See the “Reference Library” section for hiking guides. You can obtain free information on hiking from the Fannin Chamber of Commerce (behind the United Community Bank on the four-lane across from the McDonald’s) or from the U.S. Forest Service (on the four-lane across from the Ingles shopping center). There is also a U.S. Forest Service office on the four-lane several miles west of Blairsville.
For finding roads and trailheads, it helps to have the two Forest Service maps that cover this area, “Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia” and “Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee,” because they are the only maps with the Forest Service road numbers. For reasons known only to the feds, Georgia offices do not carry the Tennessee map, and Tennessee offices do not carry the Georgia map. The closest U.S. Forest Service office in Tennessee is off 64/74, in the vicinity of Parksville Lake (west of Ducktown and the Ocoee Whitewater Center).
Jacks River Falls
During the winter and early spring, there is usually enough water after a rain to make the Jacks River Falls spectacular. You can go in at Dally Gap and hike about 9.2 to the falls, but you have to ford the river 20 times. You can also go in at the downstream trailhead and hike about 7.5 miles to the falls, but you have to ford the river 22 times by this route. If you’re going either of these ways, I recommend you know what you’re doing and follow Tim Homan’s instructions (see my Reference Library). Be aware that people get trapped back in there when the Jacks rises due to rain. Stay clear of the wild boar.
Happily, there is one trail that goes to the falls without fording the Jacks, Beech Bottom Trail. Naturally, it receives fairly heavy use; according to Homans, it is the most traveled trail in the Cohuttas. The distance to the falls from the trailhead is about 4.6 miles. You access this trail from the Alaculsy Valley, not far from where the Jacks flows into the Conasauga. (This is a beautiful area, and the short hike up the Jacks River trail from the trailhead to the first ford is a very nice walk, if it’s not too crowded.)
From Blue Ridge, take Hwy 5 north to McCaysville, crossing the river and turning left on Hwy 68. You will pass the chemical plant. At 64/74, turn left toward Cleveland, TN. You will pass the Ocoee Whitewater Center and Parksville Lake. You may want to stop and pick up the map referred to above at the U.S. Forest Service office near Parksville Lake.
As you leave Parksville Lake, try to note the point at which the Ocoee passes under the highway. Shortly after this point, there is a gas station on the left, next to a long, straight road that goes off at a slight angle. Turn left. This is the Cookson Creek Road (FS 55). You jog off briefly to the left on Sloan Gap Road, and then turn right again on Cookson Creek (leaving FS 55). Cookson Creek Road becomes Ballplay Road. At Ladd Springs Road (FS 221), you turn left toward Willis Springs. FS 221 crosses the Conasauga River shortly before passing the Jacks River Trailhead (near the confluence of the Jacks and the Conasauga). You go about a mile further on FS 221 to a sharp right on FS 62. The Beech Bottom trailhead is about 4.5 miles further, on the left, above the road. Note that the gate to FS 62 is often locked in bad weather.
Note: Road signage may leave a little to be desired between 64/74 and the Conasauga. Ballplay Road should ring a bell with the locals, as should the Conasauga River. You can also follow FS 55 into the national forest from Cookson Creek Road, following the signs to Sylco Campground. Continuing south on FS 55 past the campground will take you to FS 221. This is an easier route to follow, but it is much longer in terms of driving time.
From the Beech Bottom trailhead on FS 62, take the trail. It’s an old roadbed, and is easily followed. There are no blazes. As you go through the bottoms, the trail will end at the Jacks River Trail (orange blazes). Turn right, downstream. It is .6 to the point that overlooks the falls.
Fall Branch Falls
This is a double waterfall with an observation deck that is ideal for photography. It has been somewhat marred by the construction of a house that is not on Forest Service land, but it is still worth a trip. The hike is less than a half mile, up a rocky, somewhat steep trail.
From Blue Ridge, take Old 76 (which runs behind the Food Lion shopping center) to a right on Aska Road (at Ace Hardware). After about eight miles, turn right on Stanley Creek Road (shortly before the Toccoa Riverside Restaurant). Go 3.2 miles past the old Stanley homestead. Cross the small, unassuming bridge and park on the right. Please park sensibly, so others can park, too. You may not think this branch is big enough to have a falls, but it does. Hike up the trail to the falls on the right.
Warning: Be careful. The rocks are very slick The EMS just had to rescue someone who ignored the signs and fell 35 feet down the falls. I doubt they were all that happy about it.
You can also access this point from Cherry Log (on 515 between Ellijay and Blue Ridge), by going up the Rock Creek Road to Stanley Gap. At Stanley Gap, you will see the Benton McKaye trailhead on the left. After about another mile, you see the small, unassuming bridge mentioned above.
You can also hike from the trailhead to the falls, and there is a nice trail that goes down to Stanley Creek from the road and parallels it upstream (access to this is located between the trailhead and the Falls Branch). After you follow the trail north and up, away from the creek, and come back down to the creek again, you will find a small bridge shortly after the trail moves away from the creek again. You may have to poke around to find it. It’s a nice little hike out this trail toward Indian Grave Gap.
By the way, if you’re hiking in this area, the Pink Pig in Cherry Log is a good place to stop for lunch (Thursday – Sunday). If you’ve gone in from Aska Road, just continue on Stanley Creek Road until you hit Old 76 (one block south of the four-lane) and turn right. If you’ve gone in from Cherry Log, go back out to the Old 76 and turn right.
The Swinging Bridge on the Toccoa
This is another very cool spot that is easily accessed. The 270-foot suspension bridge over the river is on the Benton McKaye and Duncan Ridge trails. You will see the Benton McKaye blaze (white diamonds) and the Duncan Ridge blaze (blue vertical rectangle).
From the Blue Ridge McDonald’s, go about four miles east on the four-lane to a right on Hwy 60 south. Follow 60 south for another 11.3 miles. At about this point, you will pass County Road 221, with the Skeenah Mill Campground on the left. About .7 miles further, Forest Service Road 816 is on the right. If you come to the Toccoa Bend Country Store, you’ve gone too far. Follow the Forest Service Road to the parking site. Hiking time is about five minutes from the parking area.
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