Town of Blue Ridge
Surround yourself with the beauty, relaxation and natural fun that are uniquely Georgia’s Blue Ridge Experience. Enjoy the splendor and exhilaration of a day hiking to nearby waterfalls, horseback riding on forested trails or whitewater rafting in our unspoiled mountain beauty. Looking for quiet romance or peace of mind? Try spending the day watching the sun glimmer across the aqua blue waters of Lake Blue Ridge or crystal clear Toccoa River. We’re waiting to delight you in one of our cozy mountain cabins overlooking pristine valleys and ridge tops. Take a nap in the fresh, clear mountain air lulled by the hypnotic sound of a nearby trout stream.
Or perhaps you’re looking for a little excitement. Discover the sheer joy of a whitewater rafting adventure or a ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. Spend a day exploring our mountain art and culture, past and present, in the many galleries across the region or browse for antiques in the shops that line our mountain towns.
After a day spent outdoors or relaxing with your favorite book in front of the fire or counting the fireflies in the early evening mist, choose from a variety of dining experiences to cap off your night. Whether you stay for a day, a weekend, a month or a lifetime, you will surround yourself with the memories and the magic of Georgia’s Blue Ridge Experience.
Blue Ridge Attractions
While many people make the journey to Fannin County for our natural attractions, or just to kick back and relax, there are many things to do here to make your visit more fun.
Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad
The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway is one of the “must see” attractions in the north Georgia mountains. Offering a 26-mile journey along the Toccoa River with the backdrop of the Blue Ridge and Cohutta Mountains, the relaxing four and a half hour ride starts at the historic depot in downtown Blue Ridge, then stops for a layover in the quaint sister towns of McCaysville, Georgia and Copperhill, Tennessee.
Mercier Orchards
Mercier Orchards is Southern Living Magazine’s “favorite roadside apple market,” according to the October, 2002 edition. “If you come for no other reason, you must sample the fried apple pies and cider,” the article says. “The cooks create some of the most memorable pastries, fried pies, fritters, doughnuts and dumplings that you will find anywhere.”
Outdoor Adventures
Within the boundaries of Fannin County are five waterfalls accessible by hikes of various distances.
Long Creek Falls
The crystal clear aquamarine waters of Lake Blue Ridge make it one of Georgia’s most picturesque mountain lakes. The 3,290-acre lake and surrounding area boast over 90 national forest campsites, several boat ramps, a full-service marina, great fishing, and public swimming and picnic areas. 80 percent of the shoreline on Lake Blue Ridge is in the Chattahoochee National Forest, managed by the USDA Forest Service.
Lake Blue Ridge
Fannin County has a number of excellent trails and adventures for hiking and biking. Springer Mountain in southern Fannin County is the start of a 2,000+ mile trek to Maine’s Mount Katahdin known as the Appalachian Trail. Named for the regional planner who envisioned the Appalachian Trail and founded the Wilderness Society, the Benton MacKaye Trail journeys deep into the most remote areas of Fannin County. A popular destination for day-hikers, Benton MacKaye Trail through hikers, and paddlers making the journey down the Toccoa River Canoe Trail is the swinging bridge over the Toccoa River. The 265-foot long bridge is the longest swinging bridge east of the Mississippi River. The Aska Trails Area is a 17-mile hiking-mountain biking trail system in the National Forest near Deep Gap on Aska Road in Blue Ridge. Trails range from one to 5.5 miles and vary in difficulty. Trails climb to 3,200 feet with views of mountain ridges and descend to the shores of Lake Blue Ridge. For fun in the outdoors the Cohutta Wilderness Area cannot be beat. With more than 40,000 acres in Georgia and Tennessee (where its known as Big Frog Wilderness Area), the Cohuttas comprise the largest wilderness east of the Mississippi.
Swinging Bridge
Cohutta Wilderness
From March to October the nearby Ocoee River comes alive with whitewater enthusiasts from around the world who journey to shoot the world-class rapids in rafts, canoes, and kayaks. Outdoor adventure writer Kim Urquhart calls it “a paddler’s paradise …loved for its size and power, constant flow rate and continuous waves and holes”.
Ocoee White Water Rafting
Blue Ridge Arts and Culture
Art and culture are alive and growing like kudzu in the mountains of north central Georgia. Whether you’re a visitor or a resident, you can literally fill your calendar with arts fairs, gallery tours, exhibits, receptions, festivals, classes, concerts and plays produced and sponsored by local organizations.
The Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association (BRMAA) sponsors gallery exhibits, summer concerts in the park, Arts in the Park and Wildlife Arts Festival, and the Blue Ridge Writer’s Conference and Telebration.
Our beautiful Blue Ridge Community Theater playhouse is located in the renovated Hampton Square building in downtown Blue Ridge. The theater group has a full calendar of drama, comedy and musical productions.
Click here for more information about other cultural activities and events.
