Whether you're driving a bucket of balls, pitching tents under the stars, or paddling on our waterways, you'll find plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors in Union County! Take the boat out on one of our two major lakes, or camp lakeside; fish for trout, or paddle in our rivers and streams; hike or mountain bike our many trails, possibly ending at a gorgeous waterfall; play in our parks; see the area on horseback; hit our greens; or relax among the vines at a fabulous winery. You’ll find it all here in Union County.
Lakes
Lake Nottely
The 4,180-acre TVA-controlled Lake Nottely is a fisherman’s paradise, offering ample opportunities to land largemouth bass, spotted bass, crappie and striped bass, among others. With 106 miles of pristine shoreline nestled in the mountains just northwest of Blairsville, this unspoiled lake offers a breathtaking alpine experience for residents and visitors. Full pool is at 1,779 feet above M.S.L. and is held at or near that level in the summer until Labor Day for recreation and power generation. Lake Nottely is also a flood control lake and the target level for January 1 each year is 1,762 feet, or 17 feet below full pool. Construction of the dam was completed in 1942. It is 184 feet high and stretches 2,300 feet across the Nottely River.
Nottely Marina website
Nottely Marina offers a general store, gas on the water, live bait & tackle, restroom facilities, covered and uncovered slips, boat launching ramp and parking, and rentals of pontoon boats, fishing boats and canoes.
Cozy Cove Marina website
Cozy Cove Marina on Lake Nottely offers a general store, boat slip rentals, pontoon boat rentals, gas on the lake and at the store on the road, a large deck overlooking the lake, and groceries and sandwiches in the store.
Lake Winfield Scott website
Near Suches, high in the mountains, you’ll find this clear 18-acre lake with picnicking, camping, swimming, fishing, boating and hiking. There is a covered pavilion and bath house near swimming area.
Lake Trahlyta website
Lake Trahlyta is the centerpiece of Vogel State Park. This 22-acre lake is open to non-motorized boats. During summer, visitors can cool off at the scenic lakeside beach.
Camping
Numerous opportunities to camp out under the stars can be found in Union County, from Vogel State Park’s 103 tent, trailer, RV campsites; 18 walk-in campsites; 35 cottages; pioneer campground; and primitive backpacking campsites; to thousands of acres of National Forest and WMA lands available for camping; to a number of RV campgrounds in the area.
Poteete Creek Campground/Lake Park website
Poteete Creek Park is a 100-acre tract on Lake Nottely, with swimming area, camp sites, boat launch, picnic tables, and a picnic pavilion.
Rivers & Streams
Hundreds of creeks and trout streams flow through Union County, attracting anglers and water sports enthusiasts for fishing and paddling. The Nottely River flows below Vogel State Park and offers a spectacular view of nature during all seasons. Mountain trout fishing is a treat from this stream. There are 60 miles of designated trout streams within Union County. River rafting is available on the Nottely River which flows from south to north through Blairsville into Lake Nottely. Within a three-quarter hour drive is the Ocoee River Gorge, where its raging waters hosted the kayak event for the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Appalachian & Other Trails, Walasi Yi Center
The Appalachian Trail runs from Georgia to Maine across Union County with Walasi-Yi Center, a major stop for hikers located 4 miles south of Vogel State Park
at Neel's Gap and U.S. 19/129 near the top of Blood Mountain, Georgia's second highest peak.
Waterfalls
Waterfalls website
Numerous vistas are available in the area. The Chattahoochee National Forest covers over 51% of Union County. Waterfalls offer beautiful scenery for hikers throughout the area.
• Blood Mountain Falls & Falls on Waters Creek
• DeSoto Falls
• Haynes Falls
• Helton Creek Falls
• Horsetrough Falls
• Nottely Falls
• Trahlyta Falls
• Wolf Creek Falls
Parks
Vogel State Park website
Vogel State Park, Georgia's original state park built in 1927, is only 10 miles south of Blairsville just off US 19/129 in the middle of the Chattahoochee National Forest at the base of Blood Mountain. With an elevation of 2,280 feet, its facilities are built around Lake Trahlyta for swimming, paddle boating and fishing. With revenues of $1.2-million, Vogel Park is the only traditional park in the State system that realizes a profit.
