Things to Do in Blue Ridge, Georgia

Swinging Bridge over Toccoa River

If you take US Forest Road 816 off of Hwy 60 in Fannin County you will find the Swinging Bridge that spans the beautiful Toccoa River that feeds Blue Ridge Lake. You will have to drive a little piece to get to the trail that leads to the bridge but once you get there, the walk down to the bridge is not that far. The bridge was built in 1977 and gives a scenic view of the Toccoa River and surrounding forest.

To reach US Forest Road 816 from Blue Ridge, Ga you will travel a little over 18 miles from McDonalds in Blue Ridge, From McDonalds go east on a Highway 515 until you reach the Redlight in Lakewood, Ga. At the light you will go right on Highway 60 till you travel a little over 18 miles from the Blue Ridge McDonalds. USFRD 816 is on the right. This road is part of the Benton Macaye Trail. It is really very pretty at the bridge, I took these pictures with my phone.

So you have decided to spend a few days in the quaint little town of Blue Ridge, Ga., a town nestled in the beautiful North Georgia Mountains, and you are wondering how you are going to spend your time. Dependent upon your likes and dislikes there several different activities that you may choose.

1. Take a stroll down the old Downtown District of Blue Ridge. Being a native of the Blue Ridge area, this is something that I personally probably would not choose, but every weekend the Downtown area is full of people who seem to be enjoying themselves. There are numerous shops, eateries, and even a gem mining and miniature golf place. Some of the eateries have bars with karaoke and live music.
2. Ride the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. During certain times of the year you can take a train that takes you to the twin cities of McCaysville, Georgia and Copperhill, Tennessee. The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway follows the Toccoa River on the rails that have run beside the river for decades.
3. Go tubing down the Toccoa River. There are a few different outfits that offer tubes and shuttle services for tubing down the Toccoa River.
4. Enjoy the Lake. Blue Ridge Lake is just a few miles from Blue Ridge and has swimming areas, boat launch sites and a marina. Blue Ridge Lake is also suitable for fishing.
5. Hike the trails. There are many trails to hike in the mountains surrounding Blue Ridge. You can hike part of the famous Appalachian Trail, Benton-MacKaye Trail along with other lesser known trails.
6. Trout Fishing. There are many trout streams in close proximity to Blue Ridge, Georgia. Some of the streams are stocked with trout and others are teeming with native trout.

7. ICE SKATING IN BLUE RIDGE, GA

   Added to the list of things to do in Blue Ridge, Ga is now Ice Skating. As an added attraction, Downtown Blue Ridge has a an outdoor ice skating rink. I have heard that the price to ice skate is $10, but that is just hearsay. So if you are paying are quaint little town a visit and are looking for something fun to do, you just head on down to the upper end of main street past all the shops and right between Main Street and the railroad tracks is the ice skating rink, I believe it is called Blue Ridge on Ice.I never would have dreamed of an outdoor ice skating rink in Downtown Blue Ridge, Georgia, here in the heart of the deep south but then again I never dreamed that I could type a message that could be seen by people all across this crazy world. 
   
   
   In my 49 years, Blue Ridge has seen a lot of changes, some for the good, some not so good. An ice skating rink is one of the better ones, I won't mention the negative changes. I am just glad to still be around to see the changes.

This is not a comprehensive list of things to do in Blue Ridge but is a good starting point if you are visiting our area for the first time. Have a good time and enjoy your stay in Blue Ridge, Georgia.