Drive up N. Georgia Mountains

I'm starting this thread to see who would be interested in doing a group drive up to the mountans of N. GA. probably like Blood Mountain, Dahlonega, Suches or even up hwy. 129. Let me know interests and maybe a date? Ok guys, lets hear it, the weather can not get much better and I'm pretty sure that the roads are pretty much cleared from last winter's debris.

Eric

I'm booked for quite some time.

Todd over on e90 post suggested this Sunday the 12th. What does everybody think?

I would be up for Tail of the Dragon some random weekday in September. Crowds would be down along with these hellacious temperatures.

AMPowerJ wrote

I would be up for Tail of the Dragon some random weekday in September. Crowds would be down along with these hellacious temperatures.

I've been there with my bike, but would love to take my car. September sounds good to me. Maybe we can set it up. We can meet somewhere and go from there. Usually September and October are the best months to be up there. Not that much traffic and things calms down around then.

I am booked up until the 25th and have a trip up that way planned with a few friends. We were going to head up to Highlands for lunch and then back home through Helen and Dahlonega.

AMPowerJ wrote

I would be up for Tail of the Dragon some random weekday in September. Crowds would be down along with these hellacious temperatures.

This. Although I will be doing Peachtree CCA's Road ATL event Sept 9-11

putting together a trip to tail of the dragon

check it out

http://new.evite.com/#view_invite:eid=03C2AARBSZ35RYIKCEPAZXV4ILWJ6I

I am going up Saturday Morning -

Hit me up

James 4x 735-2156

Was about to start up a new thread and this dinosaur was discovered...

Who wants to plan a rip through the hills? I live in the area and go frequently. Figured I'd extend an invite.

spazzyfry123 wrote

Was about to start up a new thread and this dinosaur was discovered... Who wants to plan a rip through the hills? I live in the area and go frequently. Figured I'd extend an invite.

Where exactly in the N. GA Mountains are you thinking about road ripping too? PS: There's been some other forum trips to the Tail of the Dragon (in TN) and maybe the Highlands / Cashiers NC area since this vintage 2011 thread began. Here's a recent example thread with members some of whom are no longer active: https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1905963

DrFerry wrote

Where exactly in the N. GA Mountains are you thinking about road ripping too? PS: There's been some other forum trips to the Tail of the Dragon (in TN) and maybe the Highlands / Cashiers NC area since this vintage 2011 thread began. Here's a recent example thread with members some of whom are no longer active: https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1905963

Funny, I helped coordinate the first one of those ToD runs back in '16 or '17 with BOOF when I had my first E90M. We lined up the charity and all. The good ole days...

I'll be in the Highlands with the M in a few months for a trip. May try to get up there sooner when I get a break in the skies. May as well throw Three Pedal Steve, DreamTime, and FuzzyPeaches in here! ppatel14 you still around?

I can get to the Richard B Russell Scenic Byway south entrance in probably 20ish minutes today.

I used to live in Dahlonega, so the Suches Loop was frequent and I do still do it frequently.

I have family in Murphy, so I generally take 19 over Blood mountain there, and then I'll take the Richard B Russell back home.

Unicoi Turnpike out of Helen is fun. I'll take that into Hiawassee for lunch often.

My "big loop" is to start super early to beat the crowds...
Start in Helen/Scorpion Hollow (grab a coffee/breakfast at Hoochee's River Basket - they open at 6am)
North on Unicoi Turnpike (75)
Left onto 180 (west/southwest) to follow alongside Soapstone Creek
Left onto 19 (south)
Right onto 180 right before Vogel (west/southwest)
Left onto 60 (east/southeast) by the Wolf Pen Gap Country Store
(I generally find myself taking a stop at the Woody Gap trailhead at the top of the mountain for a bio-break)
Second exit at Stonepile Gap roundabout onto 19 (east/northeast)
Left onto 19/129 at Turners Corner to go up Blood Mountain (north)
Right onto 180 (east)
Right onto Russell Scenic Highway (south/southeast)
Right onto 75A (south)
Left onto Asbestos Rod (southeast)
Right onto 75 Helen Highway (south)

From there you'll start heading towards Cleveland. You'll see Yonah Burger which has great, well, burgers. Just south of it is NoFo Brewing if you want a pint. Or if you head north, there is Jumping Goat Coffee (great views of the mountains with coffee, beer, wine, etc.). One of my favorites is to go into downtown Cleveland for Clyde's. Great food.

That loop excluding time to get to Helen from the house and from Cleveland to get back home is probably a good two hours at speed of driving nonstop on some of the best roads in the south over probably 90ish miles. Thing is, there are all kinds of places you can stop to check out the range views, sit by a creek, stop in a local shop... So if you take your time and soak it all in, it can be a full day.

I went over the mountain last weekend (granted in a 30 year old Land Cruiser) late in the day and it still had a big group of folks. Since I live here, I take my time and stop for some offshoots and take in the area. I think for most it's a destination and they are trying to cram as much asphalt time as possible (which I get), but there's so much that they miss. Stop at the Chestatee Overlook. Checkout Hogpen Gap or Dodd Creek. Find a place to sit by the river for a bit. Circle over to Dahlonega and check out the Square - Spirits is the best place to grab a bite.

And stay the hell out of Helen at peak time. It's like Panama City in the mountains...

