Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Drive 116
North Georgia Highroads
Just a short hop from the gleaming glass towers of Atlanta, this rocky edge of
the Appalachian Mountains has at points in time attracted prospecting pioneers
in search of gold. The treasure proved fleeting, but northern Georgia continues to
reward visitors with its towering waterfalls, secluded gorges, orchards and farms
wedged among the mountains, and remote little towns.
Length:
About 170 miles, plus side trips
When to go:
Fine scenery year-round, though the fall can be crowded on weekends and
winters are sometimes icy
Nearby attractions:
Amicalola Falls State Park, where a series of cascades tumble a
total of 729 feet, off Rte. 52 west of Dahlonega; Lake Winfield Scott, a clear lake high
in the mountains, Rte. 180 west of Vogel State Park
Further information:
Georgia Tourism Division,
1.
Toccoa
Leaving behind the high-speed traffic ofI-85,the drive begins byfollowing Rte. 17northw-
esttothetownofToccoa,whichtakesitsnamefromtheCherokeewordfor''beautiful''—an
apt description for this place at the southeastern edge of Chattahoochee National Forest.
Ranging across most of the state's northern tier, the forest abounds with ferns, wildflowers,
shrubs, pines, and stands of long-lived oak and hickory trees. The mountainous terrain is
laced by rivers and creeks, their downhill journeys punctuated by an abundance of water-
falls. The first, Toccoa Falls, drops about 186 feet. To reach it, follow the signs from Rte. 17
to Toccoa Falls College a few miles outside of Toccoa, where a creekside trail leads to the
deep pool at the base of the cascade, whose nonstop melody grows louder as you approach.
Search WWH ::
Custom Search