Blue Ridge
The Blue Ridge occupies all or portions of eleven counties in Georgia: Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Habersham, Lumpkin, Pickens, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White.
The Blue Ridge Mountains in northeast Georgia make up the state's highest mountain range. The range of rugged ridges and rounded, weathered peaks varies in elevation from 1,600 to 4,700 feet and harbors spectacular mountain scenery, as well as some of the world's richest biological diversity. In addition, the range contains Georgia's wettest areas, with higher elevations getting more than eighty inches of rain annually on average.
The Blue Ridge, so named because its peaks and ridges often appear wrapped in a soft blue haze, consists of a nearly unbroken chain of mountains stretching from Virginia and North Carolina and extending nearly 100 miles into Georgia. It makes up the southernmost part of the Appalachian mountain chain, a vast complex of ranges that extends from north Georgia through New England.
Tallulah Gorge and Falls The Blue Ridge also has impressive gorges and canyons, the most notable of which is Tallulah Gorge, which spans the border between Habersham and Rabun counties and is one of the state's most visited tourist destinations. Spectacular waterfalls include Amicalola (the tallest east of the Mississippi River), Anna Ruby, Hiawassee, and Toccoa. The Chattooga, Toccoa, Tugaloo, and other rivers in the region are popular recreation areas, particularly for whitewater rafters, canoers, and kayakers. These rivers provide the waters for a number of man-made lakes, including Lake Burton, Lake Chatuge, and Lake Rabun, that also enhance the recreational opportunities in the area. Two much larger lakes, Lanier and Hartwell, are situated in the foothills just south of the Blue Ridge.
Tallulah Gorge and Falls Until the early twentieth century the once-mighty Tallulah River flowed freely, carving a deep and scenic gorge. Dammed just above the gorge, its waters were diverted for power generation to fill the electrical needs of a booming Atlanta and northeast Georgia. Before the dam's construction (completed in 1913) the falls were a major attraction, considered the "Niagara of the South."
Highest mountain peak in Georgia at 4,784 feet Brasstown Bald Most of the Blue Ridge Mountains are part of the 750,000-acre Chattahoochee National Forest, managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Within its bounds are Georgia's highest peaks. The highest, Brasstown Bald (4,784 feet), is partly in Towns County and partly in Union County. Highest mountain peak in Georgia at 4,784 feet
Brasstown Bald
Brasstown Bald
Brasstown Bald
Appalachian Trail The southern terminus of the famed Appalachian Trail is on Springer Mountain (3,782 feet) in Gilmer County; Blood Mountain (4,461 feet) in Union County is the highest peak on Georgia's portion of the trail.
Springer Mountain
Black bear, turkey, wild boar, whitetail deer, many species of amphibians and reptiles, thousands of species of invertebrates, and a variety of small mammals are found in the Blue Ridge. The area also is generally part of the Appalachian flyway for birds, especially tanagers, thrushes, vireos, and warblers.
Helen, Georgia
Dahlonega, Georgia
Amicalola Falls Amicalola Falls near Dawsonville are the highest waterfalls in Georgia, with a drop of 729 feet. Named by Cherokee Indians for "tumbling waters," the falls are now the site of one of Georgia's most popular state parks, which includes an overlook at the top of the falls. An eight-mile "approach trail" links the falls to the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.