LOCATE IT: Northwest Georgia Mountains

Northwest Georgia Mountains: “Enchanted Land” of the Cherokees

Silvery waterfalls and trout streams, rolling valleys, and free-flowing rivers embroider the blue-green mountains of Northwest Georgia Mountains.

Visitors here prefer to hike, bike,and canoe in this area that the Cherokee Indians once called home, before their removal on the infamous Trail of Tears. Today, a host of eco-treasures, attractions, historic districts, Native American heritage, national forests, and Civil War sites attract visitors from around the world.

Enjoy the ultimate outdoor mountain experience at any of four state parks in the area. Feel the spray from the twin waterfalls that cascade over layers of sandstone and shale into pools at the bottom of the gorge at one of the most scenic parks in the state, Cloudland Canyon, on the western edge of Lookout Mountain in Rising Fawn. Or stand in awe of the ancient and mysterious rock wall on the mountain top at Fort Mountain State Park near Chatsworth. Experience the serenity of James H. (Sloppy) Floyd State Park near Summerville, with its rural countryside and forest, and outstanding fishing on two stocked lakes, three miles of lake loop trails and easy access to the scenic 60-mile Pinhoti Trail. Cartersville’s Red Top Mountain State Park on 12,000-acre Lake Allatoona is ideal for swimming, boating, and fishing, as well as hiking along the lake shores and on the mountainsides.

Sail the skies from the Lookout Mountain Flight Park, which offers expansive views and a lifetime rush as you hang glide over mountains and valleys. Or revel in outdoor activities such as fly fishing, horseback riding, and sporting clays as well as a fine spa at Barnsley Resort in historic Adairsville. Farther south in Dallas, Hiram, Rockmart and Cedartown, hikers, cyclists, and equestrians can access the popular Silver Comet Trail, transformed from an old railroad route.

Pigeon Mountain in LaFayette boasts wonders galore. Find one of the deepest caves in the world – Ellison Cave – plus horseback riding trails, hiking, and primitive camping. One of the most intriguing places on the mountain is an easy one-mile hike in the woods to the mysterious “Rock Town,” a collection of boulders and monoliths that truly resemble a town and that have provided shelter to wildlife and Native Americans alike.

In Georgia’s Rome, take a kayak or canoe along the Etowah River Trails, or catch a game of the Rome Braves minor league baseball team.

Honor and reflect on Native American contributions to Northwest Georgia culture at Cartersville’s Etowah Indian Mounds, a ceremonial center more than four centuries ago; at Calhoun’s New Echota Historic Site, once the capital of the entire Cherokee Nation; and at Chatsworth’s Chief Vann House Historic Site.

Stroll through lovely gardens such as the unusual folk-art ROCK Garden in Calhoun, the breathtaking Gibbs Gardens in Ball Ground, or famous Rock City Gardens on Lookout Mountain.

In the southernmost part of the Northwest Georgia Mountains region, explore Villa Rica, with its Pine Mountain Gold Museum and the trails in Stockmar Park, or the nature trails at 200-acre Clinton Nature Preserve.

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Northwest Georgia Mountains - Locations

Apple Orchard Alley

Northwest Georgia Mountains
along GA Hwy. 52 E.
Ellijay, GA 30539
706-635-7400

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Bear Creek Trail

Northwest Georgia Mountains
Forest Road 241, Chattahoochee National Forest
Ellijay, GA 30540
706-635-7400

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Blanket’s Creek Bicycle Trail

Northwest Georgia Mountains
Sixes Rd., west of I-575, exit 11
Woodstock, GA 30189
678-568-1508

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Cartecay Bike Shop

Northwest Georgia Mountains
493N. Main St.
Ellijay, GA 30540
706-635-2453

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Cherokee County Aquatics Center

Northwest Georgia Mountains
1200 Gresham Mill Pkwy.
Holly Springs, GA 30142
770-924-7768

