A few years back, we visited Fort Mountain State Park in Chatsworth, Georgia. I always wanted to revisit it when I had more time. Now that we just got through two college graduations and the wedding of Thing 2, we needed an easy trip to North Georgia to relax and recoup.

The day after the wedding, we left many of our out-of-town family members to find their own transportation to the airport, and DH (Dear Hubby) and I hit the road! Chatsworth lies about 80 miles northeast of Atlanta. After driving about an hour on the interstate, we saw the mountains stretching out in the distance.

Overlook Inn

When researching North Georgia for Thing 2’s bachelorette weekend, I stumbled upon an ad for Overlook Inn in Chatsworth. Intrigued, I researched it a bit further and decided this would be the perfect spot for DH and me to unwind for a few days.

The Overlook Inn is perched on top of Fort Mountain, about halfway between Chatsworth and Ellijay. When Nicole walked us to the adjacent house, a large sitting room with floor-to-ceiling windows greeted us. It reminded me of a smaller version of the lodge at Petit Jean State Park in Arkansas. Our room, located down the hall, was well-apportioned with a fridge, fireplace, and covered patio area. Although the bathroom was located across the hall, it was private for just the two of us.

The owners, Bill and Nicole Hudson, made a gourmet three-course breakfast for us each morning. Each evening, we would select our breakfast choice from a daily printed menu. For example, on our first day, we had the choice between Green Eggs and Ham and Buttermilk Banana-Nut Waffles. We both got the Waffles accompanied by Cheddar Sausage (for me) and Bill’s Bacon (for DH). The breakfast alone is worth the stay!

Fort Mountain State Park

After the full breakfast, DH and I ventured to Fort Mountain State Park just a couple of miles away. Opened in 1936, this park features a stone wall built centuries ago by the Cherokee Indians, or, according to some legends, the Moon-Eyed People.

We hiked the same 1-mile CCC Fire Tower and West Overlook trail as the previous trip. However, we also enjoyed the 1.2-mile Lake trail, which we combined with parts of the Gahuti and Goldmine Creek trails. For a good description of this 2.3-mile Goldmine Creek Double Loop combo, visit Hike the South.

By this point, we were ready to go to Ellijay for lunch and then to the Overlook Inn to relax. But before leaving Fort Mountain, we drove to the Cool Springs Overlook. We stood in awe at the view (featured in the cover picture of this post) stretching out before us. The overlook is just about 700 feet from the parking lot. More adventurous types can see this on the 8.2-mile Gahuti backcountry trail that makes a loop around the entire park.

Bear(s)!

Our host, Nicole, had warned us of bears in the area and encouraged us to remove any food from our car. After lunch at Back Porch Bistro in Ellijay, DH and I returned to our bed and breakfast. We sat in the rocking chairs on our private patio and read magazines. Our accommodations sat at 2,800 feet above sea level, so even though it was the middle of summer, sitting outside didn’t feel too hot.

I heard a rustling in the distance near the far end of the house and assumed it was one of the owners. After it continued for a while, I looked up. Between the trees, a small black bear was rummaging around for food. It sauntered about 20 feet from us and I snapped this pic before heading back inside. A loud truck drove by, startling the bear and he slowly made his way back into the woods.

The next morning, we returned to Fort Mountain to hike the 0.5-mile Big Rock Loop. Since it was early, we were the only ones on the trail. DH noticed a tree shaking about 100 feet in front of us. Before he had a chance to say anything, we both saw a cub cross the path down the mountain.

When there’s a cub, there’s a Mama-bear nearby. We clapped our hands (the internet says to make noise), but stayed in place and waited for a good five minutes. About this time, a couple with two dogs met us on the trail. We told them what we’d seen. We decided to follow them and continue the loop. Soon, a Georgia Park Ranger came with a group of summer campers, and we felt much safer.

Cohutta Overlook

On our second evening, we drove to the Cohutta Overlook after dinner. If you blink, you’ll miss the turnoff for the parking area. The path is short, maybe just 0.25 mile up a steep hill. 

Once you reach the top, you’ll have 360-degree panoramic views. You can also get a great sunset view from the West Overlook Trail at Fort Mountain State Park.

Carter’s Lake

A few months ago, we hiked the Tumbling Waters trail at Carter’s Lake. Since the drive home went near another section of Carter’s Lake, we decided to make a stop. We wanted to hike the Oak Ridge Nature Trail, but couldn’t find the trailhead.  

Instead, we hiked the Amadahy Trail, also in the Woodring Branch Day Use area. The almost four-mile trail is relatively easy and offers views of Carter’s Lake. Because it’s the deepest lake in the state, it boasts turquoise-blue water.

Conclusion

We found spending two nights in the mountains to be a relaxing getaway. Click here for information about the Overlook Inn and Fort Mountain State Park. In Ellijay, we ate dinner at River Street Tavern and The Butcher and Bottle. Also DH found a good cigar store called Ellijay Cigar Lounge. For information about Carter’s Lake, visit the website here. General access to Carter’s Lake is $4 or free if you have an annual National Parks Pass.