Fannin County: Discover Trails, Water and Culture
Accommodation in Fannin County
Fannin County combines major long-distance trails, quiet nature paths, water-based experiences and a remarkable regional culture. Springer Mountain is the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail; from its summit, the trail runs 2,200 miles to Maine. This makes it a destination that offers interesting possibilities both for ambitious hiking plans and for individual days in nature.
Hiking Between Long-Distance Trails and Short Walks
The Benton MacKaye Trail runs through the entire county of Fannin. The Aska Adventure Area also offers a 17-mile system of hiking and mountain biking trails on National Forest land in the south-central county. The trails climb to nearly 3,200 feet, provide views of mountain ridges and descend to the shores of Lake Blue Ridge. Those who want to combine a longer tour with a clear natural destination can plan to visit the Benton MacKaye Trail and Fall Branch Falls. The waterfall lies west of Aska Road along the trail and transitions from cascades into a 30-foot drop.
For a shorter outing, Mineral Springs Nature Trail & Park is suitable, with an easy, 0.58-mile walking trail and informative signs about plants and trees. The path from the parking lot of the Toccoa River Swinging Bridge is also short and easy, but runs along an unpaved trail with uneven terrain. The bridge itself is 270 feet long and is considered the longest suspension bridge east of the Mississippi. To reach Long Creek Falls, follow a blue-blazed trail for another 0.1 miles after 0.8 miles on the Appalachian Trail. The waterfall is 25 feet high, surrounded by eastern hemlocks, and forms a pool at its base.
Lake, River and Active Days
Lake Blue Ridge covers 3,290 acres and has more than 100 miles of mostly publicly accessible shoreline. The surrounding area features National Forest campgrounds, several boat ramps, a full-service marina, as well as public swimming and picnic areas. Morganton Point Recreation Area offers camping, picnicking, boating, swimming and hiking there year-round.
The Toccoa River flows through Fannin County and empties into Lake Blue Ridge. Below Lake Blue Ridge Dam, it is a destination for beginner and experienced trout anglers because of the high catch rates; rainbow trout and brown trout are stocked annually. The Toccoa River Canoe Trail includes a 13.8-mile float section from Deep Hole to Sandy Bottoms. Experienced paddlers will find rapids and calm stretches of water there. For a more demanding wilderness experience, the 4.5-mile trail to Jacks River Falls leads through rugged terrain in the Cohutta Wilderness Area.
Culture, Railways and Regional Specialties
The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway offers two-hour or four-hour round trips covering 26 miles along the Toccoa River from Blue Ridge to McCaysville and Copperhill. The Blue Ridge Railway is associated with a heritage railway whose history dates back to the early 1900s. The historic Fannin County Courthouse now houses studios, a ceramics and kiln studio, five artists' guilds, five galleries and an artist-in-residence program. The county's historical marker stands in front of the old courthouse on West Main Street in Blue Ridge. It is also interesting for local history that the first county seat was in Morganton before being moved to Blue Ridge by public vote on August 13, 1895.
Mercier Orchards adds regional culinary experiences to the nature and cultural attractions. A tasting room offers house-grown hard cider and wines made from harvested fruit. Depending on the season, visitors can pick their own strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and apples, as well as take tractor tours. A bakery makes, among other things, fried fruit pies, cider donuts, muffins, fritters and breads.
The Right Vacation Rental for Your Travel Plans
When searching for a vacation rental in Fannin County, it is worthwhile to decide in advance what the focus of the trip will be. For extended hikes, information about distances, elevations and trail conditions is important. Those who want to combine shorter nature experiences, water activities, railway history and regional specialties can plan varied days accordingly. Long-term parking for up to 14 days is permitted at the Springer Mountain trailhead. However, the Forest Service roads to Springer Mountain can be rough and may be impassable for cars or minibuses in winter or during very wet weather.
For further orientation in the area, you can also include Blue Ridge and Mineral Bluff in your research. This allows you to choose your accommodation based on the experiences that will make the greatest difference for your travel group.
For the overarching travel overview: Georgia.
More Destinations
More places within the same destination:
