SCENIC overland route from SC to AL | Georgia Traverse

Ride along with me for the amazingly scenic Georgia Traverse overland route. I completed the route in the East to West direction, starting at the South Carolina border and ending at the Alabama border. There were a few small hiccups along the way, but with a little help from Gaia GPS, I was able to navigate around them.
This is a great route for seasoned overlanders and newbies alike! The trail isn't very difficult, but a high-clearance vehicle is recommended due to the depth of some river crossings. There are plenty of dispersed camping opportunities along the route and numerous secondary trails to explore if you have the time and a strong sense of adventure!
Learn more about the route here: www.georgiaove...
Music:
Jules Gaia / Bad Habits / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Gabriel Lewis / Ghosts of the Rail / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Hunter Quinn / The Appalachian Trail / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Sunfish Grove / Brittle Bones / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Marc Torch / Sunset Road / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Biddy Sullivan / Fire and Bones / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

[@ryanmalone2681]

All those static shots of your driving by are great, it they must take so much time to set up. I personally would rather just see more of the track as you’re going through it.

[@DefiantOffroad]

Fantastic video! I recently did the traverse myself. It's fun to see the same locations through someone else's lens!

[@DerkJester]

I watched this video not long after it was published. I’ve been wanting to do this ever since. Hopefully next week my wife and I will be taking our turn on the Traverse. Thank you for the video and advice.

[@ear.bonez.studio]

Thanks for sharing!! They say empty/coffee tea bags with a strong to tie after you fill them. We grind coffee at home and prepare a few before backpacking trips etc. just got a new ranger fx4 and starting to explore the forest roads more. Cheeers !

[@FJCruisin-OffRoad]

No sir, you are dead wrong. Marshmallows should be set on fire and burnt till black. LOL. Just kidding. Great video. One of the most enjoyable I've seen. Makes me want to go do this myself this Summer. Thank you for sharing your trip with us. Keep up the good work!

[@TarheelOverland]

Thanks Danny, I’m glad you enjoyed it! Go check it out for yourself! It’s a cool route.

[@MrWinger1951]

Nice to see someone doing a solo trip on the Georgia Traverse, instead of all those done in convoys and caravans. There is a channel based out of Kentucky and he is almost with two or more vehicles in his videos. When I go camping/backpacking/overlanding I love the solitude. I'm planning on doing the Georgia Traverse, along with the Big Frog Loop this Fall (2023).

[@waterandlandadventures4319]

Just found your channel via watching videos on the Traverse. I’m going to tackle this in later September or early October. Nice video.

[@TarheelOverland]

I bet it would be beautiful in the fall. Let us know how it goes!

[@christianjensen3182]

I have watched lots of videos on this subject, but I'll have to say yours is my favorite. just the right amount of talking vs driving, and the music was pleasant and not annoying. All of your drone footage was great. From 15:43-16:12 then at 23:26-23:36 that footage was rock solid, hard to tell if it was drone or you just found a badass place for the camera.

[@TarheelOverland]

Thank you Christian! I really appreciate your detailed feedback! Both of the shots in those time stamps are drone shots from my DJI Mavic Mini. Every trip (and subsequent video editing session) is an awesome learning experience. I’ve been off-roading my entire adult life and trying to capture these experiences through the camera lens adds another level of challenging fun!

[@karlk63109]

Nice shots. Thanks for sharing.

[@otis-xk6ib]

Nice video! Great photography and not a product placement video like a lot of them now. I got into a discussion with someone on fb about and I understand the product placement and commercials and there help for the channels. This one is really good!

[@alco4468]

Drone shots are on point

[@TheFatbutterpancake]

Great drone work. Really good B roll stuff. Time consuming if you’re alone.

[@TerryX2Explore]

We love overlanding and are really looking forward to exploring and making videos of Georgia! Until then, videos like yours will have to entertain us... ;-) A lot of the overlanding channels show just road footage. You shared much more of your exploring so we really enjoyed that. Hope to see you posting again soon! 💙Terry and Terri

[@spoonee]

Great video. Thanks for sharing!

[@philgriswold2133]

I was just on the Traverse two days ago and have done all of it except the western end. After watching this video, I'll have to make it to the end next time. Good job.

[@TarheelOverland]

Awesome Phil! The western end is good once you get past Dayton. There’s a cool old graveyard with unmarked headstones and a lot of the graves date back to the mid-1800’s.

[@DrJohn493]

Nice adventure across north Georgia. Enjoyed the vicarious ride along. When it comes to meal time, I cheat alot too with backpacker meals. The guy you pulled outta the ditch did have to have a Bama tag on the front of his pickumup truck 🙄😉. But good on you!

