helton creek falls

April 26, 2021September 9, 2023

5 Scenic North Georgia Overlooks

If you want to take in the sights of North Georgia and explore some awesome places along the way, then these 5 scenic drives are for you! You’ll have, literally, a front row seat of the most stunning long range mountain views in the state and you’ll want to make some fun pitstops along the way! Roll the windows down, enjoy the weather, and cruise through the Blue Ridge Mountains. *Featured Photo courtesy of Scott Michael Anna

Richard Russell Scenic Highway

A scenic journey on Highway 348 should be at the top of your list for a mountain drive. Just about 30 minutes East of Blue Ridge you can access the Richard Russell Scenic Highway via the town of Blairsville. Winding and curving as mountain roads should, you’ll feel the climb in altitude as you make your way down the 23 mile stretch of a National Scenic Byway. Once you’ve climbed to peak altitude, there is a perfect spot at HogPen Gap to stop and take in the glorious mountain views! Snap a picture and hop back in the car for the next overlook as you cross into Helen/White County. You’ll encounter a trailhead of the Appalachian Trail and maybe see some hikers passing through. In the winter time, the rock walls turn to ice and you can catch ice climber’s practicing their sport! As you start descending the mountain you’ll find access trail to Dukes Creek Falls and Raven Cliff Falls. Highway 348 dead-ends into Highway 75 where you can hang a left and go adventure in the quaint town of Helen, Ga!

129 South

Highway 129 South will take you right through Chattahoochee National Forest, which takes up a large part of North Georgia, a whopping 749,689 acres! You’ll also climb through the North Georgia Mountains on your way, taking in the sights as you go. But before you start the climb, we highly recommend you stop at Sunrise Grocery to load up on boiled peanuts and provisions to enjoy as you wind through the Blue Ridge mountains. Along the way you will pass the access road for Helton Creek Falls, Lake Winfield Scott, and the stunning Vogel State Park. Eventually, you’ll make your way to the top of Neels Gap and the base of Blood Mountain. Stretch your legs, take some pictures at the beautiful overlook or take a hike to the top of Blood Mountain if you’re up for it. Either way, you’ll be right on the Appalachian Trail so if you’re not up for an intense hike, you can still walk the width of the Appalachian Trail here! After you do, stop into Mountain Crossing, an outdoor sports store, for a keepsake or souvenir. Here you can also learn about thru-hiking, section hiking, and pick up any outdoor equipment or gear you may need!

Highway 60

Take a drive through the countryside of Suches on Highway 60. This drive will take you through the scenic Chattahoochee National Forest, so if wilderness is your passion this drive is the one for you! On your drive, you’ll pass access points to some of our favorite spots like Serenberry Vineyards and the Swinging Bridge over the Toccoa River. As your drive continues, you will get to some of the most stunning and untouched wilderness you’ve ever seen! The Suches area is known as “The Valley Above the Clouds” and you’ll definitely feel like since this ride takes you 3,000 feet above sea level! This ride will loop around until you reach Stonepile Gap, where you can continue to Dahlonega, hang a right to head towards Blairsville or ring around the Stone Pile and head back to Blue Ridge on Highway 60.

Highway 5/S.R. 2

For a true mountain experience, we recommend taking a ride through the Cohutta Wilderness. Beginning right in the heart of Blue Ridge, take Highway 5 (by McDonald’s) and head north passing the famous Mercier Orchards on your left. We recommend stopping for fried pies, apple bread, or apple cider donuts to take on your trip. If you stay straight on Hwy 5, you’ll end up in the twin cities of McCaysville, GA and Copperhill, TN where you can stand on the state line and get a little shopping down at the Riverwalk Shops! But to get out in the deep mountains, you are going to hang a left on South Road 2. Fair warning – the road is no longer paved, but you will be surrounded by a hardwood forest on both sides of the road. You’ll travel on until you reach Watson Gap at 2,700 feet in altitude! Hang a right to head towards the Ocoee River or take a left on Forest Service road 64 to Lake Conasauga. Continue your way up climbing to 2,840 feet above sea level to Dyer Gap. As you continue your journey you will pass access points to Jacks River Falls, Three Forks Mountain, Cowpen Trail, and the Mountaintown Creek Overlook at an altitude of a whopping 3,484 feet!

Highway 180

Preacher’s Rock courtesy of Hike the South

Highway 180 is a truly beautiful drive from Helen to Suches. As you take in the beauty of the Chattahoochee National Forest, you can take a quick turn off onto Spur 180 and begin climbing the mountain up to the base of Brasstown Bald, the highest peak in Georgia. The views from the top are stunning and here you can see four states – Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. On a clear day you can even see the Atlanta skyline which is about 90 miles as the crow flies. If you don’t take the spur, Highway 180 continues and takes a little jog on Hwy 129 before you pick it back up again to start climbing Woody Gap. Untouched and pristine, the winding road will take you on the backside of Vogel State Park and up to the top where you’ll find Lake Winfield Scott and the Woody Gap overlook. Here you can also access the Appalachian Trail and one of the most photo worthy spots on Preacher’s Rock.

