Summer Rocks
Welcome to Young Harris, The Enchanted Valley, and to Hiawassee, home of Georgia’s highest major lake – Lake Chatuge.
Left: Music unites people at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds.
The people in Young Harris and Hiawassee live amidst the folds of misty waterfalls, ancient mountain peaks, inviting trails across valleys and through forests, emerging viticulture, and lively mountain arts and music.
The waterfalls and views are some of the finest in the Southeast experience. You are in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest that protects more than 57,000 acres in Towns County with opportunities for hiking, fishing, photography, painting, hunting, biking, swimming, and camping. Our wide range in elevation positions us as a challenging section of the Appalachian Trail.
Need some out-of-the-box summertime ideas for play and culture? Try these!
The Stables at Brasstown Valley Resort offers horseback trail experiences to the public – staying overnight is not a requirement. An expert equestrian takes small groups or single riders on guided one- and two-hour trail rides across sun-dappled hills and valleys. Little ones can ride in the stables on guided horseback rides.
The Rollins Planetarium on the Young Harris College campus is a Friday night hotspot – 30 Fridays a year. See the stars as if you are millions of miles closer. Live presenters use the planetarium’s digital and optical star projectors to explore the heavens. Depending on the show, you’ll learn about the planets, stars far away and stars over Georgia, the sun, moon, constellations, and their fascinating stories.
Back on Earth, rent pontoon boats, ski boats, jet skis, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards to enjoy Lake Chatuge’s 130-plus miles of shoreline around naturally formed coves and inlets.
In a region saturated with waterfalls, one of our favorites is High Shoals Falls. A succession of five waterfalls drops about 300 feet. The 1.2-mile trail follows along High Shoals Creek to observation decks beside two of the five streams cascading in the High Shoals Scenic Area.
Enjoy our local cuisine, and save the dates for First Fridays (now through October) to visit the Hiawassee Night Market – an artist & artisan market with live music, games, food and drinks. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy the night.
One of Hiawassee’s star attractions is the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds open for year-round camping along Lake Chatuge with more than 200 camp and R/V sites. Best part? Live concerts, fairs, and events all year. Who else can ease into a camping bed mere minutes from leaving a show?
Right: Nighttime at the fairgrounds – with camping onsite just minutes away!
It’s naturally beautiful in Towns County. Ask the local staff at Lake Chatuge Chamber of Commerce for their insights on what else is new – and antique – waiting to be discovered! Visit them at 1411 Jack Dayton Circle in Young Harris or call 706.896.4966.
