25 Best Things to Do in Blue Ridge, GA (2026 Guide)

Blue Ridge sits in the North Georgia mountains, surrounded by the Chattahoochee National Forest, with a river, a lake, and a historic downtown all within a few miles of each other. Here are the 25 things we'd point any guest toward, grouped so you can build your own weekend.

#In and around downtown

#1. Walk downtown Blue Ridge

Downtown is built around a 1905 railroad depot and has more than 100 locally owned shops, plus galleries, restaurants, and tasting rooms. It's compact and easy to walk, so park once and wander.

#2. Browse the galleries and The Art Center

Galleries like 4 Elements Art, High Country Art, and Multitudes Gallery line the downtown streets. The Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association runs The Art Center inside the historic Fannin County Courthouse.

#3. Ride the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway

The scenic railway leaves from the downtown depot and follows the Toccoa River to McCaysville, Georgia and Copperhill, Tennessee, a 26-mile round trip. Choose a two-hour express or a four-hour trip with a two-hour layover. Here's our complete railway guide.

#4. Stand in two states at once

In McCaysville and Copperhill, a painted blue line runs through downtown along the Georgia–Tennessee border. It's about 20–25 minutes from Blue Ridge by car, or the end of the line on the train.

#5. Visit the 1887 Mineral Bluff depot

The brick railroad depot in nearby Mineral Bluff was built in 1887 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

#6. Catch Arts in the Park

The Arts Association's Arts in the Park festivals take over downtown on Memorial Day weekend and the second weekend of October.

#Orchards, cider, beer, and wine

#7. Eat a fried pie at Mercier Orchards

Mercier Orchards has been family-run since 1943 and is about eight minutes north of downtown. Go for the fried pies, apple cider donuts, and bakery. Our Mercier Orchards guide has the hours, u-pick prices, and tasting room details.

#8. Pick your own fruit

Mercier's u-pick season runs strawberries in May, blueberries and blackberries in June and July, and apples from August through October.

#9. Taste hard cider at the source

Mercier grows, presses, ferments, and cans its own hard cider, with a tasting room on site.

#10. Tour the breweries

Grumpy Old Men Brewing is just south of downtown, and Angry Hops Brewing and Tipping Point Brewing Co. are right in town, according to the Chamber's brewery guide. For hours, food, and dog rules at each one, see our Blue Ridge breweries guide. For trivia, live music, and what's open late, see our guide to things to do in Blue Ridge at night.

#11. Go wine tasting

Georgia Wine Depot pours Paradise Hills wines downtown, and Bear Claw Vineyards is in Blue Ridge. Chateau Meichtry in Talking Rock makes a good stop on the drive up from Atlanta.

#On the water

#12. Tube the Toccoa River

Tubing outfitters open for the season around mid-May. Toccoa Valley Campground & Tubing on Aska Road runs six miles of river, and McCaysville has Toccoa River Tubing Company and Rolling Thunder River Company.

#13. Fly fish for trout

Fannin County has been named the "Trout Capital of Georgia." The Toccoa's Delayed Harvest section is catch-and-release with single-hook artificial lures from November 1 to May 14, and the tailwater below Blue Ridge Dam can be fished year-round. Anglers 16 and up need a Georgia fishing license plus a trout license. Our Toccoa River fly fishing guide has the access points and details.

#14. Swim at Lake Blue Ridge

Lake Blue Ridge covers 3,290 acres, and about 80% of its shoreline is national forest. Morganton Point Recreation Area, about 15 minutes away, has a pebble swimming beach (bring water shoes).

#15. Rent a pontoon or paddleboard

Lake Blue Ridge Marina rents pontoons, kayaks, and paddleboards, and Lake Blue Ridge Outfitters sets up at the Morganton Point beach.

#16. Raft the Ocoee River

Just over the Tennessee line, the Ocoee has real whitewater. The Upper Ocoee hosted the 1996 Olympic events. Rafters must be 12 or older.

#Trails and waterfalls

#17. Hike to Fall Branch Falls

A half-mile walk to a 30-foot waterfall, about 25 minutes from town. It's the easiest waterfall payoff around.

#18. Cross the Toccoa River Swinging Bridge

This 260-foot suspension bridge on the Benton MacKaye Trail is the longest foot-trail suspension bridge in the southern Appalachians.

#19. Hike or ride the Aska trails

The Aska Trail System has about 17 miles of free hiking and mountain-biking trails, from easy to strenuous.

#20. See Long Creek Falls

A roughly one-mile walk on the Appalachian and Benton MacKaye Trails to a 50-foot, two-tier waterfall. Pair it with the short hike to the Appalachian Trail's southern end; see our Springer Mountain & Long Creek Falls guide.

#21. Day-trip to Amicalola Falls

At 729 feet, Amicalola is about an hour from Blue Ridge, with an accessible trail. See our Amicalola Falls guide for fees and trails.

All the details are in our guide to waterfalls near Blue Ridge.

Prefer to ride? Our horseback riding guide compares four stables near town, with prices, age limits, and cancellation rules.

#Scenic drives

#22. Drive Aska Road

A relaxed two-lane road south from town through the national forest, best in fall.

#23. Take the Ocoee Scenic Byway

Twenty-six miles of river gorge in Tennessee, and the first national forest scenic byway in the country. More in our fall foliage guide.

#After dark

#24. Look up

Blue Ridge isn't a certified dark-sky area, but out in the woods the stars are far brighter than anything you'll see from Atlanta.

#25. Sauna, hot tub, fire pit (repeat)

Honestly, one of the best things to do in Blue Ridge is nothing at all. At The Black Ember, that means a cedar barrel sauna on the deck, a private hot tub, and a wood fire pit under the trees.

If the forecast turns wet, see our rainy day things to do in Blue Ridge for indoor ideas. Coming with friends? Our girls' trip guide covers spa packages, rail bikes, and a weekend plan.