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Sam Pitts Park  - beside the beautiful Soque River for walking trails, picnic, and playground. Soque River – This winding drive follows the unique tributary of the Chattahoochee River and is over 28 miles long. Use caution as you travel, as at one point on Scenic 197 there will be a dip in the road (clearly marked by a road sign) where the river can  flow over the road, this is humorously known as a “Low Bridge”. Many trout fisherman love this watershed, as the Soque River's cold temperatures are the secret to the large Rainbow, Brook, & Brown trout that inhabit it. Batesville – has a General Store numerous galleries of regional handmade arts and crafts. Mark of the Potter is a scenic and historic grist mill was built in the 1930's and is a must photo stop for the beautiful 25 foot falls from the Soque River that flow beside it. Potters make their “mark” on the store and feature handcrafted pottery. Many more local artists and stores are a must stop including: Hickory Flat Pottery, Burton Gallery, stained glass, and other handcrafted artwork studios. Lake Burton – This 2,775-acre reservoir and is one of the first lakes created to generate hydroelectric energy by Georgia Power. Lake Burton's name was derived from the former town of Burton, which now lies below the lake's surface. The town (and the lake) was named after local prominent citizen Jeremiah Burton. Many species of fish, call this home, including bass, crappie, bluegill, sunfish, catfish, walleye, trout, and perch. Moccasin Creek State Park  & Lake Burton Fish Hatchery – Camp at one of Rabun Counties most popular State Parks on the shores of Lake Burton.  The park is relatively flat, offering easy navigation for large RVs, bicycles and wheelchairs and offers a fishing pier that sits above a trout-filled creek. Lake Burton Fish Hatchery offers tours and raises trout to stock for cold-water streams of North Georgia. Hemlock Falls Trail – A two-mile trail begins just south to the entrance of Moccasin Creek State Park.  The trail is relatively easy and follows a stream where many small waterfalls are created by branches.  The trail leads to a wooden bridge that crosses the river where you continue a few feet to see Hemlock Falls.

The North Georgia mountains are known for their natural scenic beauty, but few communities remain as pristine as Sautee Nacoochee. Within an unspoiled, history-rich land nestle two villages - home of art galleries, shops, restaurants, museums, historical sites, a winery, and plenty of outdoor activities like skydiving and canoeing for tourists stopping by looking to enjoy the scenery. At the intersection of Highway 75 and 17 is the Nacoochee Mound and Gazebo - a picturesque pastureland with grazing cattle - a notable starting-point for the journey through this beautiful community. The mound is a burial site, dating back to the Cherokee tribe that inhabited the area. Many years later, the Cherokee tribe used the mound as a site for their townhouse and ceremonial rites. The mound was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in the summer of 1980. A legend regarding the Nacoochee Mound tells the story of two Native Americans: Sautee, a brave of the Chicksaw tribe, and Nacoochee, the daughter of a Cherokee chief. Although from opposing tribes, Sautee and Nacoochee fall immediately and hopelessly in love. They meet at night and run away to nearby Yonah Mountain to spend a few idyllic days together. Later, they present Nacoochee's father, Chief Wahoo, with the idea of creating peace between the two nations. In response, the chief orders Sautee be thrown from the high cliffs of Yonah Mountain. Nacoochee watching in horror, breaks away from her tribe and leaps from the cliff to join her lover. Sautee and Nacoochee drag their broken bodies together, and, locking in a final embrace, they die there. The Cherokee chief, realizing the greatness of their love, is overcome with grief and remorse, so much so that he has the lovers buried together, in the mound near the banks of the Chattahoochee River. Continuing north on Highway 75 on the banks of the Chattahoochee River is The Old Nora Grist Mill. The operational grist mill was established in 1876 with French Burr mill stones and a 100-foot wooden raceway that feeds water to a turbine. It was constructed by John Martin when he moved to Georgia to mine for gold and made the Sautee Nacoochee Valley his permanent home. In 1902, Dr. Lamartine G. Hardman, governor of Georgia from 1927-1931, bought the mill and named it “Nora Mill” in memory of his sister, Nora, and it remained in the Hardman Family until 1998. The mill still produces corn- and wheat-based products such as grits, corn meal, pancake mixes, flours, and biscuit/bread mixes. The Hardman Farm, a beautiful 2-story Italian-style home built in 1870, is owned by the State of Georgia and is located across the Nacoochee Mound. The Crescent Hill Baptist Church was built in 1871 by Captain James Nichols who served in the Confederate Regiment.  Its beautiful Gothic style has an impressive home next door referred to as the West End, residing to the west of the church. The Old Sautee Store was built in 1872, and was a true [...]