Great Outdoors
Brasstown Bald Visitor Guide: Hours, Fees, the Shuttle and the Summit Trail
Plan a visit to Georgia's highest point: daily hours, the $10 fee, the shuttle vs. the steep 0.6-mile paved trail, longer hikes, dogs and holiday closures.
Adventures
Ellijay Adventures & Activities
Your guide to fun and adventure in and around Ellijay, GA, from easy downtown strolls to mountain trails and rivers.
Ellijay offers a wide range of experiences, from leisurely walks around the historic downtown to outdoor adventures in the surrounding mountains and rivers. Here are four favorites that cost little or nothing.
- Hiking trails. Lace up your boots and explore the trails that wind through the North Georgia mountains. A local favorite is Amicalola Falls, at 729 feet the tallest waterfall in the Southeast, according to Georgia State Parks (a ParkPass parking fee applies). Closer to town, the Bear Creek Trail follows a quiet creek to the Gennett Poplar, one of the largest trees in the area.
- Cartecay River. Kayak, canoe or simply relax by the water. Bring a picnic and spend a slow day by the river that runs past the orchards and into town. Outfitters rent kayaks and tubes in summer.
- Historic downtown Ellijay. Stroll the courthouse square and River Street, with historic buildings, local shops and restaurants. In season, look for the farmers market for fresh produce. Our downtown Ellijay guide has the details.
- Views from Springer Mountain. The southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail is about a mile's walk from the Forest Service Road 42 parking area. Pack a lunch and enjoy the views. See 7 stunning hikes in North Georgia.
These are just a few of the things to do around Ellijay. Whether you love the outdoors or just want a quiet mountain getaway, the guides below go deeper.
Activity and outdoor guides
Great Outdoors
Snow in North Georgia: When and Where It Actually Snows
How much snow North Georgia really gets, which months and mountains are most likely, how to check roads before you drive and where to find guaranteed snow.
Great Outdoors
Lake Blue Ridge Guide: Swimming, Boat Rentals, the Marina and Camping
Where to swim, rent a pontoon or launch a kayak on Lake Blue Ridge, with Forest Service fees, marina rules, camping at Morganton Point and winter water levels.
Activities
Christmas in Dahlonega 2026: Lighting of the Square, Parade and What to Do
Dahlonega's Old Fashioned Christmas runs Nov. 27, 2026, to early January: the tree lighting, the Dec. 12 parade, Santa, carriage rides and planning tips.
Activities
Christmas in Helen, GA 2026: Village Lighting, Christmas Market and Parade
Christmas in Helen, GA for 2026: the Nov. 27 village lighting, the Christmas Market on two weekends, the Dec. 12 parade, parking tips and nearby stops.
Activities
North Georgia Christmas Towns: Blue Ridge, Dahlonega, Helen and Ellijay Compared
Four North Georgia Christmas towns compared for 2026: tree lightings, parades, markets and the Santa train in Blue Ridge, Dahlonega, Helen and Ellijay.
Activities
Christmas in Blue Ridge, GA 2026: Parade, Tree Lighting and the Santa Train
Christmas in Blue Ridge, GA for 2026: Light Up Blue Ridge on Nov. 27-28, the 5:30 p.m. parade, the Great Tree, the Holiday Express train and how to plan it.
Activities
Sorghum in the Mountains: Blairsville's October Syrup Festival
Blairsville's sorghum festival has made syrup since 1969. What to expect at Meeks Park, the traditional games, and how the 2026 festival went.
Activities
Foxfire Village Museum: Appalachian History Above Clayton
How a 1966 student magazine became the Foxfire books and an outdoor village museum on Black Rock Mountain, with current hours, prices and tips.
Great Outdoors
North Georgia Fall Color Guide: When and Where Leaves Peak
When fall color usually peaks in the North Georgia mountains, how to track Leaf Watch reports, and the best overlooks and drives near Ellijay.
Great Outdoors
Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway: A 40-Mile Mountain Loop from Helen
Drive the 40-mile Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway loop near Helen: Hogpen Gap, Brasstown Bald, Dukes Creek and Anna Ruby Falls, with stop-by-stop notes.
Plan Your Visit
A Fall Weekend in Ellijay: A Two-Day Itinerary
A flexible two-day fall itinerary for Ellijay: apple houses on GA-52, U-pick orchards, the Georgia Apple Festival, downtown, a hike or a paddle, and cider.
Activities
Burt's Pumpkin Farm: Hayrides and Pumpkins Beside Amicalola Falls
Burt's Pumpkin Farm near Amicalola Falls has free admission, $10 hayrides and 20-plus pumpkin varieties. 2026 hours, rules and the family's long history.
Activities
Helen, Georgia Guide: The Alpine Town, Oktoberfest and Nearby Falls
How a sawmill town became Georgia's Alpine village, what to know about Helen's Oktoberfest, and the parks and waterfalls just outside town.
Great Outdoors
Jacks River Falls: Hiking the Cohutta Wilderness
How to hike to Jacks River Falls in the Cohutta Wilderness: Beech Bottom and other routes, creek crossings, day-use rules and safety tips.
Activities
Blue Ridge, Georgia Town Guide: History, Downtown and Lake Blue Ridge
Blue Ridge grew up around the railroad. A walking guide to its historic downtown, the story of Fannin County and what to know about Lake Blue Ridge.
