Spending a week in the Northeast Georgia mountains left us no shortage of potential activities. Whether you are seeking adrenaline thrills, quiet solitude or something in the middle you will find exactly what you are looking for in this area. We opted for the slow pace of hiking different parks and trails every day with a little touring thrown in for good measure.
We parked our Grand Design Imagine travel trailer at Enota Mountain Retreat making that home for our vacation. The facility had everything we wanted and then some–peace, quiet, natural beauty and plenty of space. Having an RV provides all comforts of home-shelter, indoor plumbing, comfortable bed, tv, fridge, microwave, etc while being one step away from the great outdoors. We live in a lovely suburban area but while at home we are in a routine accompanied by the never ending to do lists. Getting away like this allows us to minimize and get out of our always on the go lifestyle encouraging us to just sit to read, listen to the sounds of nature, watch the clouds go by or nap.
While this was a vacation and we had no set plans we definitely had a framework of things we wanted to do and see all of which included hiking. We focused on attractions which were close by since we wanted to minimize driving time to maximize enjoyment time. There is much more to experience than the few places we visited but you can’t see everything in one trip which is why we are going back in November!
WHERE WE STAYED
Enota Mountain Retreat has tent camping, rv sites, cabins and a retreat center. There are multiple hiking trails on the property one of which is a 1.5 mile connector to the Appalachian Trail. Two other trails take you to spots where you can view the waterfalls which are over 100 feet tall or you can view them from observation decks at the base. There are two separate streams, a stocked trout pond, playground and inground trampolines to keep all visitors entertained. Don’t go to Enota expecting a modern resort campground; it is a rustic retreat with great facilities.
WHERE WE WENT
High Shoals Falls is created by five successive waterfalls equaling a total 300 ft drop along a 1.2 mile trail with observation decks for two of the falls. There is no charge for entry or parking. To get to the parking area for the trail you will travel 1.5 miles on a dirt road. This trail, along with all the others we visited, is dog friendly.
https://www.exploregeorgia.org/hiawassee/outdoors-nature/natural-attractions/high-shoals-falls-cnf
Anna Ruby Falls is twin waterfalls cascading from Curtis Creek and York Creek plunging 150 and 50 feet respectively to form Smith Creek. The 1/2 mile paved path is fairly steep with benches along the way for taking breaks or enjoying the scenery leading up to the falls. There are two observation decks from which to view these beautiful falls and take amazing pictures. There is a $3 per person entry fee, plenty of parking, gift shop, picnic area and public bathrooms on the property. And yes, it is a dog friendly destination.
https://www.exploregeorgia.org/helen/outdoors-nature/hiking/anna-ruby-falls-recreation-area
Brasstown Bald is the highest elevation (4,784 ft) in Georgia. There is a $5 fee per person to enter the park but considering all the resources available it is more than worth it. There is a visitor center, gift shop, picnic area, ample parking, concessions and bathrooms. Of course Haven came with us and was ready for another hike. First we walked up to the observation tower to take in the 360 degree views which were breathtaking! The viewing area is well built, spacious with lots of signage about what you see in each direction. From Brasstown Bald you can access four different trails: Brasstown Bald, Arkaquah, Jack’s Knob (which connects to the Appalachian Trail) and Wagon Train Foot Trail. We chose the Arkaquah to hike and and were treated to a great trail, stunning views and beautiful scenery.
Bell Mountain in Hiawassee, GA provides a sweeping panorama. If you choose to go, be aware the access road is short but very steep, windy and basically one lane. After you park there is a paved steep 100 yard road to take you the rest of the way to the top. The reward when you get to the observation deck is a breathtaking 360 degree view. You can look over Chatuge Lake or the mountains of Towns County. Bell Mountain is owned by Towns County and is a Park and Historical Site open during the day for visitors to enjoy. Anytime is good to visit but sunrises and sunsets are especially beautiful viewed from Bell Mountain. There is no entry fee and no facilities, just scenery! Another great place to visit with your dog!
Helen, GA is a quaint Bavarian Village with countless boutiques and restaurants. We visited in mid September and Oktoberfest was already getting into full swing complete with lots of fall decorations, dancing, bands, food and beer. We walked from one end of town to the other, popped into a few stores and grabbed a beer and a bite. Betty’s Country Store has groceries and gifts in addition menu items. Because we had Haven with us we sat on their patio (which had water bowls!) while we sampled our beer flight and ate the biggest pretzel I had ever seen. As we headed back to our campsite we were glad we made time to visit Helen.
https://www.exploregeorgia.org/article/guide-to-helen
Blairsville, GA offers more outdoor living and adventure opportunities. The town itself is small with a handful of cute boutiques, small restaurants and coffee shops like Cabin Coffee Co. Vogel State Park, which is a few miles from the center of town, has rv and tent camping, a beautiful lake with equipment for rent and hiking trails.
https://www.exploregeorgia.org/article/guide-to-blairsville
If you visit in the summertime you will have even more activities to choose from like tubing on the Chatahoochee, kayaking in one the many lakes, swimming, and stand up paddle boarding to name a few. There are stables if you are interested in horseback riding, zip lines for the thrill seeker and trails for mountain biking.
In Northeast Georgia there are 26 wineries, at least three distilleries and five breweries to keep you busy sampling. Because we were cooking at our campsite we didn’t eat any meals out so I can’t recommend any restaurants but there are plenty to choose from when you need to grab a bite out!
I can’t wait to go back to North Georgia, leave my to do list at home and bask in the tranquility of mountain life.
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