Ellijay in the fall is easy to love and easy to overdo. Traffic on GA-52 can crawl on October Saturdays, and trying to see every orchard in one afternoon is a recipe for a long day in the car. This itinerary keeps it to a sensible pace, with options so you can swap in what suits your group.

It works any fall weekend. If you are coming for the Georgia Apple Festival, use the festival version of Day 1.

Before you go

  • Book lodging early. Cabins and inns fill up for October weekends, especially festival weekends. Our where to stay in Ellijay guide sorts the options by area, and campers should see our camping guide.
  • Check orchard hours and picking status. Varieties ripen at different times. Our picking calendar shows the usual windows.
  • Bring a cooler if you plan to buy apples, cider or anything cold.
  • Expect patchy cell service outside town. Download maps.

Day 1: Apples

Morning: pick your own

Grab an early biscuit or coffee in town (our Ellijay breakfast guide lists opening times), then start at a U-pick orchard before the crowds. Weekday mornings are calmest; on Saturdays, arriving near opening time makes a real difference. See our guide to Ellijay orchards to choose one. Policies on admission, bags and pricing vary, so check before you go.

Midday: the Highway 52 apple houses

Head out GA-52 East from town and work your way along the apple houses. Our Highway 52 drive lists them in order. Pick two or three rather than all of them. Plan lunch around fried pies, cider donuts and whatever the bakery case has that day.

Afternoon: cider and wine

Ellijay’s wineries and cideries make a relaxed afternoon. Choose one or two from our wineries and cider guide, and agree on a designated driver before you leave.

With kids

Swap the second apple house for a corn maze or pumpkin patch. Our pumpkin patches and corn mazes guide lists the farms, prices and hours.

Festival version

On Georgia Apple Festival weekends, spend the morning at the festival at the Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds instead, then visit an orchard in the afternoon. Use the official shuttle lots, and stop by the free, pet-friendly Apple Arts Festival downtown. Our festival guide covers parking, hours and rules.

Evening: downtown

Have dinner downtown and walk the square after dark. See our downtown Ellijay guide for shops and our Ellijay restaurant guide for dinner hours and reservations.

Day 2: Mountains

Choose one of these, depending on your energy level.

Easy: Fort Mountain State Park

Drive west on GA-52 to Fort Mountain for the mysterious stone wall, the old stone fire tower and overlooks. The roads in are curvy, and the views from the top are among the best in the area.

Moderate: Bear Creek and the Gennett Poplar

Hike to the giant Gennett Poplar on the Bear Creek Trail, a short out-and-back of roughly 2 miles round trip to the tree. Details are in our outdoor activities guide. For more options near town, see our Ellijay hiking trails guide.

Water: Carters Lake or the Cartecay

Paddle or picnic at Carters Lake, or, in warmer early-fall weather, float the Cartecay River with a local outfitter.

Scenic: the Blue Ridge railway

Drive to Blue Ridge and ride the scenic railway along the Toccoa River. Fall dates sell out, so book ahead.

Big day: Jacks River Falls

Fit and prepared hikers can make the long trip to Jacks River Falls in the Cohutta Wilderness. Start very early, and do not plan much else.

On your way home

Stop for one more bag of apples or a jug of cider. Then use our tips on how to store a bushel of apples so they last into winter.

For peak foliage timing, see our North Georgia fall color guide.

Want to add Blue Ridge? Our Blue Ridge from Atlanta guide has a timed one-day plan.

Short on time? Our North Georgia day trips from Atlanta guide fits Ellijay’s orchards into a single day.

Sources and further reading

Facts in this article were checked against these sources on October 30, 2026. Hours, fees and seasons change, so confirm before you go.