January 30, 2021September 9, 2023

10 Best Blue Ridge Photo Ops

Who doesn’t love a good photo-op? On a family trip? Take a photo. On an exciting adventure? Take a photo. An outing with your friends? Take a photo. In this modern age of social media and iPhones, photo-ops and selfies have become a part of everyday life.

Being a small town, tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains sure has its benefits. We have so many fun and unique places that you can’t find anywhere else, which make for amazing photo ops! So, we’ve comprised a list of the 10 best selfie/photo-op spots here in Blue Ridge!

Next time you escape to Blue Ridge be sure to stop by some of these famous sites and take some great photos. Be sure to share anything you take with us, we love to see how much fun you’re having and which places are your favorite!

Cover Photo Courtesy of @k4fish

The Wall

When visiting the area it’s a MUST to take pictures in front of the Blue Ridge wall in Downtown Blue Ridge. Located on the corner of Mountain and East First Street, this is the perfect backdrop for all your fun photo-ops! This backdrop is a fantastic representation of Blue Ridge and a great way to start off your trip. After you take the picture be sure to explore all Downtown Blue Ridge has to offer from its fantastic shops, great art scene, and its delicious restaurants!

The Bears

How cute are these friendly bears? Located at the entrance of the Blue Ridge Mountain Mall, this welcoming bear is a perfect addition to your photo. And after you grab the picture check out the Mountain Mall for all things antiques and collectibles!

The Bridge

Not only is this iconic bridge a perfect place to explore while hiking or kayaking but it’s also a great location for a photo-op! It’s become a staple of the most liked photo spots in Blue Ridge and it’s not hard to see why. The bridge over the Toccoa River is the longest swinging bridge east of the Mississippi River, spanning 270 feet long! It’s surrounded by the beautiful Chattahoochee National Forest so there are trees all around, and at this time of year, the trees are sure to be at peak color. And with the beautiful river flowing freely down below, it really is a fantastic spot. Located on the Benton MacKaye Trail and the Duncan Ridge National Recreation Trail in Fannin County, make sure to put this experience on your list of must-sees!

The Falls

In Blue Ridge we are lucky enough to have 4 stunning waterfalls nearby; Amicalola Falls, Helton Creek Falls, Fall Branch Falls, and Long Branch Falls. Any of these breathtaking and beautiful waterfalls are fantastic spots to take a great photo.

Amicalola Falls is the highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River at 729 feet! Located in Amicalola Falls State Park, it may be a hike to get there but I promise the views are worth the trip to see this huge waterfall up close!

Helton Creek Falls is a series of two beautiful waterfalls in the Chattahoochee National Forest of close-by Blairsville. Luckily, getting to this waterfall is a fairly easy and short hike. This gorgeous double waterfall that flows into the creek below is a sight you won’t want to miss.

Fall Branch Falls, on the Benton MacKaye Trail, is another stunning double waterfall. With a 30+ foot drop, the water drops into a deep pool at the base of the waterfall; perfect for swimming in warm weather. It’s another short hike to this waterfall but is also fairly steep, the views are worth the uphill battle though!

And last but not least we have Long Branch Falls on the Appalachian/Benton MacKaye Trail. This beautiful waterfall rushes over the surrounding boulders and cliffs and drops about 50 feet. This is another fairly easy hike, only 30 minutes uphill.

The Bald

The views from on top of Brasstown Bald are completely out of this world beautiful! It’s the highest mountain peak in all of Georgia, and from the observation tower, you can see 4 different states at once! It truly is a sight to behold. Since the elevation is so high, you can even see the clouds over the mountains, which always takes my breath away!

Coke & a Smile

Another great backdrop for your pictures is the Coca-Cola wall, which is also located in Downtown Blue Ridge. Located at the end of East Main Street on the side of the Fly Fishing shop, it’s the perfect backdrop for both Coke and Blue Ridge lovers alike. Get a couple of friends, grab the shot, and share a coke with Blue Ridge!

The Orchard

Mercier Orchard is the largest apple orchard in the southeast and one of the most popular places to visit while in Blue Ridge. With so much fun to be had from picking fruit, to shopping, and gobbling up their delish bakery treats, it’s a great place to take the family! Throughout the orchard, there are so many places to take awesome pictures, but by far the most popular spot is the entrance. Nothing screams Blue Ridge like standing in front of the sign of one its most popular attractions!