[@mountfamilyadventures]

The wife and I have this track planned for early fall. We're then gonna head to Talladega National Forest on our way home. Great video 👍🏻

[@Ridesaway24]

Great Video - thank you for sharing. Also some great ideas to add to the trip planner for the next visit to the area!

[@TarheelOverland]

Thanks!

[@user-kd3xr5ft9k]

Wow.. Too much jungle👍

[@whitewolfoverland117]

Looks like an awesome time. I definitely have to do this one. Thank you for sharing

[@TarheelOverland]

It’s definitely worth the trip!

[@stevehill8153]

Really enjoyed the video. What is the backpack on the spare tire for?

[@TarheelOverland]

Thanks! The spare tire backpack is called a Trasharoo. I usually carry my firewood, campfire grill, a trash bag, and my portable toilet in it.

[@rolandb3179]

Looks peaceful and relaxing. Hoping I can do this route before the summer is over.

[@TarheelOverland]

Hopefully you can make time to do it! There are plenty of trout fishing opportunities along the route as well (if you’re into that).

[@coloradoz71overlandorbust78]

Nice video. Thanks for sharing!🙂

[@TarheelOverland]

Thanks for watching!

[@ChasingOurSolitude]

Nice video my friend, I live in north Georgia and I’ve done the traverse one or twice and the Cohutta Big Frog loop is a beautiful ride as well. Thanks for sharing your ride and keep sharing your adventures.

[@TarheelOverland]

Thank you! I’m looking forward to exploring the rest of the Big Frog loop at some point in the future.

[@thepaperstaggering]

Super peaceful trip! All we need is a can-do vehicle and a can-do spirit. The rest is just eating sandwiches and enjoying the silence. How do you handle gasoline during overlanding trips?

[@TarheelOverland]

Thanks Oren! For a route like the GA traverse (2wd forest roads) I plan gas stops by mileage. If there is a lot of 4x4 action, I just keep an eye on gas levels vs distance and try to estimate when I need to get off trail to find a station. I don’t currently carry any extra fuel, but it would provide some peace of mind.

[@brackeng1294]

Great job on this!

[@TarheelOverland]

Thank you!

[@mydogmaximus]

I’m in wake forest, NC. Next trip let me know. I’m looking at doing lots of trails in the states surrounding NC.

[@vengeance4x436]

I’m in Charlotte planning on going to red river gorge hopefully mid November

[@OvidioMoreno-kp2si]

I would love to join you in November 🙏

[@blueduster74]

My old Ramcharger has a pu style tailgate. Makes a decent table. 😂 I just signed up with GAIA-GPS, hopefully these closures are updated. I moved to SC in 2021 from CA, been all over the west. Finishing up a wiring harness on my old Dodge (didn’t get it shipped until last summer) then I’ll start exploring these areas. Thanks for the video.

[@TarheelOverland]

I love the old Ramchargers…classic! Closures are not updated on the website-provided Gaia data points, so be aware of that. Have fun!

[@JEEP-N-DIRT]

Great stuff man. I've been watching your channel for a bit and you gave me some ideas for my channel content as well. I enjoy your tranquil shots that really show how peaceful the trails can be. I just did a NO camping overlanding Fall ride with the wife near Asheville and enjoyed it. Thanks for the inspiration, and keep the content coming brother. Can't wait to see you on the trail sometime. God Bless.

[@TarheelOverland]

Thank you my friend. I hope to see you out there!

[@robbierobinson3966]

That was cool.

[@jamesthompson4015]

Enjoyed video. Nice area

[@TarheelOverland]

Thanks James!

[@mydogmaximus]

Just ordered those coffee tea bags on Amazon. Dark roast. Thanks for the info.

[@TarheelOverland]

You bet! I will try the dark roast next. Let me know what you think when you try it.

[@TrailTape]

You can also just get empty tea bags and fill it with ground coffee you already use. I have some I use for loose leaf tea but I've used them for coffee when I ran out of filters haha

[@hopalongjohnny9797]

Looks awesome, I’m a new jk owner here in Greensboro NC. I’m a former AT through hiker and would love to go back to GA and drive some of these back country roads!!

[@TarheelOverland]

Through hiking the AT is quite a feat! That’s awesome!

[@nahuperez522]

That sweet im from siler city nc and it nice to see a comment from nc

[@RoamRoadless]

All I can think about is how you retrieved the camera after going thru the water crossing, did you reverse thru it, turn around and drive forward thru it, or hike thru the water on foot to get it? Either way awesome dedication to make an awesome video.

[@Fishin_Fixin_things]

Gonna do that trip in sept,

[@gutajo01]

Hi Thank you for sharing this video... it is amazing I planing to go on the GA-traverse and I am wondering if there are sections than can be done in one day and then on a different day do an other section or I have to go and sleep at the trail in a camp site...?

