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Getting Started
About Fannin County, GA
"Trout Capital of Georgia"
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 Designated by
the Georgia State Legislature in 2010 as Trout Capital
of Georgia, Fannin County lies in the Appalachian Mountains, 90 miles north of Atlanta, bordering on North Carolina and Tennessee.
Extending from within the county seat of Blue Ridge to the county border north, south, east and west, more than 100 miles of trout streams and rivers wind through Fannin County across 100,000 acres of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Blue Ridge is a quaint mountain gateway town with art galleries, downtown shopping, delectable restaurants, a scenic railroad, and get-away cabins nestled on mountain ridges, in peaceful valleys and on scenic waters.
he headquarters for the Trout Adventure Trail in Fannin County is the Ü Fannin County Chamber
of Commerce in Blue Ridge.
About Gilmer County, GA "Georgia's Apple Capital"
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 Gilmer County is Georgia’s Apple Capital and
contains abundant National Forest lands, including Springer Mountain, the southernmost terminus of the Appalachian Trail in the Chattahoochee National Forest.
Gilmer County is located along Highway 515/GA Highway 5, about
75 miles north of Atlanta. At more
than 430 square miles big, the heavily wooded landscape stretches across the southernmost reach of north Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains.
Ellijay, the capital and largest town in Gilmer County is an “Appalachian Trail Town” and is located about 40 minutes east of the Trout Adventure Trail. The official headquarters for the Trout Adventure Trail in Ellijay is
ÜNorth Georgia Mountain Outfitters.
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Camping on the Trout Adventure Trail
Plug in for comfort, or pitch in and build a primitive campsite
From plugging in a modern recreational vehicle at a roadside campground to pitching the most basic backpacker's tent at the edge of a trout stream, camping can be an integral part of the experiences surrounding the Trout Adventure Trail. Indeed, public and private options for camping in any style are numerous in and around Fannin County.
CHATTAHOOCHEE NATIONAL FOREST
Primitive campsites -- do-it-yourself conditions for self-contained campers and backpackers -- are commonly pitched in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Many are placed again and again on time-worn sites on along Noontootla Creek and Long Creek, some of which are on -- or within -- a short walk to the Trout Adventure Trail. Others are placed where campsites are more discreet and secluded. Access to these dispersed campsites is on a first-come-first-served basis, but note that the Forest Service also designates areas where no camping of any kind is allowed. Sites like these are often restricted from camping because of damage to the environment from years of camping impacts; or, perhaps, the Forest Service has identified environmentally sensitive conditions at these sites.
In addition to the dispersed campsites, the Forest Service maintains designated recreation areas and camping areas that vary in amenities and distance from the Trout Adventure Trail.
FRANK GROSS CAMPGROUND: Open late March to the end October, this campground is located on Rock Creek and offers camping and trout stream fishing. Nine campsites are on site, each with picnic tables, tent pads and grills. This campground is 20 to 30 minutes drive time from the Trout Adventure Trail. For directions and reservations information, go to the Ü Frank Gross Campground information page published by the Forest Service; or contact the USDA Forest Service, Blue Ridge Ranger District, phone: 706-745-6928.
COOPER CREEK WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA CAMPGROUNDS: Open late March to the end October, these campgrounds are located on or near trout streams and offer camping and trout fishing. At the Cooper Creek site, there are 17 camp sites with picnic tables, tent pads and grills. Four of the sites are waterfront. The area adjoins the 1,240-acre Cooper Creek Scenic Area -- a roadless area that features stands of old growth hemlock, white pine and tulip poplar trees. The Mulky Creek site of the Cooper Creek WMA campgrounds has 11 campsites. These campgrounds are 20 to 30 minutes drive from the Trout Adventure Trail. For directions and reservations information, go to the Ü Cooper Creek Campgrounds information page published by the Forest Service; or contact the USDA Forest Service, Blue Ridge Ranger District phone: 706-745-6928.
DEEP HOLE CAMPGROUND: Open all year, this campground is located on the upper Toccoa River and offers camping, boating and fishing. Eight campsites are equipped with tent pads and picnic tables. A canoe launch makes river access easy for floating the Toccoa River Canoe Trail. This campground is 30 to35 minutes drive from the Trout Adventure Trail. For directions and reservations information, go to the Ü Deep Hole Campground information page; or contact the USDA Forest Service, Blue Ridge Ranger District, phone: 706-745-6928.
MORGANTON POINT RECREATION AREA: Open mid-April through mid-September, this public campground overlooks Lake Blue Ridge and offers camping, boating, swimming and fishing. The area has 37 campsites, 13 picnic tables and a shelter. There is a boat launch and pebble beach. Each campsite has a tent pad, grill and picnic table. This campground is 30 to 40 minutes drive from the Trout Adventure Trail. For directions and reservations information, go to the Ü Morganton Point Recreation Area information page; or contact the USDA Forest Service, Blue Ridge Ranger District, phone: 706-745-6928.
For additional information on camping opportunities in the Chattahoochee National Forest, contact the USDA Forest Service, Blue Ridge Ranger District, phone: 706-745-6928; or go to the Ü Camping & Cabins information page of the the US Forest Service website.
PRIVATE CAMPGROUNDS AND RV PARKS
For those interested in camping in commercial campgrounds with shelter, amenities or RV hook-ups in and around Fannin County, please visit the Ü Where to Stay/Camping information page of the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce website. For commercial campground options in Gilmer County, please visit the Ü Campground Directory page of the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce website.
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