NE Georgia Mountains Free Outdoor Fun

Enjoy scenic lakes, waterfalls, parks, trails, fishing areas, fisg hatcheries, mountain, walking and driving tours, etc. They are great for family and groups. Click on blue links for info.

Outdoor Recreation Areas - Farms - Parks - Trails - Fishing & Hatcheries

Alberta Banks Park - Enjoy this 20.5-acre park with Handicap accessible Field of Dreams, Bobby Bailey Tennis Center with 12 Lighted tennis courts, 2 Softball fields, 3 Baseball fields, Playgrounds, Picnic shelter with water and electricity, Concession building and Restroom. Leashed Pets are Allowed. Open year-round. Park closes at sunset if no games are scheduled. No Gate Fee. Located in Flowery Branch Georgia

Georgia Guidestones

Barker's Creek Grist Mill - The Historic mill has been providing locals with milling services since the mid-1800s. Find all-natural flour, buckwheat and grits. Only open the first Saturday of each month from noon-4pm. Free admission and parking. Phone: 706-746-5718 - Location: 4507 Betty's Creek Road, Rabun Gap, GA 30568

Experience the Chattahoochee Forest Cohutta Overlook - Cohutta Wilderness has 35,268 acres of forests and majestic mountains in Georgia. This scenic overlook is a sight to behold! You can see north Georgia mountains and forest the full 360 degrees here. Free admission and parking.

Quadcopter video included in the Chattahoochee Forest Cohutta Overlook page.

Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery has 3 major fishing events are held annually to promote recreational fishing. Educational tours and fishing in nearby Rock Creek are available. Must have fishing license. Open: Mon.-Fri. 8 am - 3 pm. Free admission. In Suches, GA 30572

Destiny Alpacas is a working farm where you can learn about these wonderful animals. Gift shop carries Alpacas yarns and handmade knitted items. Amenities: Parking. Open daily. Call for appointment. Phone: 706-379-2361 - Address: 1952 Gibson Road, Young Harris, Georgia

Fancy Feathers Farms - Interact with emus, ostriches, miniature goats and more. Featuring crafters, neighborhood yeard salers and great food. Call for hours. Free farm tours by appointment only. Amenities: Parking, Restrooms, Accessibility for mobility-impaired and party facilities. Phone: 706-246-0214 and 800-604-3526- Address: 3571 Bowman Hwy NW, Royston, Georgia

Experience Hurricane Shoals Park in amazing Maysville Georgia - Hurricane Shoals Park is one of the biggest surprises I have run across in Georgia. It is located in amazing Maysville Georgia. The entrance to and from this park is Hurricane Shoals Covered Bridge. See more info, pictures and a video of this park here.

Laurel Bark Park - Located within Laurel Park - Are you looking for a great place to let your family pet run free? Laurel Bark Park is just the place for you to become unleashed! Two fenced in 1 acre dog runs (one for small dogs & one for large dogs) allow the perfect place for a game of fetch, interactive play, meet and sniff out new friends and more. Amenities include benches for human friends, hydration stations and clean up stations for those "accidental occurrences."Free admission and parking. We also hold annual dog events, such as dress my pet Howl-O-Ween, summer celebrations, Doggie Easter Bone Hunt and more! For more info on programs related to our bark park, please contact Katie Nuckolls. Park contact is Katie Hardin, Program Coordinator. Phone: 770-535-8280 - Address: 3100 Old Cleveland Hwy, Gainesville, GA 30506

Platt Park - Amenities: This 10.5-acre neighborhood park has 15 Picnic sites, Covered picnic shelter with water and electricity, Ball field, Tennis Court, Playground, Restroom building and parking. It is open year-roundfrom sunrise to sunset. Leased pets are allowed. Open to the public free of charge. Please contact call for more information on reserving and pricing for the pavilions and fields. Phone: 770-535-8280 - Address: 4723 East Reed Rd, Chestnut Mountain, Georgia - Directions: Drive south on I-985, take Exit 16 and turn left onto Highway 53 (Winder Highway). Turn left on Strickland Road, then right on Reed Rd. Platt Park will be on right.

