Overview
The Northwest High Country is a sub-region of Georgia's Historic High Country region. The northwest corner of the state borders Alabama and Tennessee. The nearest large city is Chattanooga, Tennessee and accordingly Lookout Mountain, Ruby Falls, and Rock City. The largest city, Dalton is well known for its carpet industry. Other attractions include Cloudland Canyon State Park, Fort Mountain State Park, Chief Vann House Historic Site, and the Chattahoochee National Forest.
1 sights · 10 things to do
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Northwest High Country
Cohutta Overlook
Located off of Highway 52, this overlook offers panoramic views of the Cohutta Mountains.
Cloudland Canyon State Park
State park in Dade county that straddles a deep gorge. Cloudland Canyon's depths range from 800 to 1,980 feet. Contains 30 miles of hiking trails
Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area
Contains several hiking trails on Pigeon Mountain. Points of interest include the Pocket Branch Falls, the Blue Hole, Petty John's Cave and Ellison's Cave. As its name suggests, hunting is also allowed in the WMA.
Fort Mountain State Park
The park has over 25 miles (40 km) of hiking trails, leading to a CCC fire tower, an ancient stone wall and overlooks that offer majestic views of the Cohutta Mountains. Park also contains a reservoir with a lakeside bea…
James H. Floyd State Park
A state park near Summerville at the base of Taylor Ridge. Features two lakes, boardwalks, pedal boat rentals and 5 miles of hiking trails. The Pinhoti Trail is only a 1.6 miles away from the park.
Johns Mountain Wildlife Management Area
The Johns Mountain WMA is in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Trails inside this WMA lead to features such as the Keown Falls and the Johns Mountain Overlook. As a wildlife management area, hunting is allowed inside th…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Mar–Nov. Summer highs reach about 88°F; winter lows dip to about 31°F. Wettest: Jan and Mar. (climate data from nearby Historic High Country)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- CHA Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (Lovell Field), Chattanooga — 30 mi away. Directions
- PDK DeKalb Peachtree Airport, Atlanta — 65 mi away. Directions
- ATL Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta — 77 mi away (major hub). Directions
Sample 3-day trip
- Day 1: Fort Oglethorpe — Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, Sixth Cavalry Museum, Gordon Lee Mansion.
- Day 2: Dalton — Prater's Mill, Dalton Freight Depot & Visitor Center, Dug Gap Battle Park.
- Day 3: Calhoun — Resaca Battlefield Historic Site, Rock Garden, Calhoun, New Echota Historic Site.
Built from the best-covered destinations in this region; open each for its own day plan.
Food for you
The Tavern in Trion has some of the best southern cooking you'll find anywhere.
Ballenger's in Summerville has excellent steaks. Home-made salad dressings and also excellent spaghetti and lasagna.
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Places in Northwest High Country
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Cities
- Calhoun
- Chatsworth
- Dalton
- Fort Oglethorpe
- Lafayette
- Wildwood — an unincorporated settlement that is part of the Chattanooga metropolitan area
See
This area is rich in Cherokee heritage and some notable sights pertaining to this are Chief Vann House Historic Site and New Echota Historic Site
Do
Hiking
Lakes
Do Carters Lake
A 3,200-acre lake in Murray and Gilmer counties. The lake is more than 450 feet (140 m) deep.
Caving
Rock climbing
Eat
The Tavern in Trion has some of the best southern cooking you'll find anywhere.
Ballenger's in Summerville has excellent steaks. Home-made salad dressings and also excellent spaghetti and lasagna.
Go next
Nearby
Ellijay
City / town · 3 listings · 24 mi away
Rome
City / town · 7 listings · 33 mi away
Ocoee
City / town · 9 listings · 33 mi away
Cleveland
City / town · 8 listings · 34 mi away
Chattanooga
City / town · 112 listings · 34 mi away
Blue Ridge
City / town · 10 listings · 36 mi away
McCaysville
City / town · 1 listings · 37 mi away
Mineral Bluff
City / town · 1 listings · 40 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.