Waterfalls:
1) Desoto Falls - (2 hour trip) this is an easy hike suitable for everyone, 2 waterfalls are accessible from one parking area. Waterfalls (2), shoals, old growth forest, wildflowers, forest wildlife and historical sites are the highlight of this trip. Ideal for detailed nature walk or part of a multi-stop package.(30 minute ride, 30 minute hike to upper falls, “out & back” hike, restrooms, picnic area, camping area) See video: Hiking DeSoto Falls
2) Dicks Creek Falls - (2 hour trip) there is no hiking involved with this falls. Park within 100 feet of the falls, one major fall with extensive shoals above the falls, suitable for everyone. Ideal for auto tours or part of a multi-stop package. Crowded during warmer weather. (20 minute ride, easy access from car.)
3) Boggs Creek Shoals - (2 hour trip) this is an easy hike for everyone. Multiple shoals & falls make this ideal for photo safaris. (30 minute ride, easy access on undeveloped trail next to creek) See video: Hiking at Boggs Creek
4) Helton Creek Falls - (3 hour trip) this is an easy hike suitable for most everyone, 2 waterfalls are accessible from one parking area. The upper falls are considered one of the most picturesque falls in Georgia. Part of a multi-stop package. (45 minute ride, 100 yard walk from gravel parking area)
5) Raven Cliff Falls - (4+ hour trip) Walk back in history as you hike along the rail road bed from the days of the logging rush over a hundred years ago. This easy to moderate hike follows Dodds Creek past numerous waterfalls and shoals and ends at Raven Cliff Falls, a groto falls of over a hundred feet. Hike the entire three miles to the big falls or hike just part of the trail to the lower falls. (45 minute ride, 3 hour "out & back" hike) *this trail has flood damaged sections*
See Plan a Trip for pricing and scheduling information.
Vistas & Trails:
1) Preachers Rock Vista- (3 hour trip) this is an easy to moderate hike along the Appalachian Trail. Spectacular vista, old growth forest, wildflowers and forest wildlife are the highlight of this trip. (30 minute ride, 45 minute hike to overlook, “out & back” hike, restrooms at parking area) See video: Hiking to Preacher's Rock
2) Cowrock Mountain Vistas - (3+ hour trip) this moderate to strenuous hike, suitable for the physically able, along the Appalachian Trail offers multiple spectacular vistas. This hike is ideal on the "crowded" days in the mountains when parking at the more popular hikes can be a challenge.(45 minute ride, 90 minute hike to overlook, “out & back” hike)
3) Wildcat Mountain - (5 hour trip) this is a moderate to strenuous hike suitable for the physically able. Spectacular vistas (multiple), mountain laurel bald, wildflowers and forest wildlife are the highlight of this trip. The trip starts on an uphill section of the Appalachian trail then turns onto a spur trail toward Whitley Gap Shelter. Ideal for photo safari. (1 hour ride, 1 hour hike, “out & back”, pack a lunch)
4) Blood Mountain - (6 hour trip) this is a strenuous hike only suitable for the physically able. Spectacular vistas (multiple), mountain laurel bald, wildflowers, forest wildlife and boulder fields are the highlight of this trip. The treck begins at Neels Gap (or Byron Reece Parking Area) and is uphill all the way (1400 feet of rise) to the top of Blood Mountain. Ideal for photo safari. (1 hour ride, 3 hour hike, “out & back”, pack a lunch)
5) Blood Mountain / Freeman Trail Loop - (6 hour trip) this is a strenuous and challenging hike only suggested for physically able and sure footed hikers. The treck begins at Neels Gap (or Byron Reece Parking Area), hiking to Flatrock Gap and crossing over Blood Mountain continuing on to Slaughter Gap then Bird Gap. The hike then turns onto the Freeman Trail and back to Flatrock Gap and then to the parking area. (1 hour ride, 4 hour hike, "loop", pack a lunch)
6) Dockery Lake to Woody Gap - (5 hour trip) this is a moderate to strenuous hike suitable for the physically able. Spectacular vistas (multiple), old growth forest, old homesteads, old wagon road, wildflowers and forest wildlife are the highlight of this trip. The trip starts at Dockery Lake on a spur trail and joins the Appalachian Trail near Preachers Rock, then down to Woody Gap. (30 minute ride, 4 hour hike, “point to point”, pack a lunch)
7) Smithgall Woods - Laurel Ridge Trail - (3 hour trip) this easy to moderate trail is suitable for most. Subtle evidence of the hydraulic mining is evident as this trail winds from thick bottom land vegitation to the laurel and hardwood ridgeland. ( 45 minute ride, 1 hour hike, loop trail, great for picnics)
8) Springer Mountain Trails - (3+ hour trip) Visit the Southern Terminus of the Appalachian Trail and the Southern Terminus of the Benton Mackaye Trail in one afternoon. This world famous mountain top offers spectascular vistas, boulder fields, historical trail heads and an introduction to what life would be like during an extended hike on the Appalachian Trail. (1+ hour ride, 1+ hour hike, great for packing a lunch)
9) RamRock Mountain on the AT - (3+ hour trip) this easy to moderate trail is suitable for most. Start at Woody Gap or at Gooch Gap and hike on the Appalachian Trail to RamRoack Mountain. This twin peaked mountain offers great vistas to the southeast. (30 minute ride to Woody Gap or 45 minute ride to Gooch Gap, 1+ hour hike, great for packing a lunch)
See Plan a Trip for pricing and scheduling information.
