improvements over the past decade, including the addition of an observation deck that provides stunning views. Avid backpackers often take the 8.5-mile hike leading from the park to Springer Mountain. But most visitors are content to hike the shorter trails, fishing and picnicking along the way. Stay in the 57-room lodge, 14 cottages or 24 campsites.
NEARBY EXCURSIONS: North Georgia Premium Outlet Mall, Kangaroo Conservation Center, Uncle Shuck’s Corn Maze
DILLARD HOUSE
Atop a plateau in the Little Tennessee River Valley, surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and near the Chattahoochee National Forest, the Dillard House sits on a picturesque piece of property that’s been in the Dillard family since 1794, when Captain John Dillard was awarded a 1,000-acre land grant for his service in the American Revolution. The present Dillard House was built in 1917 and has grown from the original six-room boarding house to include 70 motel units and suites, more than 25 cottages and chalets, a conference center and all the amenities. Their stables offer guided rides for people of all skill levels, ranging from short farm and river rides to all-day treks that venture 15 miles into the wilderness. There’s also a petting zoo, pony rides and a famous southern-style restaurant on the premises.
NEARBY EXCURSIONS: Whitewater rafting on the Chattooga River, Sky Valley Golf Club
RED TOP MOUNTAIN STATE PARK
www.gastateparks.org/info/redtop
Named for the soil’s rich red color, this 1,562-acre park just 45 minutes from Atlanta is rivaled only by Lake Lanier in popularity among Georgia’s outdoor adventure destinations. Set on the 12,000-acre Lake Allatoona, Red Top attracts boating and fishing enthusiasts year round, while its 15.5 miles of hiking trails provide frequent white-tailed deer sightings as well as stellar views of autumn colors reflected in the water. The 33-room lodge, conference center and restaurant attract families and business groups, while a reconstructed log cabin offers visitors a chance to see how settlers lived in the mid-1800s. There are also 92 campsites and 18 cottages.
NEARBY EXCURSIONS: Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site, Booth Western Art Museum, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
TALLULAH GORGE STATE PARK
www.gastateparks.org/info/tallulah
You won’t find more spectacular foliage than at this 2,689-acre park. Two miles long and nearly 1,000 feet deep, Tallulah Gorge offers more than 20 miles of trails, with awe-inspiring views from the rim trails and the suspension bridge, which sways 80 feet above the rocky bottom. The park normally offers 100 free permits a day for hardy hikers and rock climbers looking to make their way down to the gorge floor, but most November weekends are set aside for whitewater boating, when controlled water releases of 500–700 cubic feet per second thunder through the gorge as kayakers challenge their paddling skills. Visit the park’s Interpretive Center for exhibits on the area’s rich history, rugged terrain and fragile ecosystem. Other facilities include 50 campsites, pioneer campsites and a backcountry Adirondack shelter.
NEARBY EXCURSIONS: Whitewater rafting on the Chattooga River, Chattahoochee National Forest, Alpine Village of Helen
ROCK CITY GARDENS
The third-generation family members who operate this world-famous tourist attraction are preparing to celebrate their 75th anniversary in 2007. Located atop scenic Lookout Mountain (just six miles south of Chattanooga), this natural wonder features massive rock formations estimated to be 200 million years old; gardens featuring more than 400 different species of native wildflowers, plants, shrubs and trees; and panoramic views of seven states from 1,700 feet above sea level. The 4,100-foot enchanted trail takes visitors past impressive sights including 140-foot high waterfalls, a 1,000-ton balanced rock, the suspended Swing-a-Long Bridge, rare white fallow deer and Lover’s Leap, where Native American folklore says a beautiful Cherokee maiden leapt to her death after her lover from a feuding tribe was thrown from the tip. You can also visit Fairyland Caverns and Mother Goose Village, dine at the Big Rock Café or shop for gifts, including the traditional “See Rock City” birdhouses.
NEARBY EXCURSIONS: Tennessee Aquarium, Creative Discovery Museum, Ruby Falls, Incline Railway