Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 52

EXPORE GEORGIA | RALPH DANIEL
JOSHUA CHUMLEY
GEORGIA
North Georgia Garden Trail
Toccoa Swinging Bridge Trail
Check the tires, pack the gear and plot
a journey through some of the nation's
most beautiful bicycling country-a true
wilderness exploration. These trails are
within the Chattahoochee National Forest-750,000
acres with 'unimproved'
roads scribbled in every direction. Therefore,
GPS, good ol' paper maps (that work
without a signal) and food/water preparation
will be your best friends. This journey
(through often rugged terrain) can also be
taken in a gravel-amenable vehicle when
you have no time schedule.
Aska (Fannin County). The tap water
is even noteworthy! So, fill up since
this is one of the last opportunities other
than filtering. In addition to hiking Appalachian
Trail (AT) and Benton MacKaye
Trail, tubing on the Toccoa draws many
visitors. Spend the day in Lilly Pad Village
surrounded by scenic views, fresh air
and friendly folks. Ask a local about lesserknown
destinations and directions to get
there (which might just start with " turn
past the hardware store " ). (askaadventure.
com)
Swinging Bridge on the Toccoa River
(Fannin County). Walk the longest swinging
bridge east of the Mississippi River.
At 270 feet long, this bouncy suspension
span crosses the Toccoa River and is sur52
BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
SOUTHEASTCYCLINGROUTES.COM
rounded by mixed forests. Once the three
miles of narrow FS 816 are navigated, park
and walk the gently sloped, sandy 0.4-mile
path to the bridge. This is a popular spot
for Benton MacKaye hikers and paddlers
from the Toccoa River Canoe Trail. (blueridgemountains.com/things-to-do/outdoors/
hiking/swinging-bridge)
Suches
(Union County). Plan a visit to
this unincorporated community of 1,100
residents that is known as The Valley
Above the Clouds. Cool temps and brisk
mountain air make this 3,000-foot altitude
location a pleasant place to stop. There
are multiple named gaps (rugged passes
between mountains) in the area accessible
via the AT (Woody, Tritt, Jacks, Liss, Grassy
and Gooch). For cycling and vehicle access
to even more gaps (Cane Creek, Locust,
Ward, Jones and others) take the Cooper
Gap Road just south of town. (suches.com)
* Details and terrific maps:
southeastcyclingroutes.com/2021/the-toccoaswinging-bridge
From
spring through fall (and even into
winter) plan an extended exploration of
26 gardens dotted across the northern
end of the state. All are easily accessible
and welcome day-long visitors to stroll
the grounds, snap photos and sniff the
blossoms. While crossing the area, enjoy
a wide range of garden themes including
those built in the formal style, native plant
sanctuaries, a botanical research station,
heritage-focused landscapes and hundreds
of species represented by thousands and
thousands of individual plants.
Marshall Forest (Floyd County). To
walk amongst the only remaining virgin
forest inside the city limits of any U.S.
city, add this trail. Living across the protected
301 acres are more than 300 plant
species including 55 species of trees. It is
also home to the largest state population
of an endangered perennial herb called the
large-flowered skullcap. This forest was the
state's first National Natural Landmark, so
designated in 1966. There are wildflower
trails and ADA compliant Braille trails. See
one of the few stands of old-growth forest
remaining from Pennsylvania to Alabama.
(nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/
places-we-protect/marshall-forest-preserve)
Gibbs Gardens (Ball Ground). Stroll
the 250-acre grounds where the creator's
eye for artistic landscaping is beautifully
integrated amongst the streams, forests

http://www.SOUTHEASTCYCLINGROUTES.COM http://www.blueridgemountains.com/things-to-do/outdoors/hiking/swinging-bridge http://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/marshall-forest-preserve http://www.suches.com http://www.southeastcyclingroutes.com/2021/the-toccoa-swinging-bridge http://www.BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM

Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022