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Blue Ridge, Georgia sits about 90 minutes north of Atlanta up I-575, which makes it one of the easiest real mountain getaways from the city. This itinerary covers a full weekend built around the town itself, the Toccoa River, and the trail system just outside of town, without requiring an early Friday departure. |
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Saturday: Aska Trails and Downtown Blue Ridge |
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Leave Atlanta in the morning and head straight for the Aska Trails Area, a 17-mile network of hiking and mountain biking trails developed in the Chattahoochee National Forest along Aska Road. It is open daily year-round and has routes for a range of fitness levels, so you can pick a short loop or a longer half-day hike depending on how the morning drive went. In the afternoon, head into downtown Blue Ridge itself. Blue Ridge City Park, right in town, is a good spot for a break, and the downtown strip has shops and restaurants worth walking before dinner. If you want a scenic ride rather than more walking, the historic Blue Ridge Scenic Railway runs excursion trips from the depot in town, though schedules and routes change seasonally, so check current times before planning your day around it. |
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Sunday: The Toccoa River and Mercier Orchards |
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Spend Sunday morning on the Toccoa River, which is stocked annually with rainbow and brown trout and supports some natural reproduction, making it one of the better trout fishing spots in the region. If you would rather paddle than fish, the Toccoa River Canoe Trail runs 13.8 miles down to the Sandy Bottoms Recreation Area, which also has a small riverside campground if you decide to extend the trip. On your way out of town, stop at Mercier Orchards, a family-owned apple orchard with a bakery, deli, and market selling apples, peaches, blueberries, cider, and preserves. It is a popular last stop for visitors heading back toward Atlanta, especially during fall apple season. |
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Planning Notes |
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Getting there: Blue Ridge is about 90 minutes from Atlanta via I-575 and GA-515, making it doable as a two-day weekend without losing a full day to driving. Where to stay: Blue Ridge has cabin rentals and in-town lodging options. See our Lodging & Accommodations page for more. Want to extend the trip with more waterfalls and hiking? See our Best Waterfalls in North Georgia guide, or if you have three days instead of two, see our full 3-Day North Georgia Mountains Itinerary. |
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