Blue Ridge, Georgia
A Fannin County mountain town built around a railroad, a trout river and an apple orchard, about 80 minutes from Helen.
The short answer
Why Blue Ridge is worth the drive
If Helen is Alpine on the Chattahoochee, Blue Ridge is a railroad town on the Toccoa. The Marietta and North Georgia Railroad reached it in 1886, the town was incorporated the next year, and it became the Fannin County seat in 1895. It calls itself the "Trout Fishing Capital of Georgia." The Fannin County Chamber says the area has 106,000 acres of national forest, about 300 miles of trails and 100 miles of trout streams.
For a day of it, start with the scenic railway, walk Main Street, and finish at the orchard. Our Blue Ridge day-trip plan has the hours and dining.
Main stops
| Attraction | Hours or season | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Ridge Scenic Railway | Fall rides Sept 19-Nov 3, 2026; ticket office 9 AM-4 PM ET daily | 4-hour round trip with a layover in McCaysville and Copperhill, or a 2-hour express on select dates. 241 Depot Street. |
| Mercier Orchards | Mon-Thu 9 AM-5 PM; Fri-Sun 9 AM-6 PM | Fourth-generation family orchard founded in 1943, with more than 40 apple varieties, picking in season, a bakery, a market, and a hard cider and wine tasting room. |
| Toccoa River tubing | Closed for 2026; reopens May 1, 2027 | Toccoa Valley Campground, 706-838-4317, runs about six miles on the river with a shuttle back. |
| McCaysville and Copperhill | During the train layover or by car | Twin towns split by the Blue Line at the Georgia-Tennessee border. |
| Grumpy Old Men Brewing | Taproom open daily | 1315 East Main Street. |
The drive from Helen
Expect about 80 minutes without traffic. The drive crosses the Blue Ridge from White County on the east to Fannin County on the west. For more mountain driving, the Russell-Brasstown National Scenic Byway is a 40-mile loop that starts and ends near Helen, and good stops along the way include Brasstown Bald and Vogel State Park. At Vogel, Lake Trahlyta is drained for dam repairs and the lake loop is closed, but trails and cabins are open.
Highway 180 over Wolf Pen Gap is a twisty mountain road that Georgia State Parks recommends for fall color. Take the curves slowly.
When to go
Fall
Best for the train, apples and color. Weekends are busy, so book early and leave Helen by 8 AM.
Summer
Tubing, lake time and the trout streams. Expect crowds on weekends.
Winter
Regular train rides continue through February 2027, and the Holiday Express runs on select dates from November 27 to December 23.
Spring
Wildflowers and the start of the strawberry season at the orchard.
Keep planning