Tallulah Point Overlook features the area's only roadside view of Tallulah Gorge and display of historic Wallenda tightrope walk. Open Daily 9am to 6pm. Free admission, parking and restrooms. Phone: 706-754-4318 Address: 940 Tallulah Gorge Scenic Loop, Tallulah Falls, GA

Thompson Mills Forest - State arboretum of Georgia offers 330 acres with granite ourtcrop, three trails and a garden featuring a 30 minute self-guided walk. Hours: Mon - Fri 8am - 4:30pm. Free admission and parking. Phone: 706-433-8713 - Address: 8755 Hwy 53 (off New Liberty Church Road), Braselton GA 30517

Williams Mill Greenspace - Amenities: 48 acre park with rolling meadows, streams, natural shoals, 2 small ponds and native wildlife. The park is certified as a Wildlife Sanctuary with the Atlanta Audubon Society. More than 45 species of birds have been seen at Williams Mill, in addition to the many other types of wildlife that call the park home. Leashed pets are allowed within the park. Park is open year round and closes at sunset. Park is free to the public. Please call for more information. Phone: 770-535-8280 - Address: 6166 Black Jack Road, Flowery Branch, Georgia 30542

Woodland Fairy Garden at Sleepy Hollow - Explore unique fairy houses and enchanted gardens. Store and gardens are open Monday - Saturday, 9:30am to 4:30pm. Closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years' Day. Free admission and parking. Phone: 706-379-9622 - Address: 4339 Young Harris Hwy., Blairsville, GA

Lakes & Waterfalls

Cedar Creek Resevoir - A 520 acre park with a 143 acre lake and 377 wooded acres of beautiful countryside. Boat ramp, fishing and hiking. Boating-Non motorized boats with electric trolling motors only. No outboard motors permitted. Leashed pets are allowed. Open year round and is free to the public. Park closes at sunset. Phone: 770-535-8280 - Address: 5565 Timber Ridge Road, Gillsville, GA 30543

Lake Burton Trout Hatchery is where you can enjoy fishing for brown and rainbow trout, picnicking, wildlife-viewing areas, a kids’ stocked catfish pond, boating and skiing. Fun activities include picnicking, camping, hiking, boat ramp and food. Open: Daily 8a.m.-4:30p.m. Free admission and parking. Amenities: Parking, Public Restrooms, and Accessibility for mobility-impaired. Clarkesville, Georgia. See Lake Burton fishing info.

Raven Cliff Falls - This great waterfall is perhaps one of the most unusual in the North Georgia area because the water flows through a split in the face of a solid rock outcropping to the ground 100 feet below. Free admission and parking. See video on web page.

Richard B. Russell Lake, Visitor Center Lake & Power Plant has 540 miles of shoreline and provides plenty of fishing and swimming. There is a visitors center at the dam and a fishing pier. Free scheduled tours of power plant 2 weeks in advance during weekdays. Availability is limited. Great for group tours of 5 or more. First come, first tour. Open: Mon- Sat at 8 am to 4:30 pm, and Sat and Sun at 8 am to 4 pm. Free admission and parking. Amenities: Public Restrooms, Accessibility for mobility-impaired. Phone: 706-213-3400 - toll- free 800-944-7207 - Address: 4144 Russell Dam Dr, Elberton, GA 30635

Lake Tugalo - GA Power Lake - Visitors can enjoy boating (25 horsepower motors or smaller) and fishing on Tugalo. Open: Daily. Free admission and parking. Amenities: Parking, Public Restrooms, Accessibility for mobility-impaired. In Tallulah Falls, Georgia 30573

Minnehaha Falls - The Minnehaha Trail follows Fall Branch to this 100-foot-high waterfall. Free admission and parking. In Tallulah Falls, GA

