34 | Attractions & Recreation
Your Basecamp for Adventure
The Great Outdoors Are Calling
W
The Georgia Department of Tourism proclaimed Meeks Park
one of the most beautiful parks in the North Georgia mountains.
Both Butternut Creek and the Nottely River meander through
the magnificent shady oaks of the park, which is located about a
mile west of Blairsville and straddles both sides of Highway 515.
Meeks Park is home to baseball and softball fields, as well as
tennis courts, a playground, dog park, skateboard park, seasonal
swimming pool and kids’ “splash pad.” Paddlers gain convenient
river access at the kayak/canoe launch. The 18-hole disc golf
course winds through the park and features concrete tee boxes.
A 900-seat amphitheater is also planned. Miles of walking and
hiking trails take visitors past unique art installations, such as
the “We Are Still Here” statue by nationally renowned Pawnee/
Cherokee artist Daniel Horsechief, and various metal sculptures
by local artist Al Garnto. In addition to the refurbished Tate
Grist Mill, the park also has a fully functioning sorghum mill,
making it a perfect setting for the annual Blairsville Sorghum
Festival each fall. Other regular festivals include the Butternut
Creek Festival and the Blairsville Scottish Festival & Highland
Games, both held during the summer.
MOUNTAIN CROSSINGS AT WALASI-YI
12471 Gainesville Highway, Blairsville
(706) 745-6095 | www.mountaincrossings.com
The stone building of the Walasi-yi Interpretive Center has been
standing at Neel Gap on the Appalachian Trail since it was built
by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937. Today, the building
also houses Mountain Crossings, an outfitting store and backpackers
destination on the AT. It’s also the only place where the
2,190-mile-long AT passes through a man-made structure.
POTEETE CREEK CAMPGROUND
1040 Poteete Creek Road, Blairsville
(706) 439-6103 | www.unioncountyga.gov
Open spring through fall, this 59-site campground is located off
Where else can you get in 18 holes of golf right
in the middle of town, and then hit the river or lake to jet ski,
kayak or fly fish? The hardest part of living in Union County
may just be trying to fit in all those great outdoor activities!
Parks, Waterfalls, Trails and More
Parks, preserves and points of interest are around every corner.
ANNA RUBY FALLS
3455 Anna Ruby Falls Road, Helen
(706) 878-1448 | cfaia.org
Anna Ruby Falls, located about 30 miles from Blairsville, is one
of North Georgia’s most-visited waterfalls. In addition to the
paved trail to the falls, you’ll find a visitor center and gift shop,
picnic spots, fishing, plus public programs and activities.
BRASSTOWN BALD
GA 180 Spur, Hiawassee
(706) 896-2556 | cfaia.org
The views are breathtaking from atop Brasstown Bald — the
state’s tallest mountain at 4,784 feet — where you can see North
Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and even downtown
Atlanta on a clear day. If you want a challenge, you can tackle
the steep, but paved, trail to the top. If not, just take the shuttle.
The Visitors Center at the top includes an extensive museum
and presentations on forestry in North Georgia.
COOPER CREEK RECREATION AREA
GA 60, Suches
(706) 745-6928 | www.fs.usda.gov
A quiet getaway awaits you in Cooper Creek, where you can
enjoy flowers blooming in the spring and leaves turning in the
fall. Hike miles of easy-to-moderate trails, or hunt, camp and
fish. Cooper Creek and nearby Mulky Creek are both wild- and
stocked-trout streams.
MEEKS PARK
490 Meeks Park Road, Blairsville
(706) 439-6074 | www.unioncountyga.gov
continued on page 36
Meeks Park disc golf course Brasstown Bald
/www.mountaincrossings.com
/www.unioncountyga.gov
/www.unioncountyga.gov
/cfaia.org
/cfaia.org
/www.fs.usda.gov