[@MichaelMauldinExplores]

Good job with the video. Unfortunately, the trail can’t be ran as it’s original route. FS79 has been closed for several years now and will most likely never be opened due to storm damage. FS32C is seasonal and only open Sept-Jan 1. It takes some planning but there are some work arounds. Just too much pavement now.

[@TarheelOverland]

Thanks! I wonder if the FS would be willing to let a group of volunteers clear FS79 so they could reopen it? They use volunteers like this in other national forests.

[@MichaelMauldinExplores]

@@TarheelOverland My understanding is that it's not that kind of work that needs to be done. I was told that the road completely washed out and that heavy equipment was needed for a rebuild. The same goes for 26-1 (Wildcat Rd). $$

[@keithelder]

I have an XTR tear drop offroad trailer. Any parts of this trail that I couldn't have towed it behind for camping and sleeping in regards to this trail?

[@TarheelOverland]

You would be fine on this trail with an off-road trailer.

[@ickess]

I have a stock ford expedition. It’s got 4 high and 4 low. Falken wildpeak at3 tires. Used to do beach driving on Long Island all the time. Think it would fair well on the GA travers? She’s a big girl haha. This looks like fun. Feel like they can’t really call it Ga traverse anymore though if some of the roads look to be close permanently. Maybe that’s just me.

[@TarheelOverland]

You might find a few areas to be challenging, but you should be able to do it. Sucks about the closed roads, but it only adds 5-6 miles of pavement. Still worth doing IMO.

[@takinitoutdoors450]

The forest service should be required to keep these roads open, part of the taxes we pay are for these kinds of things, at the very least the public should be able to volunteer their time to keep these trails clear.

[@Afrojeeper1701]

I've been wanting to do this route..Would love to join you on one of your adventures..Great video

[@TarheelOverland]

It’s a fun route and you should do it! Maybe one day I’ll host a trip or something 👍🏻. It’s a small world - if you ever see me out there, come over and introduce yourself!

[@Afrojeeper1701]

@@TarheelOverland Ok I sure will.. 👍👍👍

[@1870offroad]

Nice video, we went riding though the mountains last weekend and unintentionally rode part of the traverse. I’ve been researching it since. Did you do the trail alone? We went with our wicked jeeps club (we’re in central Georgia) I’m considering taking my daughters back in a month or 2 to explore more. And.. Burn that mellow 😂

[@1870offroad]

And I just subscribed

[@TarheelOverland]

Thanks man! I did it alone but it would be great for a family/group trip.

[@harvmac69]

Cool video! Hey what are you using to cook your steak on?

[@TarheelOverland]

Thanks man! It’s a campfire grill like this one: Texsport Heavy Duty Over Fire Camp Grill a.co/d/8D9SzsD I think I bought mine at Walmart.

[@Hollowsmith]

Does this route go through the Rich Mountain Wilderness east of Ellijay?

[@TarheelOverland]

Yes it does. It crosses the Stanley Gap on Rock Creek Rd.

[@oldsouthautodetail9327]

We plan on doing at least some areas of the Traverse around Helen in the next few weeks. I have a lifted 2wd Tacoma with a locker in the rear. Think it'll be ok to take?

[@TarheelOverland]

You’ll be fine. I did the whole traverse in 2wd without using any lockers. Helen is an interesting town. I drove through just to see it and stopped for a coffee. It looks like a bit of a tourist trap, but I think it would be fun to take a few hours and stroll through town.

[@oldsouthautodetail9327]

@@TarheelOverland our family has a cabin in Sautee nacoochie (right outside of Helen) right on the Chattahoochee river. So we go up there a good bit, just never did any of the traverse. I try to stay out of Helen as much as possible 😆.

[@TarheelOverland]

That cabin sounds awesome!

[@Wrongwayadventures]

Do you think the trail can be done pulling a small off-road style tear drop trailer?

[@TarheelOverland]

You can definitely do this trail with an off-road style trailer. There are plenty of suitable camping spots to park a small trailer as well.

[@DanielDiaz-qr7hp]

Do you have the corrected track and waypoints available anywhere? Planning to do it during labor day weekend.

[@TarheelOverland]

I don’t have the corrected route posted anywhere, but that’s a good idea. I need to figure out how to upload and share it. In the meantime, the one locked gate that you should know about (to avoid back tracking) is at 34.76219, -83.66719.

[@RangerDogTraining]

Love to do this with you one day

[@kellytong4148]

Can you do this trail with a Jeep Grand Cherokee with AWD?

[@TarheelOverland]

You should be able to. The southern route across the big loop will be the best way to go for you. Be sure to check the depth on the bigger river crossings.

[@alco4468]

Tom Hanks has some explaining to do

[@andrewhardage6561]

You rescued a bama fan? Really?

[@TarheelOverland]

😂