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Surround yourself with beauty in Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains

Surround yourself with the beauty, relaxation and natural fun that are uniquely Georgia’s Blue Ridge Experience. Leave your cell phone and laptop at home and enjoy the splendor and exhilaration of a day hiking to nearby waterfalls, horseback riding on forested trails or whitewater rafting in our unspoiled mountain beauty. Looking for quiet romance or peace of mind? Try spending the day watching the sun glimmer across the aqua blue waters of Lake Blue Ridge or crystal clear Toccoa River. We’re waiting to delight you in one of our cozy mountain cabins overlooking pristine valleys and ridge tops. Take a nap in the fresh, clear mountain air lulled by the hypnotic sound of a nearby trout stream.

Or perhaps you’re looking for a little excitement. Discover the sheer joy of a whitewater rafting adventure or a ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. Spend a day exploring our mountain art and culture, past and present, in the many galleries across the region or browse for antiques in the shops that line our mountain towns.

After a day spent outdoors or relaxing with your favorite book in front of the fire or counting the fireflies in the early evening mist, choose from a variety of dining experiences to cap off your night. Whether you stay for a day, a weekend, a month or a lifetime, you will surround yourself with the memories and the magic of Georgia’s Blue Ridge Experience.

Whatever you choose, make sure the Fannin County Chamber's Visitor's Center is your first stop on a vacation in Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountains.

The town of Blue Ridge was once considered an elite health resort because of its pure mineral waters. Tourists would ride the train to town, eat dinner at the Blue Ridge Hotel, and take a leisurely walk to the mineral springs after dinner. Today, tourists can still ride the train and take a leisurely walk along Main Street, enjoying the antique and specialty shops, galleries, restaurants and small town atmosphere of Blue Ridge.

Blue Ridge was founded in 1886 as a result of the arrival of the Marietta and North Georgia Railroad. Because of the railroad, Blue Ridge developed as a center of business and in 1895 the county seat was moved from Morganton to Blue Ridge. In the early years, at different times, there were five hotels and several boarding houses in downtown Blue Ridge.

Lake Blue Ridge

The crystal clear aquamarine waters of Lake Blue Ridge make it one of Georgia's most picturesque mountain lakes. The 3,290-acre lake and surrounding area boast over 90 national forest campsites, several boat ramps, a full-service marina and public swimming and picnic areas. 80 percent of the shoreline on Lake Blue Ridge is in the Chattahoochee National Forest, managed by the USDA Forest Service.

Morganton Point Campground, in Morganton, features a public swimming area, along with 43 campsites, picnic tables and pavilion and a boat ramp. Another boat ramp is available at Lakewood Landing near Morganton. The Lake Blue Ridge Marina offers boat ramp access on a fee basis, along with pontoon rentals.

The lake is home to bass, bream, catfish, perch and crappie, which make the area popular with anglers. It is the only lake south of the Great Lakes where Walleye are caught, and is also known for white bass fishing.

Blue Ridge reservoir is 11 miles long and has 65 miles of shoreline, 25 percent of which is developed. The lake was formed when Blue Ridge Dam was constructed on the Toccoa River in 1930 by the Toccoa Electric Power Company. At the time it was built, the dam was the largest earthen dam in the Southeast. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) purchased the facility in 1939 for hydroelectric power production.