There’s not just one particular gateway onto Southern Highroads. You can hop onto it from basically anywhere. However, some good entry points from the South are through Sautee-Nachoochee, Helen, and Scenic Hwy 197.
Just as you’re coming around a curve you see a beautiful field with a mound and a memorial sitting on top of it. That is the Indian Mound of Sautee-Nacoochee, often mispronounced, but the people are pleasant enough to correct you and smile and keep listening while you try again.. and get it wrong.. again (I know because it’s what happened to me). But there’s more to this area than a historic Indian Mound. The beauty of Sautee-Nacoochee is the richness and development of their culture and appreciation of the arts. There is a wonderful folk pottery and history museum, heritage sites, and the Sautee-Nacoochee Center enter that really encourages the Fine Arts in the area.
You can pick up Scenic 197 through Clarkesville, which has a historic downtown with many original 1800s buildings (more on that later) or you could just pick it up a little past Helen. We chose to pick it up off of Helen, GA. A cute Alpine village tucked to the side of a mountain. It’s a family-friendly area with a lot of wonderful shopping, restaurants, and things to do. I highly recommend staying in this area by way of cabin or quaint Inn to really get the full effect of the area.
Scenic 197 may be a beautiful scenic highway, but originally it was to run moonshine. It has twists, turns, and quaint shops, restaurants, and inns dotted through-out the entire highway. It really is a nice beginning to logging your miles onto Southern Highroads. Follow 197 all the way to the end.. and by taking a right, you can go to Mountain City, where the Foxfire Museum is or you could take a left and head over to Hiawassee.
Kind of like a You-Choose-Adventure story right? More to come on our travels.
All that is required to ride the Southern Highroads Trail is a car, a brochure, enthusiasm, and maybe some bottled water (can’t have you dehydrate!). Your trip may not last a long time, but it’s an experience that you walk away from feeling invigorated and talking about it for a long time.
