Where to Find Water in Blue Ridge GA
Blue Ridge GA is surrounded by some of the most pristine and cooling waters in the southeastern USA. Perfect for summer activities of all kinds, the waters run through the area in shimmering lakes, tumbling creeks and spectacular waterfalls. First stop is the Toccoa River.
The Toccoa River
The Toccoa River flows northward from its headwaters in the Chattahoochee National Forest
Toccoa River at Horseshoe Bend Park
The Toccoa River flows northward from its headwaters in the Chattahoochee National Forest to the GA/TN line where its name changes to the Ocoee River. In the middle of this journey, Blue Ridge Dam creates beautiful Lake Blue Ridge. Click here to get our free Lake Blue Ridge and Toccoa River guide & map and click here to get our Toccoa River north guide and map.
Toccoa River
The Toccoa River flows northward from its headwaters in the Chattahoochee National Forest to the GA/TN line where its name changes to the Ocoee River. In the middle of this journey, Blue Ridge Dam creates beautiful Lake Blue Ridge. Click here to get our free Lake Blue Ridge and Toccoa River guide & map and click here to get our Toccoa River north guide and map.
What to do:
- Picnics
- Tubing
- Kayaking
- Fishing
- Swimming
Lake Blue Ridge
Lake Blue Ridge a multi-use mountain reservoir filled with the cleanest waters in the entire state. Most of the shores are National Forest, so the mountain vistas across points along the lake are unique to the Blue Ridge area. Click here to get our free Lake Blue Ridge and Toccoa River guide & map.
What to do:
- Boating
- Swimming
- Paddling
- Fishing
Ocoee River
From the GA/TN state line northward, the Toccoa River becomes the Ocoee River. Here the waters become wilder in whitewater and intermittent lakes. The Ocoee Whitewater Center was the home of the 1996 Olympics whitewater event, and is still a perfect place to see and participate in thrilling whitewater activities of all kinds. Take a picnic on weekends and sit on the banks watching kayakers and rafters bounding over the whitewater course. Or get into the fun of whitewater rafting yourself and book a trip you’ll never forget! Further up the Ocoee are lakes and swimming spots, plus numerous camping and picnic areas. Click here for info on the Ocoee River.
What to do:
- Whitewater Rafting
- Swimming
- Picnicking
Waterfalls
If there’s one thing all the rainfall and creeks around Blue Ridge create that makes for an exciting and beautiful excursion, it’s the waterfalls that tumble from wild creeks and through miles of pristine National Forest. Some are easy hikes and some are more challenging, but don’t leave Blue Ridge without experiencing a waterfall walk or hike! Click here to get our free waterfall guide & map.
What to do:
- Hiking
- Picnics
- Wildlife Spotting
- Photography
Wilderness Waters
For the adventurous, Georgia’s Blue Ridge has some of the wildest, most pristine wilderness areas in the eastern USA. In fact, the combined Cohutta/Big Frog Wilderness is the largest in the eastern USA. Waters abound here… rivers like Jacks River, the Conasauga River, creeks like Stanley Creek, Noontootla Creek, Fightingtown Creek and Cooper Creek lace through the forests. Hiking, backpacking, fishing, wildlife spotting and camping are all great experiences in these natural areas. Three Forks, the confluence of three mountain creeks, is the starting point area for the world famous Appalachian and Benton MacKaye Trails. Be prepared for wilderness, you can get lots of info and maps from the US Forest Service here. You can purchase detailed maps of these areas at the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce.
Waters to explore:
- Noontootla Creek & Three Forks
- Cooper Creek Recreation Area
- Cohutta Wilderness Waters
- Rich Mountain Wilderness & Aska Trails
