Trip through north Georgia

[Jarrod White]

I'm just wrapping up a 10 day trip through north Georgia. Traveled from home (Mobile, Ala) to Dawsonville, Ga the first day. Spent the first two nights connected to electricity at an old barn on an empty homesite belong to some family friends. Thankfully it ran the air conditioner and we enjoyed Lake Lanier with family. Moved from their to Bolding Mill Campground (COE) almost directly across the lake. It was a typical Corp campground - well laid out and maintained. But it was funny that it's beach on the lake was paved.
The next stop was Vogel State Park near Blairsville. My favorite of the trip. Beautiful wooded sites and a cool clear lake for swimming. Went through Cleveland and Helen on the way up and enjoyed a scenic but twisty up and down drive on the Richard Russell Parkway out of Helen. Explored Blairsville, Young Harris and Hiwassee while at Vogel.
Next stop was Fort Mountain State Park - with a stop in Blue Ridge on the way. Another nice wooded camp area but the top draw at this park was the ancient stone wall across the top of the mountain of unknown origin. Some date it as far back as 500 AD while others say it may have been constructed by welsh explorers pre-Columbus or even later by Desoto's expedition in the late 1500s. Either way, it is old and has a palatable sense of history to it.
Next stop was Chattanooga to visit the Tennessee Aquarium. Stayed at a campground run by the local Camping World and it was convenient and reasonably priced.
Left Chattanooga and headed to Cloudland Canyon State Park. Stayed in east rim campground and it was not as wooded or remote as the other state park campgrounds but very convenient to the canyon. Hiked down to the canyon and back up the 600 steps. There isn't much water now but the rock formations are amazing.
I've been impressed by all three of these Georgia State parks and recommend them for anyone looking for different terrain in the southeast.
Jarrod

[Jarrod White]

Some pics
View on drive from Helen

Lake at Vogel
Wall at Fort Mountain
Stone formation at Cloudland Canyon

[Jim & Susan]

Originally Posted by Jarrod White

I'm just wrapping up a 10 day trip through north Georgia. Traveled from home (Mobile, Ala) to Dawsonville, Ga the first day. Spent the first two nights connected to electricity at an old barn on an empty homesite belong to some family friends. Thankfully it ran the air conditioner and we enjoyed Lake Lanier with family. Moved from their to Bolding Mill Campground (COE) almost directly across the lake. It was a typical Corp campground - well laid out and maintained. But it was funny that it's beach on the lake was paved.
The next stop was Vogel State Park near Blairsville. My favorite of the trip. Beautiful wooded sites and a cool clear lake for swimming. Went through Cleveland and Helen on the way up and enjoyed a scenic but twisty up and down drive on the Richard Russell Parkway out of Helen. Explored Blairsville, Young Harris and Hiwassee while at Vogel.
Next stop was Fort Mountain State Park - with a stop in Blue Ridge on the way. Another nice wooded camp area but the top draw at this park was the ancient stone wall across the top of the mountain of unknown origin. Some date it as far back as 500 AD while others say it may have been constructed by welsh explorers pre-Columbus or even later by Desoto's expedition in the late 1500s. Either way, it is old and has a palatable sense of history to it.
Next stop was Chattanooga to visit the Tennessee Aquarium. Stayed at a campground run by the local Camping World and it was convenient and reasonably priced.
Left Chattanooga and headed to Cloudland Canyon State Park. Stayed in east rim campground and it was not as wooded or remote as the other state park campgrounds but very convenient to the canyon. Hiked down to the canyon and back up the 600 steps. There isn't much water now but the rock formations are amazing.
I've been impressed by all three of these Georgia State parks and recommend them for anyone looking for different terrain in the southeast.
Jarrod

Y'all stayed at some of our favorite spots along that trail. If the Professor ever actually invents the "Way Back" machine, I'm going back in time to Fort Mountain to figure out who actually built that fort. Supposedly, the Welch legend is Cherokee Indian lore. We'll probably never know........

Jim