Locate It: Hiawassee

Here in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, the City of Hiawassee is the county seat of Towns County.The name Hiawassee comes from the Cherokee word Ayuhwasi, meaning meadow. This part of the region holds the state’s highest elevation body of water – Lake Chatuge – and the highest mountain peak – Brasstown Bald.

Brasstown Bald rises 4,784 feet above sea level. The mountaintop museum is an amazing Georgia natural history resource center. The observation deck provides spectacular 360° views of four states: Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. We recommend the short, steep hike to the summit from the parking lot, or there is a shuttle that runs up and back. Back down on Earth, you can rent pontoon boats, ski boats, jet skis, kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards to enjoy Lake Chatuge’s naturally formed coves and inlets and 130-plus miles of shoreline.

In a region saturated with waterfalls, one of our favorites is High Shoals Falls. A succession of five waterfalls has a vertical drop of about 300 feet. The 1.2-mile trail follows along High Shoals Creek to observation decks beside two of the five streams cascading in the High Shoals Scenic Area.

It’s naturally beautiful in Towns County with Hiawassee as the Country Music Capital of the state.

Breathe in the flowering fragrances at Hamilton Gardens at the North Georgia Fairgrounds on the shores of Lake Chatuge. See, feel, and be among the largest collection of rhododendron and azalea in the Southeast. Plus, dogwoods, rare forest perennials, trillium, and ferns make the gardens a year-round oasis.

One of Hiawassee’s star attractions is the North Georgia Fairgrounds open for year-round camping along Lake Chatuge with over 180 camp sites. Best part? Live concerts, fairs and events all year. After a concert, you can walk back to your cozy tent or R/V for the night. Next day: go hiking, biking, fishing, boating, and swimming!

For more about Hiawassee, Lake Chatuge and Towns County, download our Towns County guide.