Your Getaway is about finding time to disconnect in order to reconnect – whether with family, friends, or nature. After or en route to a restful break at one of our cabins, there’s plenty to explore in the area, whatever may pique your interest.
Here’s our Getaway Atlanta Outpost guide to nearby attractions and things to do along the way:
Getting There
Nestled in the Chattahoochee National Forest, your secluded escape is easily accessible from Atlanta. The best way to get there is by car; the Outpost is about a two hour drive from the city. Parking is easy and available for every cabin. If you don’t have a car yourself, consider carpooling with a friend, or renting a car in the city. If all else fails, your journey will take you longer, but you can take a Greyhound bus to Gainesville, which is an hour-long Uber or Lyft from the Outpost.
The drive to Getaway Chattahoochee can get windy and steep. Be sure to prepare by knowing your route ahead of time, and addressing any motion sickness needs you might have.
Walks in the Mountains near Getaway Atlanta
Jarrard Gap Trail
Hike Distance: 1 mile
Difficulty: Easy
Dogs allowed on-leash
Close by your cabin, this trail climbs gradually from Lake Winfield Scott Campground and merges with the Appalachian Trail. With ridge-line views, the path continues into the Blood Mountains in a lovely loop.
Long Creek Falls on the Appalachian Trial
Hike Distance: 1.9 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Dogs allowed on-leash
This two-mile section of the Appalachian Trail is one of the most beautiful in Georgia. It winds through a lush valley en route to Long Creek Falls, full of wildlife, flowers, steep cliffs, and soft moss in every season. The double-tiered waterfall rises over 50 feet before emptying into a deep pool, shadowed by bunches of rhododendron.
Yonah Mt.
Hike Distance: 4.4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Dogs allowed on-leash
Recognizable by its asymmetric shape and exposed rock outcrops near the top, Yonah Mt. rises from the foothills of the southern Appalachian Mts. and is one of North Georgia’s best hikes. The continuous uphill hike climbs through a rocky, moss-filled forest leads to stunning panoramic views of the horizon. Check out the views from the rock outcrops along the way and at the summit, as practice some leaf-, flower-, and snow-spotting in all seasons.
Blood Mt. Loop via the Appalachian and Freeman Trails
Hike distance: 6 miles
Difficulty: Hard
Dogs allowed on-leash
Towering over the surrounding peaks, Blood Mt. is Georgia’s highest Appalachian Trail summit, rising high to 4,459 ft. at the summit’s massive rock outcrop, which offers sweeping, stunning views and a chance to explore the historic stone Blood Mt. Shelter. This loop explores quieter stretches, beginning at the Neels Gap trailhead and hiking the eastern face with the Byron Reece Trail. It merges with and follows the Appalachian Trail at Flatrock Gap to the summit, descending along the Freeman Trail, which leads back through a fern-filled valley.
Appalachian Trail: Three Forks to Springer Mt.
Hike Distance: 8.6 miles
Difficulty: Hard
Dogs allowed on-leash
Spanning from Maine down through the eastern United States, the Appalachian Trail winds to a stop here in North Georgia, its southernmost point. This hike traces the last steps of the trail and dips through the creek-strewn Three Forks Valley before climbing to an end at the summit of Springer Mt. with the reward of the southern Appalachian Mts., blanketed in blue haze.
Raven Cliff Falls
Hike Distance: 4.8 miles
Difficulty: moderate
Dogs allowed on-leash
This is one of Georgia’s most popular hiking trails, because of the beautiful falls that await you at the end of it. The waterfall cascades off a 40-ft tall cliff and it has sliced the rock that it falls from in half. The trail follows the river the entire way, so get ready for the calming sounds of rushing water and your footsteps on the trail.
Lakes and Parks to Rest At and Enjoy
Chatuge Lake, 139 N Main St, Hiawassee, GA 30546
~ 55 min from Outpost
Lake Chatuge is a beautiful gem in the middle of the southern Appalachian Mts. With 132 miles of shoreline, this is the perfect spot to have a semi-private picnic, go swimming, watch your kids play on the playground, or rent a boat to float in the center of the lake and find your calm.