I'll be hitting the dragon in a few weeks, thanks for posting this! I'll probably drive your loop

ethhaynes7 wrote

I'll be hitting the dragon in a few weeks, thanks for posting this! I'll probably drive your loop

The left "loop" in the map I posted is what's considered the Suches Loop. I've done it both clockwise and counter-clockwise. My preference is counter-clockwise should you make the trip out. The listed directions I gave give my big loop to consider counter-clockwise for Suches Loop. This then tees you up for some more wide-sweeping turns as a "cool down" to start Richard B Russell but finish out with more technical.

I'd suggest finding a way to wedge the Cherohala Skyway while you're up towards the Dragon. Great road that so many overlook because they are fixated on the Dragon.

Great day in the hills. Mid 60s with the windows down. A few spots with some minivans not willing to pull over, but a great run. Wrapped it up with a pint at NoFo in the sun. Saw another E90 on what looked like gold E88s parked on the side, but didn’t see the driver. Great day for a ride!

spazzyfry123 wrote

Funny, I helped coordinate the first one of those ToD runs back in '16 or '17 with BOOF when I had my first E90M. We lined up the charity and all. The good ole days...

I'll be in the Highlands with the M in a few months for a trip. May try to get up there sooner when I get a break in the skies. May as well throw Three Pedal Steve, DreamTime, and FuzzyPeaches in here! ppatel14 you still around?

I can get to the Richard B Russell Scenic Byway south entrance in probably 20ish minutes today.

I used to live in Dahlonega, so the Suches Loop was frequent and I do still do it frequently.

I have family in Murphy, so I generally take 19 over Blood mountain there, and then I'll take the Richard B Russell back home.

Unicoi Turnpike out of Helen is fun. I'll take that into Hiawassee for lunch often.

My "big loop" is to start super early to beat the crowds...
Start in Helen/Scorpion Hollow (grab a coffee/breakfast at Hoochee's River Basket - they open at 6am)
North on Unicoi Turnpike (75)
Left onto 180 (west/southwest) to follow alongside Soapstone Creek
Left onto 19 (south)
Right onto 180 right before Vogel (west/southwest)
Left onto 60 (east/southeast) by the Wolf Pen Gap Country Store
(I generally find myself taking a stop at the Woody Gap trailhead at the top of the mountain for a bio-break)
Second exit at Stonepile Gap roundabout onto 19 (east/northeast)
Left onto 19/129 at Turners Corner to go up Blood Mountain (north)
Right onto 180 (east)
Right onto Russell Scenic Highway (south/southeast)
Right onto 75A (south)
Left onto Asbestos Rod (southeast)
Right onto 75 Helen Highway (south)

From there you'll start heading towards Cleveland. You'll see Yonah Burger which has great, well, burgers. Just south of it is NoFo Brewing if you want a pint. Or if you head north, there is Jumping Goat Coffee (great views of the mountains with coffee, beer, wine, etc.). One of my favorites is to go into downtown Cleveland for Clyde's. Great food.

That loop excluding time to get to Helen from the house and from Cleveland to get back home is probably a good two hours at speed of driving nonstop on some of the best roads in the south over probably 90ish miles. Thing is, there are all kinds of places you can stop to check out the range views, sit by a creek, stop in a local shop... So if you take your time and soak it all in, it can be a full day.

I went over the mountain last weekend (granted in a 30 year old Land Cruiser) late in the day and it still had a big group of folks. Since I live here, I take my time and stop for some offshoots and take in the area. I think for most it's a destination and they are trying to cram as much asphalt time as possible (which I get), but there's so much that they miss. Stop at the Chestatee Overlook. Checkout Hogpen Gap or Dodd Creek. Find a place to sit by the river for a bit. Circle over to Dahlonega and check out the Square - Spirits is the best place to grab a bite.

And stay the hell out of Helen at peak time. It's like Panama City in the mountains...

Super post. Thanks for taking the time to share these routes, as well as the details on where to eat. Nice job.

Up

Dekab wrote

Up

I’m out here!

Highlands Motoring Festival has successfully recruited this 1938 BMW 320 Cabriolet by Baur for its "Classics in the Park" invitational car show. I share this with my fellow BMW enthusiasts in the SE. This car, "Hilde," has a long history in Highlands before being acquired by the Lane Museum many years ago. Through an invitational process the cars on the show field have been recruited by the head wrangler to convey a theme or tell a story. For five years this car has been invited, but scheduling conflicts prevented such. For 2025 the schedule opened up and "Hilde" will make her return to Highlands on June 14, 2025. Admission is free. There will be 85 Classics being judged in a beautiful public park. BTW.........featured theme for 2025 is "The Cars of Enzo Ferrari". There will be two dozen Enzo era Ferraris on display.

Three Pedal Steve wrote

Highlands Motoring Festival has successfully recruited this 1938 BMW 320 Cabriolet by Baur for its "Classics in the Park" invitational car show. I share this with my fellow BMW enthusiasts in the SE. This car, "Hilde," has a long history in Highlands before being acquired by the Lane Museum many years ago. Through an invitational process the cars on the show field have been recruited by the head wrangler to convey a theme or tell a story. For five years this car has been invited, but scheduling conflicts prevented such. For 2025 the schedule opened up and "Hilde" will make her return to Highlands on June 14, 2025. Admission is free. There will be 85 Classics being judged in a beautiful public park. BTW.........featured theme for 2025 is "The Cars of Enzo Ferrari". There will be two dozen Enzo era Ferraris on display.

See you there, Steve!