Georgia Mountain Geography

• The Blue Ridge mountains are the highest in the Appalachian range.Majestic Fall image by Anthony Scocco from Fotolia.com
  
  The north Georgia mountain region comprises the southern border of the Appalachian Mountains, which stretch north to Maine. The Appalachians are the second largest mountain range in the United States, second only to the Rocky Mountains in the West. In Georgia, the Blue Ridge province of the Appalachian Mountains descends approximately 70 miles south of the Tennessee border. The Blue Ridge mountains are the highest in the Appalachian range and home to Brasstown Bald, Georgia's highest peak.
  
  

Appalachian Trail

• The Appalachian Trail starts in the north Georgia mountains.trail image by martini from Fotolia.com
  
  One of the most recognizable attractions in the north Georgia mountains is the southern stretch of the Appalachian Trail. Springer Mountain, at an elevation of 3782 feet, is the southern terminus of the trail. Many hikers start approximately nine miles away at Amicalola Falls State Park, and hike the approach trail to Springer Mountain. The Appalachian Trail winds through the north-central Georgia mountains for just over 75 miles until reaching the North Carolina border. Shelters, campsites and supply stores are dotted along the trail. Hikers should be especially cautious on the trail from October 18 to January 1, as this is deer hunting season in Georgia and the areas around the Appalachian Trail are especially popular hunting grounds.
  
  

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest

• The Chattahoochee Forest dominates the North Georgia mountain area.In the Forest image by Kemper Boyd from Fotolia.com
  
  Much of the North Georgia mountains is dominated by the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest is 865,855 acres, with the Chattahoochee Forest comprising approximately 87 percent of the total acreage in North Georgia (the Oconee Forest lies to the south of the mountain area). One of the most popular tourist stops in the Chattahoochee Forest is Brasstown Bald, Georgia's highest mountain peak at 4784 feet. The forest includes more than 450 miles of trails and 2,200 miles of rivers and streams throughout the North Georgia mountains.
  
  

Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites

• In addition to the national forest, the North Georgia mountains are also home to several state parks and historic sites. Fort Mountain State Park, situated between Chatsworth and Ellijay, lies in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Nearby state parks include Amicalola Falls State Park and Unicoi State Park, all offering similar mountain scenery and wildlife. Several historic sites are also in the North Georgia mountains, including the Dahlonega Gold Museum, remembering the site of the first American gold rush, and the New Echota Historic Site, home of the historic Cherokee Indian capital.
  
  

Dining, Shopping and Lodging

• While the main attractions in the North Georgia mountains are outdoors, the region does have unique towns, with extensive shopping, dining and hotel lodging. One of the most interesting cities in the mountains is Helen, which lies in the Blue Ridge Mountains and on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. The town is a recreation of an alpine village, and hosts more than 200 specialty and import stores and a variety of German restaurants.
  
  

Getting There

• The North Georgia mountains are easily accessible from Atlanta (Georgia), Chattanooga (Tennessee) or Greenville (South Carolina). Access points to the mountains are available from both I-85 and I-75, which converge in Atlanta. The most convenient airport is likely Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport, which is the busiest passenger airport in the United States as of June 2010. Almost all destinations within the North Georgia mountains are within a two-hour drive from the Atlanta airport and within an hour from Chattanooga.