End to end: Mountain Road | Helen GA - (in the rain!!!)

[@thebitterhiker]

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[@michaelgerman5666]

Great, well-done video. My wife and I live in West Central Florida and have spent a lot of time in the NE Georgia mountains over the last fifteen years doing some of the same things. We've been blessed to have been able to travel all over the U.S., and even several foreign countries. But I must say, the NE Georgia mountains are our hands-down, all-time, hand to God FAVORITE part of the country. It's full of beautiful scenery, nice small towns and friendly folks. We've decided to move there in the not-too-distant future. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@thebitterhiker]

You are absolutely right. It is a beautiful place to visit and you’d be blessed to live there. Enjoy!!!

[@jameshancock1515]

The road at the top of tray mt . is Known as Corbin Creek rd. Great camping sites on that side of the mt.

[@thebitterhiker]

Thank you. I plan to go visit again

[@hmongCAM]

Hello there. This is a beautiful view of the country road and it’s greenery. Your new friend here. Thanks for sharing ❤❤

[@thebitterhiker]

Thanks so much 🙏🙏🙏

[@4125131236323]

there are four roads that intersect with Tray Mountain Road; the first one (to the right ) is a loop trail that takes you down to some private houses - this is a private road and is always gated; the road (to the left @40:05) is "Indian Grave Gap" road; that takes you past the "Indian Grave Gap Campground" on the AT and then down past the trailhead for a trail to two cool waterfalls (Blue Hole and High Shoals); then you fjord the Hiawasee River before you reconnect with GA75 (a few miles north of Unicoi Gap) - you ended the video with the banner "top of tray mountain" however you were in "Tray Gap" which is not the top of the mountain; from Tray Gap you are about a mile south (on the AT) from the top of Tray Mountain (the Appalachian trail crosses the road at that gap and you can hike to the top of the mountain from there.) at Tray Gap there are two other roads that terminate at the gap. When you enter the gap from Tray Mtn. Road the road to the right (straight ahead of your vehicle at 44:53) is "Chimney Mtn. Road and that is a 4x4 road which does require more ground clearance than any of the other roads; that road eventually connects you back to GA356; there is also a trailhead on that road for 2 trails that take you past multiple waterfalls in the headwaters of the Soquee River. The other road is "Corbin Creek Road" (straight ahead at 44:58) which takes you past the Corbin Creek campground and eventually reconnects back to GA75. (I think it's about 8 miles from Tray Gap back to GA75) I didn't see the steps in your video but just after Indian Grave Gap road there are some wooden steps off on the right side of the road which is the point where the appalachian trail first crosses Tray Mtn. Road; that is very close to a site called the "Cheese Factory Site" which is the ruins of an old dutch farmer's house and a spring; that farmer used to make cheese on that site and sell it down near Cleveland. you can still see some of the foundation for the house there and it's a pretty reliable water source. you briefly mentioned "Panther Creek Falls" - keep in mind that there are two different "panther creek falls" in Georgia - you are referring to the one in Habersham County - you can access the trail to the falls from two spots - the most popular is just off of US441 but that trail passes the falls and continues on to another trailhead on the west side (off Panther creek road past Yonah Lake). - there is a totally different "Panther Creek Falls" in the Cohuttas.

[@thebitterhiker]

I’ll be going back to do some more exploring

[@4125131236323]

@@thebitterhiker my brother first took me to that mountain back in the mid 70s, at the time there were logging companies clear cutting in several areas up there... we camped right above ana ruby falls in a clearing next to an old hunting lodge next to smith creek... (parts of that lodge are still standing but it's a challenge to get down there now since they blocked all the roads... back then Ana Ruby Falls was still part of the state park (i think?) and we could still get away with climbing the falls from below. - good times... I get up there a few times a year; we have a cabin over by lake burton and I often hike up that way usually from Wildcat Creek Road (which used to cross over the AT at Addis Gap and continue on down to US76 just east of Hiawasee but the road is gated now about a half mile before the AT crossing). - sadly i just scattered that brothers ashes on that mountain in one of his favorite hiking areas near Addis Gap. Chimney Mountain road CAN be traversed without 4 wheel drive if you have a decent amount of ground clearance; I've done it in a 2WD tacoma TRD sport with a 2 inch lift but there are a couple of places where it would have really helped to have 4wd. - going down from the top is pretty easy tho... it's coming back up that has the main obstacles. The trailhead I mentioned is off of Chimney Mountain road; if you are coming in from GA356 (near Ain't Beas) you can get to the trailhead in most vehicles as the trailhead is before you reach the more challenging parts of the road. There are two main trails along different creeks that flow into the Soquee River and one of them has 7 waterfalls; the other one has 8. they aren't as big as ana ruby but they are pretty and that trail doesn't get a ton of traffic. very nice hike.

[@DonnellPrince]

Thanks for Sharing, watching from Atl (Home team).

[@thebitterhiker]

Thank you 🙏

[@boroblueyes]

I drove that road up to lodge a few weeks back. It's really beautiful up there. The gated area is Bison View Lodge and cabins.

[@thebitterhiker]

Very cool!

[@4125131236323]

I used to camp up there a lot back in the 70s and 80s; well before that lodge was built. there used to be a few jeep roads down to smith creek in the area above ana ruby falls but the forest service has blocked access to those roads with lots of fallen trees.

[@MrMrsregor]

:( the gate at 45:24 used to be the best part of this road until they closed it a few years ago. it used to go down to 356 just northeast of helen. it was by far the best part and made for a great loop

[@thebitterhiker]

I was hoping i could explore further.

[@MrMrsregor]

@@thebitterhiker 👍🏽 yea man Thanks for the entertainment

[@4125131236323]

it IS a great road; but it is not designed for most vehicles... there are at least two places that you absolutely need more ground clearance than your typical vehicle has (and 4x4 is highly recommended). It doesn't need to be gated but it definetely should have better signage to warn people not to go down that road without knowing what the ^#%# they are doing.

[@billaliucci9564]

The other road is a nice easy drive down the mountain that will bring you out on Hwy 75 not far outside of Hiawassee. Make a left on 75 and it will take you back over the mountain back to Helen.

[@thebitterhiker]

I think I need to go do the other road. Does it have a name??

[@billaliucci9564]

It may be Corbin Creek Rd.

[@stevenesmith4152]

I have a new suburban will it get scratched

[@thebitterhiker]

No, you’d be fine