Historical Trails and Tours
1) The Great Hand Ditch - Learn about one of the most significant engineering accomplishments of the 1850's. This water diversion system streched over seven miles from the foothills to downtown Dahlonega and supplied the water needed for hydraulic mining and the "Dahlonega Method" of washing the gold from the hillsides. This auto tour travels the entire length of the system and stop at several access points to get a first hand feel for the system. (1+ hour)
2) The Findley Mines - Hike to the ruins of the Findley Ridge Mining Complex. Learn about and view the ruins of how gold was mined and processed in the late 1800's. (1+ hour)
3) Auraria & the Battle Branch Mine - Visit the ruins of the old gold mining town of Auraria then take an easy hike up the Etowah River to the ruins of the Battle Branch Mine. Learn about the early days of the gold rush including the conflicts and deceptions that shaped the area. (2 hours)
4) The Dahlonega Gold Rush - This combination hiking/auto tour visits several of significant Gold Rush sites in the Dahlonega area, including ruins at Auroria, Findley Ridge, the Great Hand Ditch and others. (3+ hours)
5) Glass Mine Mountain - This challenging hike visits the mica mines which were active from the 1850's up to 1908 when production was moved due to the transportation challenges. Rock specimens of the mica and other minerals can be seen around the tailings. (30 minute ride, 2 hour hike, winter & early spring only)
6) Richard B. Russell Parkway Loop - Spend all day visiting multiple waterfalls, vistas and historical sites on this extended combination hiking/auto tour. This tour is very customizable to your physical abilities and interests. (full day)
See Plan a Trip for pricing and scheduling information.
Specialtly Trips:
1) Nature Photography - (2 hours or more) Learn new skills or fine-tune your existing skills photographing waterfalls (long exposures), vistas (panoramas), wildflowers (macro) or other aspects of the natural world.
2) Time Lapse Photography - (4 hours or more) This is a hands on workshop on how to set-up, take and process time lapse video clips. We will cover the basic equipment requirements, framing & composition, sequence timing and advanced equipment options. We have lender equipemnt avaialble as needed. See video: Cloud Scenes - Time Lapse
3) GoPro & Action Cameras - (4 hours) This is a hands on workshop on how to set-up, take and process video clips using a Go-Pro action camera system. We will cover the basic equipment requirements, framing & composition, programing, video & time lapse clips and advanced equipment options.
See Plan a Trip for pricing and scheduling information.
Bicycle based tours:
1) Smithgall Woods - Martin's Mine Trail - (4 hours) This trail starts with a 2.1 mile bicycle ride from the visitor's center on a well maintained paved/gravel forest road (no motorized vehicles allowed). Then the one mile hiking trail winds through the ruins of the second largest gold mine in north Georgia dating back to 1829. Evidence of pit mining, hydraulic mining and hard rock tunneling are very visible along the trail. As a bonus, a beautiful waterfall marks the midpoint of this trail. (45 minute car ride, 30 minute bike ride, 1 hour hike, loop trail)
See Plan a Trip for pricing and scheduling information.