Fast Facts About the Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are the scenic backdrop of North Georgia and the reason the region is known for its sweeping views, outdoor recreation, and mountain-town charm.
As part of the larger Appalachian Mountain system, the Blue Ridge stretches far beyond Georgia, but some of its most accessible and beloved sections are right here.
Fast Facts about the Blue Ridge Mountains
Length of the Blue Ridge Mountains: About 550 miles
Highest point in the range: 6,684 feet (Mount Mitchell, North Carolina)
Highest point in Georgia: 4,784 feet (Brasstown Bald)
Typical elevation in Georgia: 1,600–4,700 feet
States the range passes through: 8
Mountain system: Appalachian Mountains
Known for: Scenic ridgelines, waterfalls, hiking trails, mountain towns, cabins, and biodiversity
Frequently Asked Questions about the Blue Ridge Mountains
How long is the Blue Ridge Mountains range?
The Blue Ridge Mountains stretch about 550 miles across the eastern United States. The range runs through southern Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia.
What is the elevation of the Blue Ridge Mountains?
Across the entire range, elevations vary from about 580 feet to 6,684 feet above sea level. Most peaks fall between 3,000 and 5,000 feet, with the tallest summits rising above 6,000 feet in North Carolina.
How tall are the Blue Ridge Mountains in Georgia?
The tallest peak in Georgia is Brasstown Bald, which reaches 4,784 feet above sea level. It is the state's highest point and one of the most visited scenic overlooks in the region.
What is the typical Blue Ridge altitude in Georgia?
Most peaks in Georgia range from 1,600 to 4,700 feet. The high elevations create cooler temperatures and distinct forest communities compared with the surrounding lowlands.
How far do the Blue Ridge Mountains extend into Georgia?
The Blue Ridge covers nearly 100 miles of northeastern Georgia, forming the backbone of the state’s mountain region and including towns like Blue Ridge, McCaysville, and Ellijay.
Why do the Blue Ridge Mountains look blue?
The blue appearance comes from isoprene, a natural gas released by trees. This compound scatters blue light in the atmosphere, creating the hazy, blue-tinted look for which the mountains are famous. For thousands of years, the Cherokee people called this region ‘Shaconage,’ meaning ‘the land of blue smoke.’
Why are the Blue Ridge Mountains important ecologically?
The region is among the most biologically diverse temperate regions in the world. It hosts thousands of plant species, hundreds of animal species, and dozens of salamander species. Many species found here exist nowhere else.
What role do the Blue Ridge Mountains play in Georgia tourism?
Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains are a hub for outdoor recreation and scenic tourism. Visitors enjoy hiking, waterfalls, mountain cabins, wineries, orchards, scenic drives, and the small-town charm of communities like Blue Ridge and McCaysville.
What national forest protects much of Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains?
The Chattahoochee National Forest covers much of Georgia’s Blue Ridge, preserving forests, waterfalls, rivers, and hundreds of miles of hiking trails for recreation and conservation.
What makes Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains different from other parts of the range?
Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains feature rugged, high-elevation terrain with panoramic views. The region is geologically unique, composed of ancient metamorphic rocks and thrust faults, and supports unique biodiversity, including endemic salamanders and fish, as well as high-elevation spruce-fir forests. Cooler temperatures, higher rainfall, and dramatic valleys create a distinct ecological niche, and towns like Blue Ridge and McCaysville offer charming shops and restaurants to explore.