For Husbands

How funny is this!? Having the husband take a photo in front of this sign would be a hilarious and fun memory. The “Husband Daycare Center” is actually the Black Bear Bier Garten, which is a German bar and pub. Take a fantastic photo in front of the sign and then head inside for some great German fare!

The Tree & The Train

We couldn’t possibly leave the famous “tree” off the list! Located at the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, this tree shows off its stunning colors every fall. It’s become one of the most photographed things in Blue Ridge during the fall season because you just can’t beat those stunning colors! After you take a photo (or 10) in front of Blue Ridge’s famous tree, be sure to snap some of the train before you hitch a ride on the scenic railway for even more beautiful sights!

GA/TN Line

How many times can you say you’ve been in two places at once? Or even two states at once? Probably not very often! But you CAN be in two places at once and snag a great picture if you visit the twin cities of McCaysville, GA and Copperhill, TN. Here is the sign between the two states that is sure to provide you with all kinds of fun photos!

Escape To Blue Ridge

Our property management offices located at 1844 Old Hwy 76 is a perfect place to stop in, pick up a Kid’s Activity Book and get your photo taken with our holiday trees! Who says trees are just for Christmas anyway? We love celebrating all the holidays with our seasonal tree!

June 30, 2020September 9, 2023

5 Must-See Waterfalls in North Georgia

Waterfalls are one of nature’s most beautiful sights and the surrounding areas around Blue Ridge have plenty to explore. These waterfalls offer views that appeal to all ages and the anticipation leading up to the waterfall can be an enjoyable experience of its own. Nature is calling and it’s waiting for you to explore these falls on your next Escape to Blue Ridge!

Amicalola Falls

Located right on the edge of the North Georgia Mountains, Amicalola Falls State Park is one of the most visited parks in Georgia. The 729-foot falls, south of Ellijay, make it the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi River. The forest and mossy terrain surrounding the waterfall truly complete the picturesque scene.

The ease of access to Amicalola Falls is another factor that contributes to the visit. The top part of the falls can be viewed by a drive through the State Park and looking down. Another popular option is to park your car at the State Park parking lot and access the falls by climbing the lengthy staircase with viewing platforms leading up to the cascading water. The 600 stairs are well worth the effort and offer views of Amicalola Falls throughout its mildly steep course. The waterfall can also be viewed by a 7.5-mile hike starting at Springer Mountain, the southern end of the Appalachian Trail. All three options offer breathtaking scenery along the way and the Amicalola Falls Lodge is an ideal spot for a refreshing drink or meal to complete your day!

Fall Branch Falls

Only 20 minutes from Blue Ridge, Fall Branch Falls is a location where you can spend a half-hour or a half-day! The adventure begins with only a 0.5-mile shaded path that leads visitors to a series of cascading waterfalls reaching 30 feet. The area below the falls is great for a picnic or water break. The mist from the side of the cliff and the water at the base of the falls make for a perfect place to cool down from a hot summer’s day. But watch your step because the rocks can sure be slippery! The observation deck at the falls can be used to snap a picture or to admire nature’s beauty.

This pair of waterfalls can be found near Blairsville and by following a brief 0.3-mile trail. The trail consisting of wildlife and greenery brings visitors to the smaller Lower Helton Creek Falls first. The trail continues ahead to the Upper Helton Creek Falls, where the 50-foot rush of water can be seen. If you make the short journey up to Helton Creek Falls on a sunny afternoon, we promise you won’t regret it!

Long Creek Falls

Video Courtesy of @mariajill

With towering trees and a 50-foot double-tiered waterfall, Long Creek Falls is easily one of Fannin County’s most treasured sights. The falls are only a short drive from downtown Blue Ridge and can be found at the intersection of the Appalachian and the Benton MacKaye trails. This makes Long Creek Falls a beautiful stop for a variety of travelers and explorers. The hike to admire the waterfall is under a mile and the boulders along the edge of the falls offer visitors a peaceful spot for a water break or a nature-filled conversation!

Sea Creek Falls

Most breathtaking after a summer rain, Sea Creek Falls can be accessed after only a 0.1-mile walk. A trip to see the double cascading falls at Sea Creek Falls, located outside of Blairsville, can be appreciated by skill levels of all ages. The falls displaying 30 feet of mountain water offer sounds, views, and relaxation for any visitor. The water flowing at the base of Sea Creek Falls is available for feet or paws to splash around in while enjoying a break from the Southern heat.

Remarkable in any season, North Georgia is lucky to claim these waterfalls. A breath of fresh air, a cooling mist from the cliffs, and a leisurely mountain walk are all waiting for you at these five waterfalls just a short drive away from Blue Ridge.

When you embark on your next waterfall adventure, be sure to share your trip with us on our Facebook page or tag us on Instagram @escapetobr. We can’t wait for you to experience these stunning falls for yourself!