Activities
Blue Ridge Scenic Railway Guide: Rides, Coaches, Holiday Train and Booking Tips
How the Blue Ridge train works: 2-hour and 4-hour Toccoa River rides, coach types, the 2026 Holiday Express, winter dates and how far ahead to book.
Great Outdoors
Lake Conasauga: Camping at Georgia's Highest Lake
Lake Conasauga is a 19-acre spring-fed lake near Grassy Mountain, the highest in Georgia. Camping fees, season dates, rules and directions from Ellijay.
Great Outdoors
Carters Lake Guide: Georgia's Deepest Reservoir Near Ellijay
Carters Lake near Ellijay: the deepest reservoir in Georgia, with walleye and striper fishing, undeveloped shoreline, Corps campgrounds and Carters Dam.
Great Outdoors
Toccoa River Swinging Bridge: How to Reach the Footbridge
The Toccoa River swinging bridge spans about 260 feet on the Benton MacKaye Trail. Two ways to reach it, what the road is like and what to bring.
Great Outdoors
Vogel State Park Guide: Trails, Cabins and Lake Trahlyta
Vogel is Georgia's second-oldest state park, at the foot of Blood Mountain. Trails, cabins and camping, and current notes on drained Lake Trahlyta.
Food
Ellijay Wineries and Cideries: A Guide to the Sips Trail
Vineyards, cideries and breweries around Ellijay, Georgia, with addresses from the Gilmer County Sips trail and tips for planning a safe tasting day.
Great Outdoors
Black Rock Mountain State Park: Georgia's Highest State Park
At 3,640 feet on the Eastern Continental Divide, Black Rock Mountain is Georgia's highest state park. Views, trails, camping and nearby Foxfire.
Great Outdoors
Fort Mountain State Park: Stone Wall, Fire Tower and Trails
Plan a visit to Fort Mountain State Park near Ellijay: the mysterious 855-foot stone wall, the CCC fire tower, the lake, trails, camping and fees.
Plan Your Visit
Visiting Ellijay and North Georgia With Your Dog
Where dogs can and can't go around Ellijay: state park leash rules, dog-friendly cottages, orchards, forest trails, and the festivals and gardens that say no.
Great Outdoors
Mountain Biking Near Ellijay: Bear Creek, Pinhoti and More
Where to mountain bike near Ellijay: the Bear Creek loop, Pinhoti sections, Windy Gap and Fort Mountain, with distances, seasons and trail tips.
Activities
Dawsonville, Moonshine and the Roots of Stock Car Racing
How Dawson County moonshine runners helped give rise to stock car racing, and what to see at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame in Dawsonville today.
Great Outdoors
Springer Mountain: Hiking to the Start of the Appalachian Trail
Springer Mountain marks the southern end of the Appalachian Trail. The easy 2-mile hike from Forest Service Road 42, directions and road warnings.
Activities
Georgia Marble Country: The Story of Tate and Jasper
Pickens County marble went into the U.S. Capitol and the New York Stock Exchange. The history of the quarries at Tate, plus the yearly Marble Festival.
Activities
Downtown Ellijay Guide: The Square, Shops, Food and History
What to see and do in downtown Ellijay: the courthouse square, River Street, antiques and shops, local restaurants, galleries, museums and riverside parks.
Activities
Gibbs Gardens Guide: Hours, Tickets, Bloom Calendar and Rules
Planning a Gibbs Gardens visit: ticket prices, seasonal days and hours, the bloom calendar from daffodils to Japanese maples, and the rules to know first.
Activities
Dahlonega Gold Rush Guide: The Gold Museum and Georgia's First Boomtown
Georgia's 1829 gold rush started near Dahlonega. What happened, what the Dahlonega Gold Museum covers, hours and fees, and how to pair it with Ellijay.
Activities
Cherokee History in North Georgia: New Echota and the Chief Vann House
Two state historic sites west of Ellijay tell the story of the Cherokee Nation before removal: the capital at New Echota and the Chief Vann House.
Plan Your Visit
Georgia State Parks ParkPass: Costs, Discounts and Where It Works
How Georgia's $10 daily and $70 annual ParkPass work, which North Georgia parks need one, the senior and military discounts, and where the pass is not valid.
Food
How Ellijay Became Georgia's Apple Capital
A short history of Ellijay and Gilmer County, from a Cherokee town at the rivers' meeting point to the railroad, the orchards and the Georgia Apple Festival.
Great Outdoors
North Georgia Trout Fishing: Delayed Harvest Streams and Wild Trout Water
Where to fish for trout near Ellijay: Georgia's five Delayed Harvest streams, the Noontootla watershed, the Toccoa tailwater, and the licenses you need.
Great Outdoors
5 Extraordinary Must-Visit Waterfalls in North Georgia
Amicalola, Anna Ruby, DeSoto, Raven Cliff and Minnehaha Falls: trail distances, fees, difficulty and how to fit each one into an Ellijay trip.
Great Outdoors
7 Stunning Hikes You Can Do in North Georgia
Seven North Georgia hikes near Ellijay, from Brasstown Bald's paved summit path to Blood Mountain and Tallulah Gorge, with distances, climbs and fees.
Food
A Guide to Ellijay's Apple Orchards: Pick Your Perfect Day Out
Eight Ellijay apple orchards compared: who offers U-pick, market hours, bakeries, farm activities, addresses and tips for a smooth day of picking.
Activities
7 Fun Outdoor Activities Around Ellijay, GA
Waterfalls, mountain biking, river tubing, horseback trails, zip lines, lake fishing and apple picking around Ellijay, with current details and tips.