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- Apple Capital
Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Ellijay is in the heart of Georgia’s Apple Country. From late August to December, roadside markets are bursting with the best, tree-ripened mountain apples you can imagine. Apple Orchard Alley is the picturesque valley along Hwy 52 East. Eleven of the county’s 18 apple orchards are dotted along the highway. From The Carriage House take a left out of the drive and a right on River Street. Continue through the traffic light on Hwy 52 East towards Dahlonega.
- Georgia Apple Festival & Apple Capital Downtown Fall Celebration- Producing 600,000 bushels of apples each fall, Ellijay/Gilmer County is Georgia's Apple Capital, so it's only natural that the 2nd and 3rd weekends of October each year, people from all over the nation come to Ellijay to celebrate the apple. Handmade arts and crafts, homegrown entertainment, and plain old fun, combine with every apple product imaginable to make the weekends a family adventure. Throw in the colorful fall leaves, crisp mountain air, sky-blue days, and star-studded nights and you'll want to visit again and again. Sponsored by the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce and the Ellijay Lions Club, the festivities include a car show and a parade. Shuttle buses run every few minutes between the Fairgrounds and downtown Ellijay for the Apple Capital Downtown Fall Celebration with street vendors, great food and fun.
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Lakes/Boating/Fishing -
Located near Ellijay off GA Hwy. 136. Carters Lake is more than 450 feet deep with 3,200 surface acres. The dam is the tallest earthen dam east of the Mississippi River. Its sparkling waters and rugged shoreline provide a beautiful surrounding for a variety of recreational opportunities which include fishing, picnicking, boating, mountain biking and hunting. Launch ramps by fee. Carter’s Lake is stocked with Walleye, Hybrid Bass and Striped Bass. For boat rentals contact the Marina at 706-276-4891.
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STATE PARKS
- Amicalola Falls - 20 miles Southeast of Ellijay on GA Hwy. 52 East - Its easy to see why this is one of Georgia's most popular state parks. Amicalola, a Cherokee Indian word meaning tumbling waters, is an appropriate name for these 729-foot falls the tallest cascading falls east of the Mississippi River. An eight-mile approach trail leads from the park to Springer Mountain, the southern end of the 2,150-mile Appalachian Trail. However, numerous other trails are available for shorter journeys.
- Fort Mountain State Park - 18 miles North of Ellijay on GA Hwy. 52 W - Eighteen miles North of Ellijay on Hwy 52W; Fort Mountain derives its name from an ancient 855-foot-long rock wall which stands on the highest point of the mountain. The mysterious wall is thought to have been built by Indians as fortification against other more hostile Indians or for ancient ceremonies. Situated in the Chattahoochee National Forest and close to the Cohutta Wilderness area, this park offers a variety of outdoor activities. Hikes wind through hardwood forest and blackberry thickets, occasionally crossing streams and providing spectacular vistas. Great picnic area.
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Hiking -
Benton MacKaye Trail - The Benton MacKaye Trail (BMT) is probably what the Appalachian Trail was like many decades ago—a lesser-tamed path, steep in places, rough in spots, and still evolving. It is mostly well marked, less so in some locales—a mixture of occasional road walks and single-track footpaths treading along ridgelines and streams. Many sections of the BMT have permanently fixed routes, while other sections are still being rerouted. The trail's namesake, Benton MacKaye, was the man who actually conceived the idea of an "Appalachian Trail (AT)." The BMT starts at the same place as the AT, Springer Mountain in Georgia. It heads north through the Chattahoochee National Forest, like the AT, and crosses its more famous cousin a few times early during the 93-mile journey to its current terminus at the Ocoee River in Tennessee's Cherokee National Forest.
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Tennis in Ellijay - A picturesque recreation complex on the banks of the Coosawattee River, the park offers picnic areas, tennis courts, and a walking trail. The park is located on Old Highway 5 South, along the Coosawattee River just South of Dairy Queen. Lighted tennis courts. No charge. One hour time limit if someone is waiting.
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Wildlife Rehab Sanctuaries -
Ellijay Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary 5 miles East of Ellijay. (706) 276-2980. A 50-acre facility that medically cares for all species of orphaned and injured wildlife indigenous to Georgia and the Southeast. The sanctuary is a state and federally licensed facility. The sanctuary offers outdoor education and summer camp programs to serve the people of the community. It is open to the public Sunday through Friday for tours by appointment only. Call at least 24 hours in advance to make your reservations.
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Fishing in Ellijay - There is great fishing in Ellijay on Old Hwy. 5 in the park area, from the banks of the Coosawattee River. Take your fishing pole and enjoy. There is also a 1 mile walking tract along the river with a great picnic and playground area.
Moped Rentals - Mountain Mopeds, 2218 Hwy. 52 East, Ellijay, 706-889-2265. By the hour.
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Horseback Riding - Cohutta Wilderness Stables - Call: 706-695-2276, 53 Blackhawk Trail, Chatsworth, GA 30705
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Pearson Pond Ranch & Llama Co. - 242 Charles Lane, #6017, Ellijay, GA 30540, Call: 706-276-3658. The ranch is located down an old logging road and up a 'holler' known as Pleasant Valley on 98 acres, surrounded by mountains once roamed by Cherokee Indians. Started in 1981, there is a sizable herd that represents the finest bloodlines available, including Argentine, Chilean, Bolivian, Australian, Canadian and North American. Visitors by appointment.
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