Southern High roads trail

The Southern Highroads Trail is a 364-mile National Scenic Byway that travels through 4 states of the southern Blue Ridge Mountain highlands.  The 364-mile byway will take visitors thru the mountainous regions of the Chattahoochee National Forest of North Georgia, the Sumter National Forest in northwestern South Carolina, the Nantahala National Forest in western North Carolina and the Cherokee National Forest in southeastern Tennessee.

One of the many Southern Highroads Trail forms a complete circle bringing travelers back to their chosen starting point.  The Southern Highroads Trail can be accessed at numerous junctions depending on where the traveler wishes to begin.  On the route you’ll experience the beauty, wildlife and natural wonders of the southern highlands as you travel through mountain communities, National Forest, mountain valleys, along the shores of mountain lakes, thru whitewater river gorges and over high mountain ridges.

Along the Southern Highroads Trail you’ll find lodging, dining, shopping, hiking, camping, fishing, horseback riding, whitewater rafting and kayaking, repelling and exceptional backpacking country.  Travelers will come in contact with a rich history of gold mining and panning, logging and gem hunting while enjoying the opportunity of many mountain festivals, live entertainment and that general good mountain feeling.   The full trip usually requires several days to get the true experience yet you can jump onto the Southern Highroads Trails at any chosen location and enjoy a sampling of the journey at your leisure.

You can start your tour in Ellijay, in Gilmer County then travel east across northern Georgia’s Chattahoochee National Forest.  This route takes travelers thru the towns of Blue Ridge, in Fannin County, next to Blairsville, in Union County, on to Hiawassee, in Towns County and Clayton in Rabun County.  From there the Southern Highroads Trail passes thru South Carolina, North Carolina and southeastern Tennessee before crossing back over the Georgia state line at Murray County.  In Murray County the route passes thru the town of Chatsworth before returning to Ellijay, in Gilmer County Georgia.  Happy trails!