Vogel State Park, 2600 Highway 155 SW, Stockbridge, GA 30281
~ 30 min from Outpost
This park is located at the bottom of Blood Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest, and is one of the first parks that was ever created in the state. There are many points of interest in this large park, including Neel Gap—a beautiful mountain pass towards the South of the park. With 17 miles of trails of varying lengths and difficulties, hikers are sure to find a trail they’ll like. You can also try geocaching, go kayaking and swimming, and even rent bikes if you’re visiting at the right time.
Lake Lanier, 2875 Browns Bridge Rd, Gainesville, GA 30504
~ An hour and fifteen min from Outpost
This lake is actually a reservoir, created after the Buford Dam was built on the Chattahoochee River. This is a great spot to try out some new watersports, go fishing, hang out on a beach, or simply enjoy some great food and some great company with a view of the water.
Amicalola Falls State Park, 418 Amicalola Falls State Park Rd, Dawsonville, GA 30534
~ An hour and five min from Outpost
This state park is home to the highest cascading waterfall East of the Mississippi River. The area around these mountains is home to the Appalachian Trail’s southernmost terminus, and the mountains have hundreds of trails to keep you busy exploring for as long as you want. Keep in mind that the park is open from 7 AM to 10 PM, and each car has to have a $5 parking pass.
Sustenance and Snacks near Getaway Atlanta
There aren’t very many grocery stores in close proximity to the Outpost, so it may be best to prepare before you head out on your Getaway.
Fresh N Low Supermarket, 406 E Main St, Dahlonega, GA 30533
~ 40 min from Outpost
If you do forget anything though, there’s a Fresh N Low Supermarket and Pharmacy about forty minutes from the Outpost. This supermarket has everything you could need to build the meals you’re dreaming of creating in your Getaway cabin.
Sidetrips
Consolidated Gold Mine, 185 Consolidated Gold Mine Rd, Dahlonega, GA 30522
~ 35 min from Outpost
Descend 200 feet underground into this 100-year-old mine to see how turn-of-the-centuries miners found gold in Georgia. After panning for your own gold, visit the Dahlonega Gold Museum nearby, housed in the 1836 Lumpkin County Courthouse. The perfect excursion for the whole family.
Wolf Mountain Vineyards, 180 Wolf Mountain Trail, Dahlonega, GA 30533
~ 35 min from Outpost
Tucked at the edge of the Chattahoochee National Forest with views of the North Georgia mountains, Wolf Mountain has earned over 200 medals for its wines. Its grounds are landscaped beautifully, transforming the vineyard into a lovely place to taste wines and brunch.
Grumpy Old Men Brewing, 1315 E Main St, Blue Ridge, GA 30513
~ 45 min from Outpost
The couple of retired beer enthusiasts who founded Grumpy Old Men Brewing in 2012 began by brewing their stores in an outdoor shower and eventually opened their microbrewery in Blue Ridge. In 2018, the original two migrated to the other side of the 18-tap bar, passing the company onto “another Grumpy Old Man & his Crabby Lady.” There’s lots of space in the tasting room to play games and chat with other brew-loving folks.
Mercier Orchards, 8660 Blue Ridge Drive, Blue Ridge GA 30513
~ 45 min from Outpost
For cider, a nice breakfast or lunch, or even a tasting room, Mercier Orchards is a great spot to try some local foods. If you’re visiting the area between the months of April to August, you can stop here to pick your own berries and apples. Each month there’s a different crop for you to pick, so make sure to check their schedule before your stop.
Appalachian Outfitters Tubing, 1182 Golden Ave, Dahlonega, GA 30533
~ 42 min from Outpost
This little tube-renting spot is a gem along the Chestatee River. Kids will love to play in the river while you and your partner or your friends enjoy each others’ company and drift along with the waves.
Brasstown Bald, 2941 GA-180 Spur, Hiawassee, GA 30546
~ 55 min from Outpost
Brasstown Bald is the highest point in the state of Georgia. To really take in the history of the area, you can visit the mountaintop history and science museum, then step out onto the observation deck to see all the mountains and valleys as they are today. Gazing down on the landscapes you’ve been exploring on your Getaway is a memory you’re not likely to forget.
Book your Getaway today.