Surround yourself with the beauty, relaxation and natural fun that are uniquely Georgia’s Blue Ridge Experience. Enjoy the splendor and exhilaration of a day hiking to nearby waterfalls, horseback riding on forested trails or whitewater rafting in our unspoiled mountain beauty. Looking for quiet romance or peace of mind? Try spending the day watching the sun glimmer across the aqua blue waters of Lake Blue Ridge or crystal clear Toccoa River. We’re waiting to delight you in one of our cozy mountain cabins overlooking pristine valleys and ridge tops. Take a nap in the fresh, clear mountain air lulled by the hypnotic sound of a nearby trout stream.
Or perhaps you’re looking for a little excitement. Discover the sheer joy of a whitewater rafting adventure or a ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. Spend a day exploring our mountain art and culture, past and present, in the many galleries across the region or browse for antiques in the shops that line our mountain towns.
After a day spent outdoors or relaxing with your favorite book in front of the fire or counting the fireflies in the early evening mist, choose from a variety of dining experiences to cap off your night. Whether you stay for a day, a weekend, a month or a lifetime, you will surround yourself with the memories and the magic of Georgia’s Blue Ridge Experience.
Blue Ridge Attractions
While many people make the journey to Fannin County for our natural attractions, or just to kick back and relax, there are many things to do here to make your visit more fun.
Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad
The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway is one of the “must see” attractions in the north Georgia mountains. Offering a 26-mile journey along the Toccoa River with the backdrop of the Blue Ridge and Cohutta Mountains, the relaxing four and a half hour ride starts at the historic depot in downtown Blue Ridge, then stops for a layover in the quaint sister towns of McCaysville, Georgia and Copperhill, Tennessee.
Mercier Orchards
Mercier Orchards is Southern Living Magazine’s “favorite roadside apple market,” according to the October, 2002 edition. “If you come for no other reason, you must sample the fried apple pies and cider,” the article says. “The cooks create some of the most memorable pastries, fried pies, fritters, doughnuts and dumplings that you will find anywhere.”
Outdoor Adventures
Within the boundaries of Fannin County are five waterfalls accessible by hikes of various distances.
Long Creek Falls
The crystal clear aquamarine waters of Lake Blue Ridge make it one of Georgia’s most picturesque mountain lakes. The 3,290-acre lake and surrounding area boast over 90 national forest campsites, several boat ramps, a full-service marina, great fishing, and public swimming and picnic areas. 80 percent of the shoreline on Lake Blue Ridge is in the Chattahoochee National Forest, managed by the USDA Forest Service.
Lake Blue Ridge
Fannin County has a number of excellent trails and adventures for hiking and biking. Springer Mountain in southern Fannin County is the start of a 2,000+ mile trek to Maine’s Mount Katahdin known as the Appalachian Trail. Named for the regional planner who envisioned the Appalachian Trail and founded the Wilderness Society, the Benton MacKaye Trail journeys deep into the most remote areas of Fannin County. A popular destination for day-hikers, Benton MacKaye Trail through hikers, and paddlers making the journey down the Toccoa River Canoe Trail is the swinging bridge over the Toccoa River. The 265-foot long bridge is the longest swinging bridge east of the Mississippi River. The Aska Trails Area is a 17-mile hiking-mountain biking trail system in the National Forest near Deep Gap on Aska Road in Blue Ridge. Trails range from one to 5.5 miles and vary in difficulty. Trails climb to 3,200 feet with views of mountain ridges and descend to the shores of Lake Blue Ridge. For fun in the outdoors the Cohutta Wilderness Area cannot be beat. With more than 40,000 acres in Georgia and Tennessee (where its known as Big Frog Wilderness Area), the Cohuttas comprise the largest wilderness east of the Mississippi.
Swinging Bridge
Cohutta Wilderness
From March to October the nearby Ocoee River comes alive with whitewater enthusiasts from around the world who journey to shoot the world-class rapids in rafts, canoes, and kayaks. Outdoor adventure writer Kim Urquhart calls it “a paddler’s paradise …loved for its size and power, constant flow rate and continuous waves and holes”.
Ocoee White Water Rafting
Blue Ridge Arts and Culture
Art and culture are alive and growing like kudzu in the mountains of north central Georgia. Whether you’re a visitor or a resident, you can literally fill your calendar with arts fairs, gallery tours, exhibits, receptions, festivals, classes, concerts and plays produced and sponsored by local organizations.
The Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association (BRMAA) sponsors gallery exhibits, summer concerts in the park, Arts in the Park and Wildlife Arts Festival, and the Blue Ridge Writer’s Conference and Telebration.
Our beautiful Blue Ridge Community Theater playhouse is located in the renovated Hampton Square building in downtown Blue Ridge. The theater group has a full calendar of drama, comedy and musical productions.
Click here for more information about other cultural activities and events.