North Georgia Highroads - The Most Scenic Drives in America: 120 Spectacular Road Trips - page 1072

2. Tallulah Gorge State Park
ThedrivefollowsRte.441north,thenturnseastwardforashortstretchalongOldRte.441
(ScenicLoop15),whichclingstotherimofTallulahGorge.Driverswillhavetokeeptheir
eyes on the road, but turnouts along the way let everyone else enjoy the vistas, though all
can enjoy the view from the suspension bridge over the gorge. The cleft's walls plummet
to the Tallulah River, which races along about 1,000 feet below. For more views stop at
Tallulah Gorge State Park, where a trail overlooks three waterfalls.
Farther ahead in Clayton, once a trading post for Cherokee Indians, you'll find a bust-
ling downtown area that brims with stores offering antiques, traditional crafts, and other
homespun keepsakes. White-water enthusiasts also can be seen in the streets of Clayton,
where three outfitters have set up shop in order to guide adventurous visitors on the nearby
Chattooga River down rapids that vary in difficulty from Class III to V. You can visit the
waterwayviaRte.76east,oneofonlyafewroadsthatleadtothenotoriouswildandscen-
ic river.
3. Black Rock Mountain State Park
Black Rock Mountain State Park combines history with some of the boldest ridges in the
lower Blue Ridge Mountains. Located on Foxfire Lane under Black Rock Mountain, the
Foxfire Museum features exhibits that highlight the region's traditional mountain culture.
Black Rock itself, named for a black cliff composed of the mineral biotite, bestrides what
some call the Eastern Continental Divide: Water falling on its flanks will flow to either
the Atlantic or the Gulf of Mexico. Perched above 3,640 feet, the area has overlooks com-
manding views that on clear days extend for 80 miles or so.
Did you know…
TheFoxfireMuseumunderBlackRockMountainwasactually formedbylocal
highschool students in1966,whointerviewed family,friends, andneighbors in
the area to gain insight into the endangered Southern Appalachian culture. The
students gathered such an extensive collection of artifacts during their venture
that they decided to open a museum. Later their Foxfire Book became a nation-
al phenomenon and a source of funding for the museum's growth.
4. Moccasin Creek State Park
The drive backtracks to Clayton, then follows Rte. 76 westward to Rte. 197 and Moccasin
Creek State Park, a pint-size playground that hugs the western shore of Lake Burton. An-