State Parks in the North Georgia Mountains - Vogel

Vogel State Park is located 11 miles south of Blairsville on US Highway 19 at the base of Blood Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Vogel is the second oldest state park in Georgia. At 2,500 feet elevation it is one of Georgia's highest altitude state parks.


Hikers can choose from a variety of trails, including the popular 4 mile Bear Hair Gap loop or an easy 1 mile loop of the lake. If you are looking for a more challenging trail, try the 13 mile Coosa Backcountry Trail.


The centerpiece of the park is the 22 acre Lake Trahlyta (pictured here). It is open to non-motorized boats. During summer, there is a beach area for your enjoyment as well as paddle boat rentals. The lake is stocked during trout season with trout and also has bass and bream. Directly below the lake is Trahlyta Falls.


Annual events are held including a springtime Wildflower Walk, Kids Fishing Rodeo, Mountain Music and Arts & Crafts Festival, Fall Hoedown and Christmas Tree Lighting.


The park is populated with white-tailed deer, grouse, raccoon and over 100 species of birds making it a popular area for birdwatchers.


The park was created by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the early 1930s and there is a small museum outlining the history of the Corps. The park also has a gift shop and miniature golf.

North Georgia Mountains Outdoors blog sponsored by High Flight Designs. All information and photos posted on this blog are copyrighted by High Flight Designs and may not be used without prior written permission.

Ocoee Whitewater Center - Something for Everyone!

Though not actually in north Georgia, the Ocoee Whitewater Center is a favorite spot for many visitors to the north Georgia mountains. Located on the banks of the Ocoee River at the Tennessee/Georgia border, it is just a short drive and well worth the trip. It is a 4 acre recreation area that offers water activities, picnicking, hiking, biking, a nature-oriented gift shop, environmental education programs, a visitors center and year round special events. Recreation isn't the only activity occurring at the whitewater center as it has become a popular spot for outdoor weddings.
Mountain biking enthusiasts rank the 30 mile Tanasi Trail at the center as one of the premier mountain biking trails in the southeast. It consists of trails ranging from easy to difficult thereby attracting bikers of all skill levels.
For more information, please check out the Ocoee Whitewater Center website.
North Georgia Mountains Outdoors blog sponsored by High Flight Designs. All information and photos posted on this blog are copyrighted by High Flight Designs and may not be used without prior written permission.

Whitewater Rafting on the Ocoee River

The Ocoee River in Tennessee became world famous as the whitewater rafting venue for the 1996 Summer Olympics. Although not actually located in the north Georgia mountains, many visitors to our mountains venture not far across the state line into Tennessee to enjoy rafting on the Ocoee.
Big, closely spaced rapids make the Ocoee one of the most popular whitewater rivers in the nation and it is ranked in the top ten by "Canoe Magazine". Located in the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee, the river with its class 3 and 4 rapids flows through a gorge surrounded by beautiful scenery.
All rafts are manned by a guide and the minimum age requirement is 12.
North Georgia Mountains Outdoors blog sponsored by High Flight Designs. All information and photos posted on this blog are copyrighted by High Flight Designs and may not be used without prior written permission.

Appalachian Trail - Georgia to Maine

Did you know the Appalachian Trail begins in our north Georgia mountains? Starting at Springer Mountain it stretches 2,180 miles to Mount Katahdin in Maine. The trail is the longest footpath in the United States. We here in Georgia have 75 miles of the trail to enjoy with the highest point in our state being at Blood Mountain at 4,461 feet.

Hikers that complete the entire trail in a single season are called "thru hikers". Those that traverse the trail during a series of separate trips are known as "section hikers". In 1948, Earl Shaffer of Pennsylvania completed the first documented thru hike. In 1998 Shaffer again hiked the entire trail...when he was 80 years old!
The trail is much more frequently hiked south to north than vice versa and those hikers are referred to as GAME (Georgia - Maine). Those heading south are called MEGA (Maine - Georgia).
Hikers typically begin the trek in March or April and finish in late summer or early fall, usually taking 5 to 7 months to complete the journey.
North Georgia Mountains Outdoors blog sponsored by High Flight Designs. All information and photos posted on this blog are copyrighted by High Flight Designs and may not be used without prior written permission.