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Chief Vann House

Northwest Georgia Mountains
82 Hwy. 225 N.
Chatsworth, GA 30705-6331
706-695-2598

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Cloudland Canyon State Park

Northwest Georgia Mountains
122 Cloudland Canyon Park Rd.
Rising Fawn, GA 30738
706-657-4050

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Doll Mountain Campground at Carters Lake

Northwest Georgia Mountains
1362 Doll Mountain Rd.
Ellijay, GA 30540
877-444-6777

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Etowah Indian Mounds

Northwest Georgia Mountains
813 Indian Mounds Rd. SW
Cartersville, GA 30120
770-387-3747

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Fields Ferry Golf Club

Northwest Georgia Mountains
581 Fields Ferry Dr.
Calhoun, GA 30701
706-625-9001

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Fort Mountain State Park

Northwest Georgia Mountains
181 Fort Mountain Park Rd.
Chatsworth, GA 30705
706-422-1932

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Funk Heritage Center and Appalachian Settlement

Northwest Georgia Mountains
7300 Reinhardt College Cir.
Waleska, GA 30183
770-720-5970

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Georgia Frontiers

Northwest Georgia Mountains
545 Ruff White Rd.
Canton, GA 30114
678-234-8852

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Gibbs Gardens

Northwest Georgia Mountains
1998 Gibbs Dr.
Ball Ground, GA 30107
770-893-1881

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Gilmer County Saddle Club

Northwest Georgia Mountains
1727 Main St.
Ellijay, GA 30540
706-669-0558

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James H. Floyd State Park

Northwest Georgia Mountains
2800 'Sloppy' Floyd Lake Rd.
Summerville, GA 30747
706-857-0826

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Lookout Mountain Flight Park and Training Center

Northwest Georgia Mountains
7201 Scenic Hwy.
Rising Fawn, GA 30750
706-398-3541

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McLemore Golf Club

Northwest Georgia Mountains
785 Canyon Ridge Rd.
Rising Fawn, GA 30738
800-329-8154

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New Echota Cherokee Capital State Historic Site

Northwest Georgia Mountains
1211 Chatsworth Hwy. NE
Calhoun, GA 30701
706-624-1321

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Plum Nelly Campground

Northwest Georgia Mountains
15828 S. Hwy. 515
Ellijay, GA 30540
404-317-2358

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R-Haven Overnight Family Park

Northwest Georgia Mountains
7643 Hwy. 11 S.
Rising Fawn, GA 30738
706-657-8334

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Ridgeway Mountain Bike Trail

Northwest Georgia Mountains
2950 Hap Holt Rd. (take GA 282 to Dotson or Crossroads Church roads south to Hap Holt)
Ellijay, GA 30540
706-334-2248

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Ridgeway Park on Carter’s Lake

Northwest Georgia Mountains
2950 Hap Holt Rd. (take GA 282 to Dotson or Crossroads Church roads south to Hap Holt)
Ellijay, GA 30540
706-334-2248

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Salacoa Creek Park

Northwest Georgia Mountains
I-75 Exit 315 Hwy. 156 / 388 Park Dr. NE
Ranger, GA 30734
706-629-3490

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Trenton Golf Club

Northwest Georgia Mountains
2060 Back Valley Rd.
Trenton, GA 30752
706-657-3616

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Whitepath Golf Club

Northwest Georgia Mountains
1156 Shenendoa Dr.
Ellijay, GA 30540
706-276-3080

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4 Oaks Farm and Produce

Northwest Georgia Mountains
7655 Hwy. 225 N
Chatsworth, GA 30705
706-264-0899

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Aaron Family Orchards

Northwest Georgia Mountains
8350 Hwy. 52 E.
Ellijay, GA 30536
706-273-3180

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Achasta Golf Course

Northwest Georgia Mountains
150 Birch River Dr.
Dahlonega, GA 30533
706-867-7900

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Adamson Square

Northwest Georgia Mountains
115 Rome St.
Carrollton, GA 30117
770-832-6901

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Featured Attractions