Hiking Trails
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HIKING TRAILS LAKE CHATUGE JARRARD GAP Hiawassee, Georgia 1.2 miles - EASY Suches, Georgia 1 mile - MODERATE A loop trail along the lakeshore. From The Ridges, make a This trail provides access to the Appalachian Trail from the left and take Hwy 76 West to the traffic light at Hwy 288. Turn Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area. The trail follows an old right. Go 1 mile and turn left into Lake Chatuge Recreation logging road through native hardwoods to Jarrard Gap. From Area. Park in the boat ramp area. The trailhead is to the right The Ridges, make a right and take Hwy 76 West toward Blairs- of the boat ramp. ville. In Blairsville, take Hwy 129 South for 9.5 miles. Go past Vogel State Park. Turn right onto GA 180 and drive 7 miles to Lake Winfield Scott. The trail begins at the main bulletin board SOSEBEE COVE TRAIL near the head of the lake and shares the same path with the Blairsville, Georgia 0.5 mile - EASY Slaughter Creek trail for a short distance. Parking is available near the campground host’s cabin. These loop trails circle through one of the finest stands of second-growth hardwood in the country and are also known for the variety of wildflowers that flourish on their forest floor. From The Ridges, make a right and take Hwy 76 West toward BYRON HERBERT Blairsville. In Blairsville, take Hwy 129 South for 9.5 miles. Go past Vogel State Park. Turn right onto GA 180. Go 2 miles to REECE ACCESS TRAIL the Sosebee Cove parking area on the right. Blairsville, Georgia 0.7 mile - MODERATE This trail is fairly steep for about 0.3 of a mile. This is an access trail to the Appalachian Trail from the Byron Herbert Reece hiking LAKE WINFIELD Memorial. More parking is available here than at the Walasi-yi Center at Neels Gap. This blue-blazed trail enters the Appala- SCOTT chian Trail just south of Flat Rock Gap. From The Ridges, make trails Suches, Georgia 0.4 mile - EASY a right and take Hwy 76 West toward Blairsville. In Blairsville, take Hwy 129 South for 12 miles. Turn right into the Byron Her- This trail encircles the lake, allowing easy access for fishing. bert Reece Memorial Parking Area. From The Ridges, make a right and take Hwy 76 West toward Blairsville. In Blairsville, take Hwy 129 South for 9.5 miles. Go past Vogel State Park. Turn right onto GA 180 and drive 7 & miles to Lake Winfield Scott. BEAR HAIR GAP TRAIL Blairsville, Georgia 4 miles - MODERATE waterfalls This loop trail is ideal for family hikes. The trail is of moderate SLAUGHTER CREEK difficulty and begins and ends in the Vogel State Park. It is TRAIL an orange-blazed trail. Trail begins behind the park’s Visitor Suches, Georgia 2.7 miles - MODERATE Center. From The Ridges, make a right and take Hwy 76 West toward Blairsville. In Blairsville, take Hwy 129 South for 9.5 This trail provides access to the Appalachian Trail from Lake miles. The entrance to Vogel State Park will be on your right. Winfield Scott. From The Ridges, make a right and take Hwy 76 West toward Blairsville. In Blairsville, take Hwy 129 South for 9.5 miles. Go past Vogel State Park. Turn right onto GA 180 and drive 7 miles to Lake Winfield Scott. The trail begins at COOSA BACKCOUNTRY the main bulletin board near the head of the lake and shares TRAIL the same path with the Jarrard Gap trail for a short distance. Blairsville, Georgia 12.7 miles - MODERATE TO Parking is available near the campground host’s cabin. STRENUOUS This trail is marked with yellow blazes. A permit is required and is available at no cost at Vogel State Park’s Visitor Center. From The Ridges, make a right and take Hwy 76 West toward Blairsville. In Blairsville, take Hwy 129 South for 9.5 miles. The entrance to Vogel State Park will be on your right. WATERFALLS HELEN, GA Falls BLAIRSVILLE, GA Falls CUPID FALLS waterfallsHorse Trough FALLS HELTON CREEK FALLS Young Harris, Georgia VERY EASY Helen, Georgia 0.4 mile - EASY Blairsville, Georgia 0.3 MILE - MODERATE You hardly need to get out of the car, just a short easy walk. The beautiful Horse Trough Falls has an excellent trail for nov- Helton Creek Falls Trail follows Helton Creek to two water- Picnic table available. From The Ridges, make a right and take ice hikers. From The Ridges, make a left and take Hwy 76 East falls. The trail accesses the lower falls at both the bottom