Official State Travel Guide - 2026 Georgia Official State Travel Guide
Blue Ridge Detours: Hiawassee & McCaysville
2025-12-12 07:42:27
Destination: Blue Ridge
DETOURS: HIAWASSEE & MCCAYSVILLE
Blue Ridge is consistently among the most-visited cities in Georgia for a reason – quite a few, actually. But if you’d like to expand your mountain-town horizons with fewer crowds, these two detours promise their own “peak experiences.”
Hiawassee: Altitude Adjustment
There’s no wrong route to take through the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. The hourish detour from Blue Ridge to Hiawassee via U.S. Route 76 is part of the Lookout Mountain Scenic Highway, a balanced blend of rolling mountain scenery and tempting roadside attractions.
Once you arrive in Hiawassee, it’s hard to miss the state’s highest peak, Brasstown Bald, in the distance. Fuel up for your ascent at Tilted Cafe, a beloved brunch spot serving Southern comfort food like shrimp and grits before choosing a route to the top. Hikers can get there via the paved half-mile Summit Trail, or take the Jacks Knob Trail or Arkaquah Trail for a longer trek to the summit through breathtaking Appalachian scenery.
Still stuffed from your epic brunch? There’s also a shuttle service to the top, departing from the parking area and visitor center. But no matter how you get to the mountain’s peak – 4,784 feet above sea level – you’ll be rewarded with stunning vistas in every direction from the cloud-level observation deck. On clear days, you can see four states; when it’s cloudy, you’ll enjoy views of moody, fog-filled valleys.
For mountaintop vistas that also include paragliders and picturesque lakes, it’s an easy drive to Bell Mountain Park and the Hal Herrin Scenic Overlook, nearly 3,500 feet in the air. For a short hike with a spectacular payoff, try the High Shoals Scenic Area; following a rustic trail and tumbling creek by the same name, you’ll encounter five cascading waterfalls with an estimated vertical drop of 300 feet.
Given its woodsy magnetism and proximity to the Appalachian Trail, Hiawassee hits all the right notes to be a gracious and fun-forward festival host. Visit the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds for the popular Georgia Mountain Fair every August or the Georgia Mountain Fall Festival each October; both offer live music, handcrafted goods from local makers, carnival rides, and of course, piping-hot funnel cakes.
If you’re staying overnight, check into the Hiwassee River Retreat. This adults-only riverside resort is tailor-made for romantic weekends, with perfectly appointed “glam cabins,” gourmet meal plans, and cozy extras like claw-foot tubs and s’mores kits. Should you prefer a different kind of waterfront view, stay at The Ridges Resort on nearby Lake Chatuge; this is luxury on a slightly larger scale, with a range of family-friendly lodging options and Appalachian-inspired farm-to- table dining on-site at The Oaks Lakeside Kitchen.
McCaysville: Rapid-Onset Joy
Outdoorsy border village McCaysville, a quick 20-minute drive from Blue Ridge via State Route 5, is a river town through and through, with its culture driven by rushing water since its mining days in the 1800s. Today, McCaysville’s most precious resource is not copper but adrenaline – with a whitewater rafting industry that draws paddlers of all levels, from all over the world.
Thanks to its dam-controlled flow, the Ocoee River offers a continuous stretch of Class III and IV rapids – a roiling, mist-sprayed romp through storied sections like “Humongous” and “Godzilla.” Take a guided half- or full-day river trip with the experienced guides at Rolling Thunder River Company; whether you’re an absolute beginner or a seasoned rafter, you’ll be in for the ride of your life.
Craving a more relaxed river experience? Much of the river is slow and glassy, and Toccoa River Tubing Company puts it within easy reach. Your tube rental includes a life jacket and a ride up the river, so you can float at your own pace back to the car. Picnic stops, shore exploration, and naps in the sun are encouraged.
River time is virtually guaranteed to make you ravenous, so take a seat on the patio at Twisted Tomato, where you can bite into a fresh, fired-to-order Neapolitan pizza. Locals love the Pepe Le Pew pie, with house-made marinara, mozzarella, Parmesan, crumbled meatballs, peppadew peppers, and fresh garlic.
Afterward, walk off your meal at the Riverwalk Shops, a bustling alfresco retail center brimming with locally owned boutiques. Pause at Riverwalk Sweets to secure a suitable sugar buzz for the road tomorrow, then head over to Tooneys Music Venue, a great place to see live music on weekends or have an ice-cold beer, anytime.
TAKE A PIECE OF GEORGIA HOME WITH YOU
Don’t miss Chooch, an eclectic artisan marketplace and oddities shop offering hundreds of unique, only-in- Georgia mementos – each a friendly reminder to stay on “mountain time.”
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