Named After Its Scenic Mountains, This Georgia Town Boasts Lake Fun & Magical Waterfalls

With its impressive surroundings, Blue Ridge is a peaceful mountain escape in Georgia. Add a pretty lake and hidden waterfalls, and you might have just stumbled upon an undiscovered treasure. This part of Georgia, directly south of the North Carolina and Tennessee borders, was originally the Cherokee people's land. It was taken as settlers moved farther south and established Fannin County. Its location in the Blue Ridge Mountains, a section of the Appalachians that extends more than 600 miles from Pennsylvania to Georgia, led to the county's nickname, "the Switzerland of the South." 

So when a new town was established in 1886, as the Marietta and Northern Railroad (M&N) was being built through the mountains, it is not surprising that it took the name of the scenic mountains around it. The railroad brought the first tourists, who were looking for a break from the city, to Blue Ridge. More followed in the 1950s, and then after 1986, when the Georgia Mountain Parkway connected Atlanta to the mountains.

The small town, home to fewer than 2,000 people, is now known as a southern gateway to the Appalachian Trail, a famous 2,198-mile hike that extends from Georgia to Maine. Check out a first-timer's ultimate guide to the Appalachian Trail before setting off on the world's longest hiking trail. If you are not arriving on foot, Blue Ridge is also an easy two-hour drive up from Atlanta. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the world's busiest airport and receives nonstop flights from all over the U.S. and 54 other countries.

Though the gorgeous mountain scenery certainly draws people to Blue Ridge, you'll quickly ascertain that it's not the only thing that convinces them to keep returning. Lake Blue Ridge does, too. The beautiful lake is actually a reservoir. When it was created by a power company, which built the Blue Ridge Dam over the Toccoa River in 1930, it became the largest earthen dam — meaning it was created with natural materials — in the Southeast. That reservoir is now a maassive lake, and much of it borders Chattahoochee National Forest, with more than 750,000 acres that make it one of the East Coast's largest national forests.

The section of the lake's west side that isn't part of the national forest is now the Lake Blue Ridge Recreation Area. This is the home base for activities all around the lake. The Lake Blue Ridge Dam is near the northern tip of the lake. It has a park with benches, picnic tables, and uninterrupted views of the blue-green water. It's also a popular spot to cast for bass and catfish.

Lake Blue Ridge Marina is near the dam. It is where you will find the seasonal Boat Dock Bar & Grill and wet slips to dock a boat. You can also rent boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards to spend the day out on the water. While if you prefer to stay on dry land, the Lake Blue Ridge Loop is an easy, 1-mile hike.

Since Lake Blue Ridge has so many fun activities around the water, it's not always the quietest spot in town. To escape the crowds, particularly during the summer, you need to head into the mountains surrounding Blue Ridge. That is where you will find trails leading to two peaceful waterfalls.

The first one, Long Creek Falls, is in the Three Forks Creek valley along the Appalachian Trail. To reach the two-tiered waterfall, you will follow a nearly 2-mile, out-and-back side trail off the Appalachian/Benton MacKaye Trail. The path is not difficult, but it is an uphill hike. You will be greatly rewarded for your efforts, though. At the top, you will find a 50-foot waterfall deep within a hemlock forest. It is a magical spot, especially when the tulip poplars and rhododendrons are blooming. 

Since Long Creek Falls is just off the Appalachian Trail, you might see other hikers along the way. It's doubtful you will see anyone en route to the next waterfall, though. Little Rock Creek Falls is another two-tiered waterfall. It only has a 35-foot drop, yet it is still impressive. The trail to reach it is steep and unmarked, but short. Just follow the creek for under a mile to find this hidden little gem. Then, if you still feel like chasing waterfalls, Amicalola Falls State Park, which boasts a stunning waterfall in the Appalachian Mountains, is just a short drive away. It's no wonder Blue Ridge, Georgia is so enchanting.