Some Georgia drives are just a way to get somewhere. The Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway is the opposite: a roughly 40-mile loop through the southern Blue Ridge Mountains that turns the route itself into the destination.
The byway follows State Highways 348, 180 and 17/75 through the Chattahoochee National Forest, circling the headwaters of the Chattahoochee River. The USDA Forest Service recommends allowing at least three hours for the drive alone. Designated a National Scenic Byway in 2000, the loop runs cool in summer and mild in winter, with views that change by season and weather.
Brasstown Bald: Georgia's Highest Point
The marquee stop is Brasstown Bald, the highest point in Georgia at 4,784 feet. The summit sits on the Towns-Union county line in the Blue Ridge Mountains and is known to the Cherokee as Enotah. From the parking lot off Georgia 180 Spur, visitors can take a shuttle or walk the half-mile paved trail to the top, where an observation deck and visitor center open up 360-degree views. On a clear day, distant views reportedly reach Atlanta's skyline, about 85 miles away.
Hogpen Gap and the Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail crosses the byway at Hogpen Gap on State Route 348 and again at Unicoi Gap on State Route 17/75. Parking and interpretive facilities at both crossings make either spot a good place to stretch your legs and watch thru-hikers pass through.
Waterfalls Without a Hard Climb
Several falls sit close to the pavement. Anna Ruby Falls is a short, paved walk from its parking area to where two creeks meet and drop as twin falls more than 150 feet tall. Dukes Creek Falls takes about 2.2 miles round trip and ends at a misty pool below the cascade. Raven Cliff Falls falls in three tiers, including a roughly 100-foot cascade through a split in a rock outcrop.
State Parks and a Bavarian Town
Vogel State Park, established in 1931 and one of Georgia's oldest, sits minutes from the loop with a 22-acre lake and wildflower trails. Unicoi State Park, near Helen, offers cabins, campsites and trails, and Smithgall Woods is another nearby option with hardwood forests and trout streams. At the southern end of the loop, the Bavarian-themed town of Helen is a convenient place to eat, refuel and find lodging.
Fees and Practical Notes
Driving the byway itself is free, but some stops charge day-use or parking fees, including Brasstown Bald and the Dukes Creek and Raven Cliffs trailheads, according to Explore Helen. Check current rates, hours and seasonal closures at each site before you go.
Mountain weather changes quickly, and higher stretches of the loop can turn icy in winter. Check Georgia road conditions before heading out, and remember that fog, tight curves and slow scenic traffic mean the three-hour estimate is a floor, not a ceiling.
Sources: USDA Forest Service; National Scenic Byway Foundation; Explore Helen; Wikipedia.
