Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest — Attraction in Dahlonega

Full disclosure: I'm a baised reviewer because I work on the Chatt-O, and I am extremely proud of the work we do. Is it perfect? No, of course not. But the team I work with is an amazing and highly talented group of professionals.

The forest has a footprint of almost 867,000 acres across 26 counties in northern and central Georgia. It includes the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, numerous waterfalls, unique ecosystems found nowhere else on Earth, and surrounds many small towns whose populations depend on forest tourism and products. It also comprises the headwaters for some of our nation's most iconic rivers, including the Chattahoochee River, which supplies clean, safe drinking water to Atlanta.

Recreation opportunities abound! You can camp, fish, hunt, backpack, ride horses, explore in jeeps and OHVs, kayak, and more. There are trails and whitewater rivers and small lakes and gorgeous scenic overlooks.

There are Wilderness Areas and National Scenic River areas. There small towns with breweries. There are churches. And picnic areas. And bike paths. And historic place markers. And places to walk your dog, hold hands with your person, and connect - with yourself, with others, and with nature.

I've lived near, played on, and worked on the Chatt-O for nearly 30 years now, and I'm still discovering it's wonders. Come explore it and see...

My first time to the fourth step in your area and I loved it the people were friendly the weather was not very cooperative we got rained on camping but your area is beautiful because from Florida and I appreciate the people's friendliness in your state is very nice to have people treat you with respect and kindness thank you for your Southern hospitality I grew up in Florida board of Clearwater the southern hospitality of people's politeness with kindness and respect and missing in my big part of our culture today but thank you for the South still having matters the people still have respect to the South for one another unless otherwise stepped on do not step on my toes do not ride on my feelings do not offend me and we will get along fine that is the motto do unto others that you would have them do to you thank you for your polite kind warm hearts into the people in general store near our campsite thank you for the biscuits and gravy we had a three dogs and my son bought a piece of artwork his wife loves chickens as someone had done a acrylic piece of work and he picked that up at your little store God bless you guys thank you again for your...

A favorite place of mine for back country camping. Beautiful forest area containing trails, the AT, rivers, streams, waterfalls, and dispersed primitive campsites. For the true lover of nature, this is the place where the mountains call us to.

Some roads are a little tough going, but that's as it should be. Four wheel drive is recommended if you want to go deep, or explore fire road offshoots, but not always necessary. Just proceed with common sense and know when your vehicle has reached its limit.

PLEASE- PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT. There is NO sanitation crew for the forest. Leave it better than you found it- Take a garbage bag. And PLEASE, when camping, KNOW HOW AND WHERE TO SH*T. (Dig a hole, cover it!)

Some notes of **cautions; 1) there is sometimes bear activity, so be aware of bear safety procedures (personal note: I have seen some, but never been bothered). 2) rocks in and near rivers, streams, and waterfalls are EXTREMELY SLIPPERY. Be CAREFUL. 3) there are some poisonous snakes in the area, so keep an eye on your surroundings (personal note- I have seen very few, and they prefer to move away than attack, just...