Chattahoochee River Road (FS 44)

Dogs Leashed

This forest road starts near Helen. The first half mile or so is paved and then it turns into a typical North Georgia gravel forest road.

The next three miles follow pretty closely the Chattahoochee River. The river looks very different here compared to Atlanta where most people have probably seen it. It's a crystal clear mountain stream, and you can expect to see a lot of fly fishers on this stretch.

After it leaves the riverside, the road begins a long climb up to about 3,200 ft. It's a peaceful hike through the forest (which is probably particularly beautiful during fall color season), but the road is open to traffic and it does access a couple of camping areas and trailheads, so you'll likely encounter some cars. If you want a car-free experience, take Augustine Gap Road (FS 44B) as a loop or descend Martin Branch Road (FS 178) following the Upper 'Hooch Loop.

Horsetrough Falls is a 70-foot waterfall on the Chatthoochee River that is a 0.3-mile hike from the Upper Chattahoochee River Campground near mile 8.5.