Hiker info

Blairsville has great restaurants, stores, and historic buildings to explore. We are centrally located to Hiawassee GA, another mountain & lake town. To the East is Helen, GA, a Germany/Oktoberfest themed tourist town. And to the West is Blue Ridge GA. The Union County Chamber of Commerce is a great resource for local events & activities as is the below Google Map.

Hiking Trails

The trails in North Georgia are fantastic and range from easy to usually challenging. The Appalachian Trail is probably the most famous hiking trail in the world, and it begins in north Georgia. Mid-March is peak thru-hiker season, but you're bound to meet quite a few hikers on their 6-month trek to Maine year-round. Most GA AT trailheads are within easy reach of the cabins and they are all pretty wonderful. These are a few hiker favorites:

Trailhead Distances

Driving distance from Misty Mountain Inn & Cottages to Appalachian Trail trail-heads
Amicalola Falls (approach) 50 Miles (-8 miles from the start of the Appalachian Trail)
Springer Mt.:* 40 Miles (+1 mile from the start of the Appalachian Trail
Three Forks:* 33 Miles (4.3 miles from the start of Appalachian Trail)
Hightower Gap:* 32 Miles (8.3)
Horse Gap:* 30 Miles (10.2)
Cooper Gap:* 28 Miles (11.8)
Gooch Gap:* 22 Miles (16.5)
Woody Gap: 20 Miles (20.1)
Jarrad Gap: 15 Miles (25.7)Neel Gap: 10 Miles (30.7)
Tesnatee Gap: 11 Miles (36.2)
Hogpen Gap: 12 Miles (37.1)
Unicoi Gap: 15 Miles (50.9)
Tray Gap:* 19 Miles (55.3)
Dicks Creek Gap: 25 miles

Brasstown Bald

Brasstown Bald is Georgia’s highest mountain. The peak can be reached with just a 1/2 mile walk from the upper parking lot or via the US Forest Service shuttle bus. It's only a few miles north of our cabins on US 180. There are 2 webcams pointing north and south. Checking them is a great way to see the live weather and see if there will be a view today. It has 3 very challenging trails that start at the large parking lot on top of the mountain.

Bell Mountain in Hiawassee is another easily accessed 360-degree mountain top view. The sunsets over Chatuge Lake are spectacular and no hiking is required (although there are some stairs up to the best view).

The Toccoa River swinging bridge is very cool, and you can do an out-and-back on the Benton MacKaye trail with it. There is a trailhead 3 miles from it that any vehicle can park at, but high clearance or 4x4 in wet weather is recommended for the one 1/3 mile from the bridge.

Waterfalls

There are more than 120 waterfalls in North Georgia alone, each teeming with beautiful, flowing falls just waiting to be admired.

Hiking Trails

Trailheads

Brasstown Bald

Waterfalls

Watersports

Canoe and Kayak rentals on the Toccoa river near Suches, GA - (www.jonrontro.com)
Whitewater rafting on the Nantahala River in NC (www.noc.com)
Whitewater rafting on the Ocoee River in TN - (www.raft1.com/ocoeeriverrafting)
Boat and Jet ski rental on Lake Nottely in Blairsville, GA- (www.northgeorgiawatersports.com)
Boat and jet ski rental on Lake Chatuge in Hiawassee, GA - (www.yhwatersports.com)
Tubing on the Chattahoochee River in Helen, GA (www.coolrivertubing.com)
Tubing on the Nottely River in Blairsville, GA (Google Maps)

Offroading

If you have the right vehicle and like to do a little off-roading, we have some great local (and legal) USFS 4x4 trail systems. These two are closest:

If you just have high-clearance and can't kick into 4x4, look into some of the US Forest Service roads!