North Georgia Highroads - The Most Scenic Drives in America: 120 Spectacular Road Trips - page 1073

glers come here to cast for trout, bass, panfish, and bluegills. Others visit simply to enjoy
leisurely walks along the lake's shoreline and up the nearby slopes, a pastime that is espe-
cially appealing duringthe hotsummer months, whenthe highelevation anddeep shade of
the forest offer relief from the heat—so much so, in fact, that Moccasin Creek is known as
''the park where spring spends the summer.''
Once back on Rte. 76, you'll quickly come to the Popcorn overlook, which takes in
the rumpled ridges that rise from Lake Burton. Farther along, the highway crosses the Ap-
palachian Trail at Dicks Creek Gap, a slender notch that has yet another inviting rest area
with picnic sites and far-reaching views.
5. Lake Chatuge
The drive soon nears the glittering expanse of Lake Chatuge, a reservoir that extends into
North Carolina, where the lake's glassy surface mirrors the mountains that slant down to
its shores. Camping, boating, and fishing are popular here, and in the lakeside town of
Hiawassee, the trails at Hamilton Gardens traverse a paradise filled with tulip trees, dog-
woods, azaleas, and rhododendrons.
After taking a walk through the gardens, follow Rte. 76 past the sturdy ridges to the
townofYoungHarris.Fromthereyou'lldescendbesideButternut Creek,whichtwistsand
turns amid a valley graced with apple orchards, cultivated fields, and wind-rippled mead-
ows.
6. Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway
Blairsville, an old-fashioned mountain town, was settled in the shadow of 4,784-foot
Brasstown Bald, Georgia's highest mountain. The Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway, a
41-mile loop along State Rtes. 180, 17/75, and 348, climbs to just below the peak's crest.
You can reach the visitor center on top by trail or, for a fee, by shuttle bus. Descending
from the mountain's flanks, the byway continues past forests and wilderness areas along
what is often for first-timers a white-knuckle course.
7. Vogel State Park
After completing the scenic loop, the drive heads south on Rte. 19/129, where you'll be
greeted by a cascade on the approach to 223-acre Vogel State Park. The area's centerpiece,
Lake Trahlyta, is surrounded by a ring of mountains cloaked with dense forests. A Civilian