Mountains

Currahee Mountain is the last mountain in the Blue Ridge chain. The name "Currahee" means "stand alone". Currahee Mountain rises abruptly about 800 vertical feet above the local topography and is the highest peak in Stephens County. Part of the mountain is in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Hiking and bike trails available. Open: dawn to dusk - Museum from 10 am to 4 pm. Free admission and parking. Phone: 706-886-2132 - Address: GA Hwy 17 & GA Hwy 365, Toccoa Georgia 30577

Sawnee Mountain Preserve - The 5,600-square-foot visitors center features interactive exhibits and a reading and relaxing area. The 720-acre park has hiking trails and areas for rock climbing and rappelling, which require a permit from the available at the visitors center. The park also has a 140-seat amphitheater for concerts, storytellers and plays. Free admission and parking. 2 entrance locations in Cumming, Georgia

See video on web page.

Outdoor Walking & Driving Tours - Free admission and parking for all.

Cromer’s Mill Historic Covered Bridge - Visit this 1907 covered bridge with the town lattice design in Carnesville, Georgia. Not open to traffic. Built in 1906 and is 132 feet long. Also known as Nails Creek Bridge. Phone: 706-384-4659 – Address: GA Hwy 106 E., Carnesville, GA 30521

Georgia Guidestones - Also called “Stonehenge of America” the stones represent a baffling mystery because the identity of the person who commissioned the Monument remains unknown. Open daily. Amenities: Parking and Accessibility for mobility-impaired- Phone: 706-283-5651 Address: GA Hwy 77 N., Elberton, Georgia 30635

Hurricane Shoals Covered Bridge - Reconstructed covered bridge and gristmill, along with an 1850 Heritage Village set against beautiful Hurricane Shoals Park. Amenities: Restrooms, Accessibility for mobility-impaired and Party Facilities. Free admission and parking. Phone: 706-652-2370 - Location: GA Hwy. 82 Spur, Maysville, GA

Lula Historic Covered Bridge in Gainesville, is Georgia’s smallest covered bridge. Not open to traffic. Built in 1915 and is 34 feet long. Also known as Blind Susie and Hyder Bridge. In Lula GA

Poole's Mill Historic Covered Bridge and Park is a 10-acre park with a walking path, picnic area and playground. The bridge, built in 1906, spans Settledown Creek. Open: Daily. Amenities: Parking, Public Restrooms, Accessibility for mobility-impaired, Party Facilities - In Cumming, GA

Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway Drive Route - Included on this route is Brasstown Bald, Georgia's highest mountain. Located near the byway is the Bavarian-themed town of Helen. The loop encircles Wildlife Management Areas, the headwaters of the Chattahoochee River, and a section of the Appalachian Trail. Nearby Vogel and Unicoi State Parks offer numerous recreational opportunities with camping, fishing and hiking facilities found along the Byway. Sparkling waterfalls and secluded valley views are just a short stroll from the main road.

Stovall Mill Historic Covered Bridge in Helen, Georgia. Not open to traffic. Built in 1895 and is 37 feet long. Also known as Sautee-Nacoochee, Chickamauga Bridge. Georgia’s shortest clear-span covered bridge. Open: Daily. Located in Sautee, GA

Walking Tour of Our Solar System tour begins at the Southeast corner of the Gainesville Downtown Square (near the courthouse) at the “Sun.” This 1.8-mile Scale Model 1:2,000,000,000 Walking Tour of Our Solar System (one of only five in the United States) takes visitors from the sun at the Southeast corner of the Historic Downtown Square (near the courthouse) and ends just past the tennis courts and American flag, where you will come to Pluto and Alpha Centauri. For a copy of the brochure that contains descriptions of planets and an informative and directional map, call the Gainesville Tourism Office at 770-531-2664 or 770-531-6598. Location: Downtown Square Gainesville, GA 30501

Watson Mill Historic Covered Bridge in Comer, Georgia. Longest covered bridge in Georgia. Open to traffic. Built in 1885 and is 229 feet long. Open daily 7 am to 10 pm. In Comer, GA 30629

Fun FREE Outdoors Activities in the NE Georgia Mountains Travel Region