Exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia in an RV

Exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia in an RV

written by Nancy Carter, Making My Own Lane

Helen, Georgia

Up in the mountains of North Georgia, there is this cute, recreated Bavarian Alpine Village in a town called Helen.

My original plan was to stop there on my way back from Maine, but I needed to get back to Florida early.  You can read more about that here.

I had prepaid reservations at Unicoi State Park, right next to Helen, so I decided to head back to Georgia for a 10-day, 1200-mile mini trip.

Yes, Helen is geared towards tourism, but it helps keep the area running.

There were so many German restaurants that I didn’t know which one to go into, so I tried several. They were all delicious.

And there was beer,... lots of beer.

This place must be super busy, and a lot of fun for Oktoberfest and Christmas.

My stay was in between the two, so the crowds were down a bit, and there was an almost relaxed atmosphere in the down as they were decorating for their Christmas holiday festivities.

I think it is a place that everyone should experience once, if you can.

Unicoi State Park

Helen is located next to Unicoi State Park.

First, let me tell you, it is mountainous. Luckily I had driven in the Poconos and Catskills in my RV, so I was not too intimated.

In fact, the area and the views are downright breathtaking as you are driving through the roads.

Although there were larger rigs in the park, they were on the “lower levels”. I was on the topmost level, and precariously parked on the edge of a mountain.

You can't see the elevation when you book your sites. My RV, Daisy, is just the right size to fit into some of these interesting locations.

Even walking the dogs was a pretty good workout. Up and down the mountain roads. I didn’t have a choice - I could either go up, or down. Which means eventually I ended up doing both.

North Georgia is cold in November. Not quite freezing, but 36 is cold for a Florida girl. Definitely campfire and s’mores weather.

I’m glad I had my entire wardrobe with me, because I am prepared for any kind of weather.  I did wish I had more flannel shirts!

Unicoi has many trails to hike, a lake to walk around, and an amphitheater to explore.

Anna Ruby Falls

After driving down, and up, a few more twisty, narrow roads with steep grades, you will find Anna Ruby Falls.

Anna Ruby Falls is not a part of Unicoi State Park, but instead it is run by the National Park Service.

There is a small entrance fee, but because I have my National Park Pass, I was able to get in for free. The Georgia Parking Pass I had to buy to enter Unicoi State Park, on top of the camping fee, would not have worked to enter Anna Ruby Falls.

I checked out of Unicoi and went to Anna Ruby Falls around 9 am, and already the smallish parking lot was filling up.

I was able to find parking, but when I finished hiking the falls, this parking lot was overflowing.

I would say this parking area is not set up for RVs of any size, even my smaller class C.

The hike is about a half mile on a paved path, with a very steep incline. There are benches to rest along the way. I took Willie, my 16-pound Shihtzu so he could burn off some energy. But the trail turned out to be a little too much for Willie, and I ended up carrying him half way up the trail.

Stone Mountain

Our next stop was Stone Mountain Family Campground in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

While it is not part of Stone Mountain, the views of Stone Mountain from the shore are spectacular.

From my campsite, I could see the top of the mountain, which was lit with a huge Christmas tree. Not a bad view.

This campground had plenty of room for larger rigs, and some very tight sites for smaller rigs. If you decide to camp there, pay close attention to the site specifications.

My site was “elevated”. It made me a little nervous. So much so that I decided to take an Uber over to Stone Mountain, as I was not sure I would not drive off the edge of my campsite trying to back in in the dark.

Click on the picture or here to see a quick video recap of my Blue Mountains of Georgia trip

Stone Mountain is the largest exposed piece of granite in the world that formed over 300 million years ago.

The summit is 1,686 feet above sea level, and can be accessed using a hiking trail or by using a high-speed gondola.

If you choose to hike, the trail is one-mile each way with an elevation gain of about 700 feet.

No matter how you get to the top, the views are amazing. You can see Atlanta off in the distance.

One side of the mountain boasts the largest high-relief sculpture in the world. It covers three-acres and measures 90 by 190 feet.

Called the Confederate Memorial Carving, it memorializes three Confederate figures, President Jefferson Davis, General Robert E. Lee, and General Thomas Stonewall Jackson.

Their likenesses are carved 42 feet into the mountain.

Today, it is the home of a nightly Music Across America Drone and Light Show, and occasionally a Laser Show Spectacular, which can be viewed from the memorial lawn.

You cannot view the show unless you pay to enter the park area. Not even a little bit of it.

The park has a lot of fun things to do, including a five-mile scenic railroad ride around the mountain and the Summit Skyride to the top of Stone Mountain where you can get a closer look at the Confederate Memorial Carving.

When I was there, it was decorated for Christmas and so pretty. We even had a Christmas carol sing-along on the train.

Thanks for joining me as I explore more in this full-time RV life.

If you have any comments or questions about Unicoi or Stone Mountain, click here.

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