Richard B Russell Scenic Highway - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Hogpen Gap, is an area of stunning natural beauty. Located at the base of the soaring Blue Ridge Mountains, its rolling hills and lush green valleys provide an awe-inspiring landscape. The area also includes two notable waterfalls: Dukes Creek Falls and Tray Mountain Falls. Both are great spots for hikers, photographers and adventure lovers to explore the outstanding scenery. It's also a popular destination for campers, swimmers and fishermen due to its easy access to Lake Hartwell.

Raven Cliffs Wilderness is a nature lover's paradise. It consists of 4,891 acres and has breathtaking waterfalls, miles of trails for both hiking and backpacking, and diverse wildlife. It has many elevated points with stunning views of this beautiful forest on the Appalachian Mountains. You can fish in the trout-stocked Dukes Creek or swim in its clear waters. Four-thousand acre Raven Cliffs Wilderness offers memories to be made while enjoying those perfect moments of connecting with nature.

Cowrock Mountain is a majestic sight to behold. With its beauty and bountiful wildlife population, it attracts thousands of people each year. At an elevation of 4,072 feet above sea level, Cowrock Mountain as a wide array of recreational opportunities for everyone to take part in. Park visitors can enjoy hiking trails winding through the forests that offer breathtaking views of the forested ridges below, as well as fishing in the many picturesque lakes located nearby.

Raven Cliffs Trailhead is an outdoor adventurer's paradise. Located within the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, it is the perfect spot for hiking and exploring. With a steady elevation gain of about 2,450 feet over 3.7 miles, hikers can expect incredible mountain views along this loop trail. The trail also passes several waterfalls – some cascading as high as 20 feet - and leads into a small clearing surrounded by massive cliffs and filled with stunning wildflowers in late spring.

The Dukes Creek Falls Trail is a beautiful trail to explore and experience nature at its finest. The trail follows closely along the creek with stunning views of the cascading falls as well as picturesque views of surrounding mountains. Hikers will enjoy traversing through lush forests and across small wooden bridges. As you make your way on the winding path you will be graced with impressive natural wonders like wildflowers in every color and shape, steep rock formations.

The Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway offers the largest amount of breathtaking views in Georgia. This byway stretches for a total of 50 miles and passes through substantial portions of the Chattahoochee National Forest, gaining over 3,000 feet in elevation as it climbs to Brasstown Bald Mountain. Along the route, there are many hidden gems just waiting to be discovered with some of the most amazing overlooks that will certainly take your breath away.