|
Rabun County is in the extreme northeastern corner of Georgia. The county, founded December 21, 1819, was named for Governor William Rabun, who died in office that same year, having only been elected in 1817. There are several cities in Rabun County--Burton, Clayton, Dillard, Lakemont, Mountain City, Rabun Gap, Sky Valley, Tiger, Tallulah Falls, and Wiley. Clayton is the county seat, and was incorporated December 13, 1823. The city’s namesake is Judge Augustus S. Clayton, the first judge of the Superior Court in Rabun County. About 60% of the county’s land is part of national park or forest land, and another 20% belongs to Georgia Power.
Because so much of the county is in national parks or forests, the area is rich with activities for the outdoorsman. Hiking is popular, and there are many trails to choose from in Rabun County. Bartram Trail (37 miles, moderate-to-hard, point-to-point), Coleman River Trail (1 mile, easy, in-and-out), Hemlock Falls Trail (1.5 miles, easy-to-moderate, in-and-out), and the Denton Branch Trail (.25 mile, easy, in-and-out) are all popular trails for visitors, varying in length and difficulty level.
State parks are popular attractions, and Tallulah Gorge, with its breathtaking waterfalls and landscape, is among the most visited. At one time, Tallulah Gorge was the most visited site in the entire Southeastern United States, with its raging river and falls. However, when Georgia Power took an interest in the dam, the fate of the ‘The Niagara of the South’ was sealed. Although many people fought against it, the dam was completed in 1912, and, as the great, gushing Talulah River slowed to a trickle, tourism all but ceased. But, today, thanks to Governor Zell Miller, tourists once again flock to the area, visiting Tallulah Gorge State Park. There are still falls to be seen at the upper end of the gorge, and other activities, including a white, sandy beach along Tallulah Lake, fishing, camping, and walking trails, all are available to visitors to the park. For accomplished hikers, the trail to the bottom of the gorge is challenging, even dangerous--hikers attempting this trail are required to register with the park before beginning. However, this trail is very often closed, due to weather in the area.
Black Rock Mountain State Park is also in Rabun County, and is at a higher elevation than any other park in the State. Found at the eastern ridge of the Appalachians, these mountains are regarded to be some of the oldest land masses on Earth, and covers over 1800 acres of Rabun County. If you are a hiker, this park is not to be missed.
Moccasin Creek State Park is the third park found in Rabun County. A great retreat for the outdoorsman, the park offers fishing, canoeing, hiking, and year-round camping on Lake Burton. However, the weather during the winter months can often make the roads and trails impassable, so caution is warranted if planning a winter outing. Lake Burton was created as a source of power generation, and covers over 2700 acres. Today, the lake serves as a reservoir.
For more information on Rabun County and its offerings, visit the Rabun County Chamber of Commerce.
|
| |