and Hwy 76 West to Maple Street. Turn left (at corner of Mayor’s through town. Turn right onto GA 75 South toward Helen to top of the falls and ends at the bottom of the upper falls. The Park) and proceed through Young Harris College campus to Unicoi Gap. Turn right onto FS Road 44 (Wilkes Creek Road). total vertical drop is more than 100’, and the rocks are decep- Thomastown Road. The Falls are on the left. Go 0.2 mile, ford the stream, and follow the colored blazes tively slippery around these falls - exercise caution. From The on the trees. Ridges, make a right and take Hwy 76 West toward Blairsville. Take Hwy 129 South for 11 miles. Turn left onto the first gravel high shoals FALLS road past the entrance to Vogel State Park. Go 2.2 miles to a Hiawassee, Georgia 1.2 miles - MODERATE DUKEs CREEK FALLS small pullout parking area, and the trail head will be on the Helen, Georgia 0.8 mile right. These falls have a succession of five waterfalls and an esti- mated total vertical drop of 300’. They are located in a 170- Dukes Creek Trail winds its way into Dukes Creek Gorge, acre scenic area. The High Shoals Trail follows along High where it dead-ends across from the 300’ Dukes Creek Falls. BLOOD MOUNTAIN Shoals Creek to observation decks beside two of the five The area offers scenic beauty and excellent gold-panning FALLS & FALLS ON streams cascading in the High Shoal Scenic Area. Please stay opportunities. From The Ridges, make a left and take Hwy on the trails and observation decks. From The Ridges, make 76 East through town, turning right onto GA 75 South toward WATERS CREEK a left and take Hwy 76 East through town, turning right onto Helen. Almost to Helen, turn right onto GA 356 (75 Alternate) Blairsville, Georgia GA 75 South toward Helen. Past the turn for Brasstown Bald, and go 2.3 miles to Richard Russell Scenic Byway. Turn right This beautiful waterfall is located on Blood Mountain Stream. look on your left for the High Shoals sign, turning onto FS and go 2 miles to the Dukes Creek Falls Recreation Area on The stream flows almost 20’ through a cut in the rock, creat- Road 283. Go 1.5 miles down this road to the High Shoals your left. ing a churning slice of water. From The Ridges, make a right Scenic Area. and take Hwy 76 West toward Blairsville. Take Hwy 129 South to Turner’s Corner (Hwy 19/129). Go west on Hwy 19 approx- RAVEN CLIFF FALLS imately 0.5 mile to Waters Creek Recreation Area. Turn right ANNA RUBY FALLS Helen, Georgia 2.5 miles and travel approximately 2.8 miles and park in the lot to the Helen, Georgia 0.4 miles right. Across the road is a path to the viewing area. These falls are one of the most unusual in the North Georgia Two creeks, Curtis and York, climax their run down the steep area because the water flows through a split in the face of slopes of Tray Mountain in twin waterfalls. Curtis Creek falls a solid rock outcropping to the ground 100’ below. Behind 153’, and York Creek drops 50’. The two waterfalls jointly are the split, the water drops approximately 60’ and then rushes called Anna Ruby Falls, named after the daughter of James H. through the rock face and drops 20’ into a deep pool. The wa- “Captain” Nicols, retired Colonel of the Civil War. Anna Ruby ter then cascades 20’ to Dodd Creek. Three other waterfalls Falls Trail is paved but relatively steep, with benches located can be found on Dodd Creek; the largest is downstream from along the trail for those who want to sit and rest and enjoy the Raven Cliff Falls and measures 70’. The area offers excellent scenic beauty. There is an observation deck at the base of opportunities for day-hiking, however, there are no facilities the falls. From The Ridges, make a left and take Hwy 76 East of any type provided. Visitors are encouraged to exercise through town, turning right onto GA 75 South toward Helen. extreme caution in this undeveloped area. From The Ridges, You will cross the Appalachian Trail. Almost to Helen, GA, turn make a left and take Hwy 76 East through town, turning right left onto GA 356 for 1.5 miles, then go left at the entrance road onto GA 75 South toward Helen. You will cross the Appala- to the falls. There is a nominal fee. Bathrooms are available. chian Trail. Almost to Helen, GA, turn left onto GA 348 for 2.3 miles to the Richard Russell Scenic Byway. Turn right and go 2.8 miles to the trailhead and parking area..