The Appalachian Trail begins its long northbound route at Springer Mountain: from the summit, the trail stretches more than 2,200 miles to Maine. Springer Mountain in Fannin County is also the trail’s southern terminus. For hikers, this makes a specific place an entry point into the story of a long-distance trail—and a distinctive starting point for exploring the county.
Hiking among ridgelines and waterfalls
The Appalachian Trail is not the only notable route. The Benton MacKaye Trail runs through all of Fannin County. In the county’s south-central area, the Aska Adventure Area offers a 17-mile network of trails for hiking and mountain biking on National Forest land. The trails climb to nearly 3,200 feet, offer views of ridgelines and descend to the shore of Lake Blue Ridge. Most of the county lies within the Chattahoochee National Forest—a significant part of the landscape through which these trails run.
On the Benton MacKaye Trail, west of Aska Road, Fall Branch Falls consists of cascades that flow into a 30-foot waterfall. Long Creek Falls presents a different scene: the 25-foot waterfall is surrounded by hemlocks and forms a pool at its base. After 0.8 miles on the Appalachian Trail, a blue-blazed trail turns left; the falls are 0.1 miles farther on. Visitors to the Toccoa River Swinging Bridge will find a short, easy trail from the parking area. However, it follows an unpaved surface and crosses uneven terrain—a useful distinction when planning a walk.
The drive to Springer Mountain also merits attention. Long-term parking is allowed at the trailhead parking area for up to 14 days. Forest Service roads can be rough and may be impassable to cars and minibuses in winter or during very wet weather. Check road conditions before you set out.
The Toccoa River and Lake Blue Ridge
The Toccoa River flows through Fannin County and feeds into Lake Blue Ridge. The lake covers 3,290 acres and has more than 100 miles of shoreline, most of which is publicly accessible. At Lake Blue Ridge, the Morganton Point Recreation Area offers camping, picnicking, boating, swimming and hiking year-round. This brings a range of activities together by the water, without limiting the lake to just one way of enjoying it.
Below Lake Blue Ridge Dam, the Toccoa River is an excellent destination for beginner and experienced trout anglers, thanks to its high catch rates. Rainbow trout and brown trout are stocked there annually. For those who would rather experience the river from the water, the Toccoa River Canoe Trail offers another focal point: the float from Deep Hole to Sandy Bottoms is 13.8 miles long. Experienced paddlers will encounter rapids and calm stretches; the scenic trip is described as a full-day outing.
Bridge, railway and county history
The Toccoa River Swinging Bridge is 270 feet long and is considered the longest suspension bridge east of the Mississippi. It was built in 1977 by the USDA Forest Service in partnership with the Appalachian Trail Club. Its dimensions and the short hike from the parking area offer two different ways to experience this place: the bridge as a striking structure, and the path to it as a short walk where the uneven terrain should be taken into account.
The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway offers another way to explore the area. It runs two-hour or four-hour round trips covering 26 miles along the Toccoa River from Blue Ridge to McCaysville and Copperhill. Schedules and seasonal operations may change, so check the information for your planned date. As a heritage railway, the Blue Ridge Railway has a significant history dating back to the early 1900s.
The county’s administrative history also has a specific sequence of locations: the first county seat was in Morganton. Following a public vote, it was moved to Blue Ridge on August 13, 1895. The county’s historic marker stands in front of the old Fannin County Courthouse on West Main Street in Blue Ridge. The historic courthouse is home to the Art Center, which features studios, a ceramics and kiln studio, five artist guilds, five galleries and an artist-in-residence program.
Harvests and regional products
At Mercier Orchards, seasonal offerings are paired with fruit-based products: the tasting room serves house-grown hard cider and wines made from harvested fruit. Seasonal u-pick offerings include strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and apples; tractor tours are also available. Which fruits are ready for picking varies by season and harvest conditions. The bakery makes, among other things, fried fruit pies, apple cider doughnuts, muffins, fritters and breads. The county experience thus ranges from trails and water to harvesting and processing.
Discover more destinations: Blue Ridge, Mineral Bluff, Mcintosh, Polk County, Douglas, Catoosa, Macon County, Clayton.
For the broader travel overview: Georgia.