Camping Life Magazine in 2000 listed Vogel State Park in the top 25 USA public campgrounds, alongside such parks as Yellowstone National Park, Mt. Zion National Park and various state parks around the country. Families for several generations have been visiting Vogel together. There are many Union County full-time and part-time residents who purchased property and moved here after visiting Vogel State Park for several years.
Vogel State Park features include non-motorized boating on Lake Trahlyta and lake swimming from the beach area; fishing year round, with mountain trout fishing nearby; camping and cottages; picnicking at tables and shelters throughout the park; hiking on 17 miles of wooded mountain trails; a group shelter; an 18-hole mini-golf course and children’s playground, both located at the park’s visitor center.
Brasstown Bald website
Brasstown Bald, Georgia's highest mountain at 4,784 feet above sea level, is 20 miles southeast of Blairsville (by road) and offers: a panoramic view of four states, exhibits, video presentations, picnic tables, snack foods, and a log cabin bookstore. A one-half mile walking trail from the parking lot located in Union County takes you to the mountain peak and the museum, located within Towns County. Hottest temperature ever recorded on Brasstown Bald Mountain was 84 degrees F. See web-cam view at www.fs.fed.us/conf/webcam.htm.
Meeks Park Recreation Complex website
The Union County Recreation Department maintains and operates Meeks Park, including walking trails, lighted girls and adult softball and Little League baseball fields, utility fields, bleachers, concession stands, rest rooms, batting cage, playground equipment and picnic facilities. Butternut Creek winds through the park, adding its beauty to the park setting.
Little League Baseball games and girls and adult softball games are played at Meeks Park. The youth football games are played at the high school field. An Olympic-size swimming pool, bath house and concession stand opened in 2000 at Meeks Park and operates from Memorial Day until Labor Day.
Horseback Riding
One of the best ways to get back to nature and explore the countryside around Blairsville and Union County is on horseback. Stables in the area cater to riders of all levels, even children. To locate a stable, visit www.blairsvillechamber.com to access the Business Directory of the Blairsville-Union Chamber of Commerce.
Golf
Brasstown Valley Resort website
Located just 11 miles east of Blairsville at Young Harris, Brasstown Valley Resort is a 503-acre, 134-room resort and conference center with an 18-hole links style championship 7,000-yard golf course that is the area's best.
There are also tennis courts, a fitness center with professional exercise equipment, indoor/outdoor heated swimming pool, steam rooms, saunas, hiking trails, and stream fishing. More than 16,000 square feet is available for conferences, meetings and banquets. A fine dining room on the main level seats 160. A Golf Grill provides a more casual type of restaurant on the clubhouse level. Several bars are featured.
Butternut Creek Golf Course website
Owned and operated by the Union County Recreation Department, Butternut Creek Golf Course sits in downtown Blairsville below beautiful Ivy Log Mountain. Butternut Creek plays to a modest 6,500+ yards, but 4 to 6 tee boxes on every hole give challenging options for every player. Water comes into play on 13 holes. Mounds, undulating greens and elevation changes are found throughout the course. It boasts Penncross Bent Grass greens and Tifton 419 Bermuda fairways and tees. The roughs and mounds have common Bermuda and love grass. While there is no driving range there is a stocked pro shop. A practice putting green is available. Architect for the course was Bill Watts, designer of Innsbruck and Sky Valley golf courses. Butternut Creek Golf Course is open 7 days per week from 8 a.m. until dusk. Phone number is (706) 745-5153.
Old Union Golf Course website
Old Union is a 7,500-yard championship-length golf course designed and owned by world-renowned golf course designer, Denis Griffiths. Old Union’s 250-acre 18-hole course weaves beautifully through the natural meadows, creeks and woods with a breathtaking view of the mountains as its backdrop. A comprehensive practice range will be one of the finest in north Georgia. A semi-private club with annual golf memberships available, Old Union is expected to open for play in summer 2009.
Wineries website
Georgia’s wine industry is booming! Northeast Georgia wineries are exploding with vinis vinifera varital, a special class of European grapes grown for crafting fine quality wines. The microclimate in the Northeast Georgia Mountains is ideal for growing vinifera grapes and the steep red-clay hillsides of North Georgia mirror the "terra rosa" (meaning red earth) soils of some of Europe's most famous wine-growing areas. Area wineries offer tours, tastings, and special events year round.
