1. Lake Blue Ridge – - Tammen Park, Toccoa River, Lake Blue Ridge Dam - Begin the trip by going east toward Blairsville on the Appalachian Highway 515 starting at McDonald's. Go 2.4 miles to park entrance on right. From the parking area and picnic pavilions you can walk down to the Toccoa River and see Lake Blue Ridge Dam a little way upstream.

2. Lake Blue Ridge – swim Morganton Point Recreation Area On Lake Blue Ridge, this area offers campsites adjacent to the lake shore, camping, picnicking, hiking, swimming, boating and fishing. Take For more information, call 706-632-3031.

3. Toccoa River Rapids – Begin the trip by going east toward Blairsville on the Appalachian Highway starting at McDonald's. Go .7 miles turn right at Windy Ridge Conoco. Turn left at 4-way stop sign. Turn right almost immediately on Aska Road. 12.3 Toccoa River Rapids. Turn left into a parking area to get a good look at the Toccoa River, one of Georgia's most pristine trout streams. This is popular spot to view the rapids, or to put in or take out tubes, canoes and kayaks. The Toccoa is a favorite trout stream for serious fly fishermen.

4. Fall Branch Falls – a double waterfall with mountain laurel and rhododendron growing along the trail and creek bank. The hike to the falls is about 30 minutes round trip. In Blue Ridge, follow Aska Road south for eight miles. Turn right on a paved road (Toccoa Riverside Restaurant is on the left). The trail is three miles on the right, just past Forest Warden Garfield Stanley's home.

5. Toccoa River Canoe Trail – The Toccoa River Canoe Trail is perfect for beginners who are looking for a few rapids and some beautiful scenery along the way. The trail is also popular with float fishermen looking for cold-water mountain trout. The put in is located at the Toccoa Ranger District's Deep Hole Recreation Area, a U.S. Forest Service campground of highway GA 60 south of Blue Ridge and north off Suches, GA. Launch and parking costs $2 per vehicle. The canoe trail begins on the north bank of the river, flowing west and north toward Blue Ridge. The entire float from Deep Hole to Sandy Bottoms is 13.8 miles.

6. Long Creek Falls – Long Creek Falls is accessed via the Appalachian-Benton MacKaye Trails beginning at Three Forks, and follows Long Creek 1.0 miles upstream to a short blue blazed side trail that leads to the falls. The hike is an easy 2.2 miles round trip. NOTE: DETOUR NECESSARY, July 2006. There is a detour because USFS 58 is washed out. Alternate route follows: Alternate Route to Three Forks and Long Creek Falls: Go South on Aska Road to end (13.5 miles). Turn right onto Newport Road, go 4.5 miles to end. Turn right on Doublehead Gap Road, go 2.0 miles to USFS Road 42 on the left. Turn left on USFS Road 42, go 9.0 miles to USFS Road 58 on the left. Turn left on USFS Road 58, go 2.7 miles to Three Forks. The trail on the right will take you to Long Creek Falls. (Normal Directions when road is repaired): From Blue Ridge, follow Aska Road to the end (13.5 miles). Turn right onto Newport Road and go 4.5 miles to the end. Turn left onto Doublehead Gap Road, cross a new concrete bridge and come to a dirt gravel road. Continue on this road .3 miles to the intersection with dirt-gravel FS Road 58, intersecting sharply from the right. Continue east into the forest and uphill 5.3 miles to Three Forks. Noontootla Creek is on the right as you ascend. The trail begins on the north side of the road and starts as a gradual hike alongside Long Creek. There are three short ascents before reaching the blue blazed side trail to the falls at 1.1 miles.

7. Ocoee Whitewater Center – From Blue Ridge, take GA 5 north to McCaysville, then turn left on Tennessee Highway 68. In Ducktown, take U. S. 64 west to the Ocoee Whitewater Center on the left. The Ocoee Whitewater Center was built by the U.S. Forest Service for the 1996 Olympic Canoe/Kayak/Slalom events. The information center displays legacy items from the Olympics. There are hiking trails, swimming holes, picnic areas, a native garden, gift shop and more. For information call (423) 496-5197.

8. Jacks River Trail – in the Cohutta Wildlife Management Area. Recommended for seasoned backpackers and fishermen, the Cohutta Wildlife Management Area (WMA) encompasses 95,000 acres, 40,000 of which are in Fannin County. The Cohutta Wilderness is the largest wilderness area east of the Mississippi River. The highest peaks rise to 4,000 feet. There are 26 trails totaling 127 miles and the pristine trout waters of the Jacks and Conasauga Rivers. For directions and more information about access to the Cohuttas, contact the Cohutta Ranger District at 706-695-6736. And see the Chamber's Self-Driving Tour #2, A Ride to the Cohutta Wilderness. To access Jacks River Trail from the east, get to Watson Gap, make a right on FS22 to Dally Gap and park, trail starts there. A map of the Cohutta Wilderness, available from the US Forest Service is strongly recommended, as well as good wilderness skills, proper equipment including the 10 Essentials, and understanding of the Leave No Trace Ethic.

9. Jacks River Fields – rough road, get info from the visitors center or Forest Service. Begin at McDonald's heading north on Highway 5 toward McCaysville. At mile (3.8) Turn left onto S.R. 2.6.9 McKinney Crossing on Fightingtown Creek. The old house on the left is well over 100 years old. Notice the old stacked stone chimney. The McKinney family ran a grist mill and had a general store across the street. (9.7) Watson's Store, on the left, is typical of the hundreds of small general merchandise stores scattered throughout the area to serve small farming communities. A store probably has been on this site for 150 years. (12.7) End of pavement. Begin mountain upgrade and gravel roads. From now on, you will have hardwood forest on both sides of the road. The most common species are black, red and white oaks, hickory, poplar, ash, sourwood and dogwood. (14.0) Watson Gap, altitude 2,700 feet. Here the road divides, left to Lake Conasauga, right to the Ocoee River in Tennessee. Take U.S. Forest Service Road 64 toward Conasauga. (17.2) Dyer Gap, altitude 2,840. The Dyer family was pioneer family before the area became anational forest, and they still maintain the family cemetery. Keep right at the intersection at Dyer Gap. Ahead, the diamond blaze marks identify a portion of the Benton MacKaye Trail. (17.9) South Fork Trail is on your right, a 3 mile USFS Hiking Trail north to Watson Gap. (18.0) Jacks River Fields Campground is on your left, marking the headwaters of the Jacks River, one of the most pristine trout streams in the Georgia mountains. Facilities include picnic tables, fee camping, and a horse park for trailers in this pretty spot.

10. Jacks River Falls – Located in the Cohutta Wilderness Area on the Jacks River, this beautiful waterfall is the most visited site in the Cohuttas. For the shortest hike in, approach from the northwest access point. From Chatsworth, go north on US 411 13 miles to Cisco. Turn right on Old Hwy 2. Continue on this road 10 miles to FS 62 on the right. Turn right on FS 62 and go 4.4 miles to the Jacks River Trailhead. Trail to the falls is 3.5 miles following an abandoned rail bed.